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It seems so normal and common for cars to be co-branded with media — witness the “Transformers” movie for a fine example — but in 1977, it was highly unusual. In fact, video game culture that has influenced the old car hobby can look at this 1977 Datsun 280-Z ZZZap edition as being the godfather of them all. This vehicle, our Pick of the Day, is for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer near Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It all started with a 1977 arcade game produced by Midway called Datsun 280 ZZZAP. It originally was released in 1976 as Midnight Racer and then the co-branded ZZZAP version was released by Taito in 1977 in Japan before Midway released it in North America shortly after. A Special Decor Package inspired by the video game was introduced in the 1977 model year. Promotional material claimed, “The Z with more ZZZap!”

The basis was a 280-Z, which came with a 2,753cc OHC six with 149 horsepower and electronic fuel injection backed by a four-speed manual. The Special Decor Package included mandatory Sunburst Yellow paint with a black racing stripe along the hood, roof, and deck, plus longitudinal stripes on both sides; an additional gradated stripe in yellow/orange/red was placed on the hood and the front fenders. Other features included racing mirrors and rear window louvers. According to the Internet, 1,000 280-Zs were built with this package, but we cannot find supporting documentation to verify.

This particular 1977 280-Z with the Special Decor Package for sale on ClassicCars.com was originally sold new in Newburg, Oregon, then migrated to Wyoming, where it spent most of its life. Seller says the Nissan … er, Datsun has been driven only 2,500 miles in the past 20 years, which is supported by maintenance records. “Driving the 280-Z is a dream, with a tight 4-wheel independent suspension, power-assisted brakes, and rack and pinion steering,” adds the seller. “Highlights include rear window defogger, auxiliary gauges, Kenwood radio, Alpine speakers, and exterior racing stripe.”

This Datsun 280-Z ZZZap edition has only 73,125 miles on the odometer. Included in the sale are the original owner’s manual, service manual, original tool kit, unopened tire inflator canister and full factory exhaust including the original muffler. This limited-edition Z-car will cost you more than a quarter — more like $34,900. Maybe you can find the original arcade game for a nice pairing?

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

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In 1972 I went to the $0.49 movie theater on Hollywood Blvd. to see the film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. I was 12 years old and a little bummed out because Sean Connery had quit playing the lead role of James Bond. I needn’t have worried, it was a great film.
This was the first time I had ever seen a Mercury Cougar Convertible. In those days Bond films were always about beautiful people, in beautiful places, wearing beautiful clothes, driving beautiful machines. It’s no wonder that they used a Cougar driven by the lovely actress Diana Rigg.

It was love at first sight for me with the Cougar, although Diana came in a close second. After seeing the movie, I vowed to myself that one day I would own a Cougar convertible.

In 2014 I was looking on ClassicCars.com, and I found a beautiful 1970 Cougar XR-7 Convertible. The thing about Cougars is: they really are an elegant, upscale Mustang with very unique features. I love the front grille with, as the ads of the day said, “dual concealed headlamps that gleam by night and hide by day” and “rear turn signals that flicker in sequence.” After a little soul searching I decided to buy the car.

The car is a real work of art. If you look at the center hood and front grille, you will see the nose of a cat. Also, the very front fenders resemble a cat’s ear. Amazingly, out of some 4,000 1970 Cougar convertibles built, only three came in this color combination of a Competition Gold exterior and Dark Tobacco Leather interior. Sometimes I think this must be the only Cougar on the planet in this color combination. This would make it one very rare cat indeed!

–Joe C., California

Tesla is recalling 362,758 electric cars equipped with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assist system because the system could cause crashes.

Despite the name, Full Self-Driving does not enable autonomous driving. Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall documents, the system, which is still considered by Tesla to be in the “Beta” development stage, can in certain circumstances behave in ways that would be unacceptable for human drivers.

After analysis and testing, the NHTSA found that the Autosteer on City Streets function of the system “led to an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on insufficient adherence to traffic safety laws,” the agency said in a statement.

Tesla launched the voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution” after discussions with the NHTSA. Affected vehicles include 2016-2023 Model S and Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with FSD or pending installation of the feature.

The testing was done as part of an ongoing investigation opened June 8, 2022, in response to multiple instances of Tesla vehicles operating on Autopilot hitting emergency vehicles stopped on or at the side of roads. Autopilot is Tesla’s basic driver-assist system; FSD builds on it by adding features like automatic overtaking.

Tesla also advertises FSD as being able to react to traffic lights and stop signs, but in a recall notice, posted on its website, the NHTSA said the system may allow vehicles to enter stop-sign controlled intersections without coming to a full stop, proceed through steady yellow lights “without due caution,” and continue straight through an intersection from a turn-only lane. Note that Tesla previously recalled almost 54,000 vehicles in 2022 because FSD was found to disobey stop signs.

While the NHTSA investigation remains open, Tesla will have to meet its legal obligation to address these issues, the agency said. The automaker will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update free of charge as a fix. While this won’t require visits to service centers, Tesla will mail formal notification letters by April 15.

