The 280ZX came in a wide array of colors, although by comprison to the earlier 240Z and 280Z, the color palate of the 280ZX was far more understated and more drab. You could certainly purchase a 280ZX in an exciting bright yellow or citrus green, but the overall selection also featured many dull metallic colors that weren’t even available on the earlier Z-cars. Overall, the sheer number of available colors increased significantly with the 280ZX. Below are examples of all the available exterior and interior colors, as well as which combinations were offered, along with the years these colors were offered.
For two tone paint schemes, you will see a ‘/’ between the two different paint tones in the ‘Paint Codes’ and ‘Advertised Names’ columns. The image, of course, will still refer to a car with the particular two tone paint scheme. The first number will refer to the two tone paint code, and inside the parenthesis the two individual paint codes will be separated by the ‘/’.
Due to the layout of the table below, we can only show thumbnails. If you’d like to view any image in its full resolution, simply click on it.
| Dates Available | Paint Code(s) | Advertised Name(s) | Example Car |
| 1981, 1983 | 002 | Mint White |  |
| 1981, 1983 | 006 | Platinum Metallic |  |
| 1982,1983 | 011 | Burgundy Mist Metallic |  |
| 1981, 1983 | 013 | Regatta Red |  |
| 1982, 1983 | 014 | Orange Mist Metallic |  |
| 1982 | 015 | Dark Brown Metallic |  |
| 1983 | 028 | Fox Silver Metallic | |
| 1982, 1983 | 029 | French Beige Metallic |  |
| 1982 | 034 | Jade Gray Metallic |  |
| 1982 | 072 | Dark Brown Metallic |  |
| 1982 | 075 – (924 / 006) | Med. Blue Metallic / Platinum Metallic | N/A |
| 1983 | 082 – (034 / pin stripe silver) | Jade Grey Metallic / Pin Stripe in Silver | N/A |
| 1981-1983 | 085 – (505 / 006) | Thunder Black / Platinum Metallic | N/A |
| 1981 | 093 – (842/ pin stripe gold) | Light Brown Metallic / Pin Stripe in Gold | N/A |
| 1983 | 101 | Nugget Gold Metallic | N/A |
| 1983 | 109 | Cadet Blue Metallic | N/A |
| 1983 | 152 – (002 / pin stripe red) | Mint White / Pin Stripe in Red | N/A |
| 1979 | 210 | White | N/A |
| 1980 | 307 | Pacific Blue Metallic | N/A |
| 1979, 1980 | 364 | Midnight Blue Metallic | N/A |
| 1979-1982 | 505 | Thunder Black | N/A |
| 1979, 1980 | 510 | Sky Blue Metallic |  |
| 1979, 1980 | 603 | Maroon Mist Metallic | N/A |
| 1979, 1980 | 609 | Mahogany Metallic | N/A |
| 1979, 1980 | 649 | Silver Mist Metallic | N/A |
| 1979 | 650 | Yellow | N/A |
| 1979 | 653 | Gold Metallic |  |
| 1979 | 661 | Citrus Green | N/A |
| 1980-1982 | 663 | Diamond Mist Metallic | N/A |
| 1980 | 690 | Golden Mist Metallic | N/A |
| 1980-1982 | 720 | Med. Grey Metallic | N/A |
| 1980-1982 | 805 | Alpine White | N/A |
| 1980, 1982 | 807 | Rally Red | N/A |
| 1980, 1981 | 815 | Satin Blue Metallic | N/A |
| 1981 | 842 | Light Brown Metallic | N/A |
| 1981 | 885T – (649 / 505) | Silver Mist Metallic / Thunder Black |  |
| 1980 | 893 – (649 / 364) | Silver Mist Metallic / Midnight Blue Metallic | N/A |
| 1980 | 898 – (649 / 720) | Silver Mist Metallic / Med. Grey Metallic | N/A |
| 1980, 1981, 1983 | 879 – (505 / pin stripe gold) | Thunder Black / Pin Stripe in Gold | N/A |
| 1979 | 906 | Red |  |
| 1982, 1983 | 922 | Pale Blue | N/A |
| 1982, 1983 | 924 | Med. Blue Metallic |  |
| 1981 | 926 | Regal Red Metallic |  |
| 1982 | 928 | Cameo Beige | N/A |
| 1980 | 972 – (690 / 505) | Golden Mist Metallic / Thunder Black [10th Anniversary Edition] | N/A |
| 1980 | 973 – (807 / 505) | Rally Red / Thunder Black [10th Anniversary Edition] | N/A |
| 1981 | 991 – (663 / 926) | Diamond Mist Metallic / Regal Mist Metallic | N/A |
| 1981 | 998 – (663 / 924) | Diamond Mist Metallic / Med. Blue Metallic |  |
