Here is your chance to own a car that has been featured in the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas as well as numerous vendor websites.  This car is one sweet ride.  Click on the picture above or the link below to check out the entire listing!

For Sale:  350Z SEMA Show Car

Don’t forget to look at all the other cars in the For Sale section at the top of the page!!!

It is time again for one of the great car shows of the bay area.  I know what you are thinking, I already put up a post about the ZONC show at the Blackhawk Auto Museum.  Nope, it’s time for the 43rd annual Palo Alto Concours D’Elegance at Stanford.

This Sunday, Stanford University will once again host the councours on one of it’s northwest lawns along Sand Hill rd.  If you are wondering why I’m posting this, it’s because Z Car Garage has been invited to be part of the display for Japanese cars.  Last year we brought Rob’s Go Green 240z to the show, but this time I think we will be presenting a more traditional 240z for all to enjoy.

This event is held in very high regard in the automotive community and the level of cars that are brought out definitely reflect this.  For example: The PA Concours is and authorized Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg club meet, these cars are extremely rare and valuable, and they don’t get shown all that often, so don’t miss the chance to see these beauties in person.

It seems that the show isn’t ready to allow Japanese cars to be entered for judging just yet, but we are happy that they are beginning to realize the historical importance of these cars in the big picture.  Please visit their website below for all the links and information.

I have included a small map below just to give you an idea of where the event is located.

Official Website:  Palo Alto Concours D’Elegance

Our friend Scott was nice enough to get some footage for the latest installment of our summer track event posts while he was at Thunderhill Raceway last Friday.  Please find a reputable track event organizer, like Hooked On Driving, and get your car out on the track to have some fun!

This video shows what a well set up Z can do in the right hands, and I especially love all the little comments he added about all the cars he passes, wicked.  Also, if this car sounds different to you than in previous posts then give yourself a high-five.  It received a new Motordyne “Shockwave” single exhaust.  I will have photos, dyno numbers, and more info on the new exhaust this week.  Enjoy!

One of the best Nissan/Datsun/Infiniti in the Northern California area is the annual Blackhawk auto show put together by the ZONG organization.  This event consists of beautiful cars from all over the state and the winners are decided by the fellow entrants which always makes for an exciting trophy presentation.  We will be bringing quite a few choice cars from the shop as well as unveiling the production version of our ZCG Big Brake Kit for the 240z.

Another great reason to make the trip to Blackhawk is the amazing auto museum.  If have any sort of appreciation for the automobile, or art in general, this place is a must!!  There are cars of all generations from every marque, some of which you may have never heard of.  The rolling artwork here are some of the finest examples still in existence.  You will not be disappointed.

I have heard rumors that ZONC has been in contact with Nissan North America to possibly bring a surprise vehicle, can you guess what it might be?  I’ll fill you in when I get a confirmed yes or no.  Click on the flyer below for all the detail and make sure to check our the photos from last years event.  We hope to see you there!

Link:  ZONC

Link:  Blackhawk Automotive Museum

ZONC Blackhawk Flyer:

More photos from last year after the ‘read more.”

…[read more]

Nissan calls the new NISMO 370z “Possibly the ‘best-bang-for-the-buck’ sports car available today,” and I’m not sure that anyone in their right mind would disagree.  With the base model starting at $30K (add 3k for the sport package) and the touring ringing in at 35+, the NISMO isn’t that much of a stretch considering all the improvements.

The first thing that you will notice is the entirely redesigned body kit that is supposed to clean up some of the aerodynamic drag and possibly decrease some lift, although I haven’t seen any coefficient of drag numbers yet.  Next to catch the eye are the newly designed wheels.  The have an obvious relation to the sport package wheel that has a more traditional 5-spoke approach.

Beneath the wheels are the Nissan Sport brakes.  They don’t mention if these are an upgrade over the braking package on the Sport Package, I certainly hope they are (Click HERE to see why.)  Nissan also claims to have refined the suspension package for the new model and additional chassis bracing.  The new suspension will have “specially tuned springs, shocks absorbers, and stabilizer bars.”  The car will also benefit from a limited-slip differential fitted as standard equipment, this will help put those few extra hp to the ground.

Which brings me to my final point… power upgrades.  Every one knows that the Z33 (350z) NISMO should have come from the factory with at least a small bump in power and it looks like Nissan have learned their lesson.  The Z34 NISMO will feature an 18hp and 6 lb-ft jump to a total of 350hp and 276 lb-ft of torque.  This not-so-subtle increase is due to an enhanced exhaust system and upgraded ECU programing.  This last part about the ECU makes me excited to see what the future will hold as far as tuning modified 370Zs in the future.  Very interesting….

Gallery:  2009 NISMO 370z

Nissan Official site:  NISMO 370z

As always, there will be more info as I get it.  The full press release from Nissan is after the ‘read more.’

…[read more]