According to the New York Times, the NHTSA is investigating 41 crashes involving FSD and Autopilot that have led to 19 fatalities. For its part, Tesla has identified warranty claims in relation to the issue.

Tesla started offering FSD as a hardware package in 2016. CEO Elon Musk has claimed software updates would unlock true self-driving capability, saying at the time that he expected a Tesla to be able to travel from Los Angeles to New York “without the need for a single touch” of the steering wheel as soon as 2017.

That never happened, although Tesla has continued to offer the system in unfinished “Beta” form, gradually hiking the price from $5,000 in 2016 (when it was only offered to select customers) to $15,000 today.

This practice is now getting more scrutiny from regulators. In 2021, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy called the Full Self-Driving label “misleading and irresponsible,” while California has since moved to make it illegal. Last month Tesla was subpoenaed by the Justice Department for FSD, although the company said it was unaware of any ongoing investigation.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.

As we’re all well aware, Dodge has announced its “Last Call” series of vehicles. This includes the recent information released about the Last Call event in Las Vegas on March 20, which we wrote about here. The AutoHunter Cinema team had to opportunity to view these “Last Call” vehicles up close and personal in November 2022. The video below features Jeff Sutton and Brad DeSantis discussing six of the “Last Call” Hemis, Dodge’s send-off of Dodge internal combustion muscle cars. The “Last Call” cars are exactly what they sound like: a series of limited-production, special-edition Chargers and Challengers with unique names and graphics that go beyond the Scat Packs and Hellcats, with which you’re already familiar. The seventh and final “Last Call” Dodge is set to be announced at the Las Vegas event. Stay tuned for more information on that!

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1967 Ford Mustang coupe powered by a 302ci V8 and automatic transmission. Features include scooped hood and rear fenders, fog lights, air conditioning, bucket seats with center console, and modern AM/FM radio. This red 1967 Mustang coupe is being sold by a private owner and comes with a clear Florida title.

The exterior is finished in red with white stripes and features fog lights, an item often found on cars with the GT package. Shelby-inspired scoops adorn the rear fenders and hood, with race-inspired pins securing the latter. Additional features include dual bullet-style mirrors, Shelby-inspired white GT and band-aid stripes, and Shelby GT500 gas cap.

A set of 19-inch S550 Mustang wheels is wrapped in 255/40 Landsail radial tires up front, 275/40 out back.

The interior is upholstered in black vinyl. Features include air conditioning, custom center console with storage compartment and integrated cup holders, power steering, wood-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel with Shelby logo, four-speaker digital AM/FM stereo and Carroll Shelby-autographed glove box.

The instrument panel features a 160-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer and gauges for the fuel level, oil pressure and coolant temperature. The true mileage on this vehicle is unknown.

Power is provided by a 302ci V8 backed by an automatic transmission. Engine bay features tubular exhaust headers, finned aluminum valve covers, aluminum intake, four-barrel carburetor, Shelby finned aluminum air cleaner, Scott Drake export brace, chrome Monte Carlo bar, aluminum radiator and Accel electronic ignition.

This Mustang features power front disc and rear drum brakes. A dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers exits by the rear axle.

This 1967 Ford Mustang’s auction ends on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 3:40 p.m. (MST)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

The Mustang is the longest continuously produced vehicle in the Ford family, dating back to 1964 and now in its sixth generation. It’s no wonder the Mustang has become an American icon.

The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 2005 Ford Mustang GT listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in San Jose, California. (Click the link to view the listing)

“This one-owner Mustang is well-maintained, garage-kept, and has never been in an accident,” the listing states. The odometer shows just 26,650 miles and the car looks well-preserved in the over 60 photos that accompany the listing with exterior, interior, and underbody views.

This pony car comes from the initial year of the Mustang’s fifth generation which started in 2005. Enthusiasts refer to this generation as the “S197” chassis, and a pre-production concept car showing this design language was first shown almost exactly 20 years ago in January 2003 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  The generation remained in production until 2014.

Something unique about this Mustang is that its instrument cluster shows km/h speed markers more prominently than mph speed markers. This usually means that the vehicle was originally sold in a non-U.S. market. Further investigation shows that the owner’s manual and warning stickers are in Spanish, the Carfax shows a gap in records between 2005 and 2022, and the word “Mexico” is engraved into one of the windows. It would be very interesting to find out the backstory on this low-mileage car.

As a GT trim level car, this red Mustang was allocated special treatment including a stiffer suspension when compared to the standard version. In addition, GT-specific upgrades included larger front disc brakes, four-channel anti-lock braking with traction control, a stainless-steel exhaust, fog lamps, and a two-piece drive shaft.

Under the hood sits a Modular 4.6-liter V8 that was rated at 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Service records accompanying the listing illustrate that the selling dealer addressed several mechanical needs within the last few months. In addition to an oil change and an inspection, the car received an air conditioning system recharge, replacement of a lower control arm, and installation of new brake pads and rotors for both front and rear.

The dealer is asking $19,500 for this Mustang, which is not only unique for its mileage but also for its international backstory. I wonder what kind of stories it could tell.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

In an age where sports cars are becoming SUVs and sedans, Nissan has an 80% new, two-seater Z car with retro styling and is on team #savethemanuals. The Z sits on an updated 370z chassis with improved rigidity and increased horsepower from the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. This is shared with the Red Sport Infiniti, but the Z’s is paired with new transmissions for a familiar but refined driving experience. The base trim, Sport, starts at $39,990 with the Performance trim stepping it up to $49,990. This includes an additional array of performance and cosmetic components that inch the Z closer to, but still undercutting, the six-cylinder Toyota Supra.       

Exterior

The Nissan Z is gorgeous to see in person. A lot of the marketing materials we saw before its launch made the square mouth look large and unsightly but that’s not the case. Paired with some nice fender flares, a sharp nose, a 240z fastback profile, and Z32 300zx taillights, the new Z will catch some attention. The Z we had is finished in two-tone Passion Red, which is one of the best colors available for the Z, and if two-tone isn’t your thing, there are three options available for solid colors. The Performance model features some additional exterior goodies including 19-inch Rays forged alloy wheels, a chin spoiler, and a rear spoiler. This helps reduce rear lift and gives the Performance model a higher limited top speed of 155 mph, not that you can achieve that on any public roads.       

Interior

The Nissan Z interior features a cozy two-seat layout with a modern and luxurious interior. Our car’s interior is finished in two-tone red leather and black synthetic suede that are highlighted on the comfy bucket seats. The dash features a digital gauge “infotainment” display like most new cars. However, setting it apart from what is expected, there are three analog gauges pods for turbo boost, turbo speed (which I believe is a production car first), and a battery voltmeter. Even though the infotainment display is a touchscreen, Nissan still includes general menu buttons below the screen for easy navigation. The 9-speed automatic shifter in the middle is shaped like a computer mouse but is easy to use and has a nice minimal appearance. While driving the car, you have a bit of a blind spot, as expected with fast back sports cars. This is where the blind spot monitoring system lights help, since they are placed on the inside edge of the mirrors making it obvious when they light up. The monitoring system itself was quick and accurate creating no problem maneuvering the car around. The interior feels solid, even if a bit snug, and the Z on the steering wheel evokes a sense of pride while driving.       

Powertrain

Power comes from Nissan’s VR30DDTT, a 3.0l twin-turbocharged V6 shared with the Infiniti Q50 and Q60 Red Sport models, producing 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. One of the unique features of the VR30DDTT on the Z is the turbo speed sensor. A turbocharger is an out-of-control turbine that runs the risk of over-speeding, which can damage the turbo or worse, damage the engine. As a result, most manufacturers build in safety nets and throttle back turbo capabilities to reduce this, but the turbo speed sensors in the Z allow Nissan to take full advantage and rev out the turbocharged engine for a smooth acceleration under boost. The Z comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission equipped with rev-matching, but our Performance trim Z came equipped with the 9-speed automatic which is a huge improvement over the 7-speed found in the Q50 and Q60.    

Drive

The Z offers a huge upgrade in driving experience over the 370z and Infinity Q50 and Q60, with which it shares the powertrain. The new transmission options open the discussion of driving style preferences and, although we can’t speak about the experience of the manual (trust us, we wanted the manual too), the 9-speed automatic offers smooth accelerations with responsive quick shifts when using the flappy paddles (GT-R inspired paddle shifters). The steering feel is fine, but it does have some on-center vagueness that is often found in many new cars, though I don’t think it will bother most people. The car comes equipped with two driving modes, Standard and Sport. Standard is recommended for daily driving and offers a balance of performance/economy as needed based off the driver inputs. This mode is also where the car was best suited driving in the Phoenix grid. Sport mode, on the other hand, works to create a more dynamic driving experience for track days and curvy roads by increasing steering resistance, holding out revs for increased response from the powertrain, and adjusting the vehicles dynamic controls for a “spirited” drive. Another performance mode is the launch control, available for both transmission options. The launch control is quick to use but still manages to squeal the tires on launch. I can’t help but think the Z’s acceleration and grip could be improved with a different set of tires, as it is a little too easy to slide and have fun on the factory tires. The driver assists do not kick in immediately which means a bit of fun (sliding) can happen even with traction control on, so some skill is still needed behind the wheel. Overall, the car is fun to drive, and it will make you giggle when you get to have that unexpected fun.         

Conclusion

The new Z is a clear improvement over the previous 370z and makes better use of the shared VR30DDTT engine while having new looks inspired by the long important heritage of Z. This is the enthusiast car we all dream about: a rev happy 2-seat sports car that comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. Nissan did not have to build this. It’s not want most people want, it’s not practical, but they built it anyways for the enthusiast. My final conclusion is you should go to your nearest Nissan dealership and drive the Z for yourself.