The new year is 14 days old and ZCG is back from the holidays with a vengeance. We hope all you Z car fans had a great holiday. The first week of the year was spent prepping for the Silicon Valley International Auto Show. Each year, Z Car Garage has been lucky enough to have a spot in the Tuner tent. The display consisted of Z’s of all generations from early S30s to the new 370Z model.Thanks to all our customers for their support and allowing us to share their Zs with all the San Jose locals.  Stay tuned… a great year lies ahead.

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You might remember this 370 from awhile ago when we installed a set of Berk high-flow catalytic converters as well as a Stillen exhaust system and the car put down over 300 wheel horsepower.   Well it came back last week to add a few parts to help it handle as well as it accelerates now.  We started off with the standard Eibach Springs Pro Kit and then added upper front control arms and rear lower control arms to keep the excessive camber in check.

The adjustable SPC Performance control arms allow for a perfect alignment on the track or the street.  The front arms are of a hybrid tubular design which allows for increased strength and reduced flex over the cast aluminum pieces.  They come with all the bushings pre-installed so installation is a snap, for the most part, and they are finished in a semi-gloss black which is a shop favorite.

To stiffen things up even more we also installed a set of new sway bars from Hotchkis suspension.  We have been using these for years on most of the newer Zs and Gs and are always satisfied with the decreased body roll and planted feeling that they provide in the corners.

Not wanting to leave things looking stock, the owner opted for a couple of exterior paint changes.  Now the car was sent over to Williams Autobody to have the front “fangs” and the rear exhaust surround painted in a semi-gloss black.  This is a nice and easy way for the owner to set his Z apart from the crowd (unless the ZCG 370 is around), but to take it one step further we also sent the factory “Sport” wheels out for a quality powder coating job.  What color?  You guessed it, semi-gloss black.  I think it looks awesome.  No one will be mistaking this car now.  (We put the car on our spare R35 GT-R wheels until the stockers came back)

In the end, the tasteful modifications done to this 370z will allow the owner to enjoy his car to it’s fullest, or until he comes back for more anyway….  The 370z just keeps getting better and better.

The full gallery is after the “read more” from beginning to end to show you the ride height change and such  ENJOY!!

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Nissan has a history of releasing anniversary Z cars the new 370z 40th Anniversary is the most current offering.  The official 40th Anniversary in the United States is on October 22nd (which is why I waited until today to post this.)  Happy anniversary old friend!!!

From Nissan (full lengthy press release after the read more):

About the Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition The 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition starts out as a 370Z Coupe Touring model equipped with manual transmission and Sport Package (including SynchroRev Match, front chin spoiler, rear spoiler, Nissan Sport Brakes, 19-inch Rays forged aluminum-alloy wheels and viscous limited-slip differential) and adds a premium “40th Quartz” exterior color and red leather-appointed interior.

Additional exclusive equipment includes a high-luster smoke wheel finish, red brake calipers and 40th Anniversary badges on the rear hatch and front strut tower brace. Inside, along with the red leather-appointed seats are red door panel inserts, 40th Anniversary seatback and floormat embroidery, red stitching on the center stack, shift boot and kneepads, smooth leather steering wheel with red stitching and a plaque of authenticity. Every 40th Anniversary Z also comes with a commemorative premium satin car cover.

I’ll be holding my judgment on the car until I see one in person.  Sometimes these special editions are just a base model car with special badges on them and other times they are worth the $5k+ premium because they pull on your heart strings.  We’ll soon see.  Let me know what you think in the comments if you so desire, I’m always interested to hear from all of you.

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I found this on the amazing thing we call the internet this morning, I am not impressed, sorta.  You know it can do that on pavement, right?

In this next one it turns out that an animal seemed to be storing food in the exhaust system of this early Z.  What I find disturbing is that the father(?) pays no attention to what the kid with the camera was saying.  He just kept cranking away without a care in the world.

Taken from Nissan Press Release:

Following the total redesign of the iconic Z® for the 2009 model year, changes for 2010 are minimal – an enhanced Nissan Navigation Package with XM NavTraffic® Real-Time Traffic Information (XM® subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Streaming Audio and automatic phonebook download (select phones), 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and a Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System.  The 2010 370Z Coupe also receives standard heated mirrors and in-cabin microfilter, along with one new exterior color.

Revisions for 2010 include:

• Standard heated outside mirrors
• Standard in-cabin microfilter
• Navigation Package adds Bluetooth® Streaming Audio and automatic phonebook download (select phones)
• iPod® connectivity is changed to USB connectivity
• Black Cherry exterior color replaces Chicane Yellow

The most interesting part of this for some of you is the color change.  The Chicane Yellow was never a very popular color for most of the people that I have spoken to since the car was released.  It seems that now Nissan agrees.  Even better is that they have replaced it with Black Cherry.  Everyone loves the look of the Anniversary 350Zs with a similar color.  Now is your chance to get the 370z in the color of your dreams!!

On to the Roaster info and pricing.

Nissan Press Release:

The 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster is offered in four models.  The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) start at $36,970 USD for the 370Z Roadster 6MT and $38,270 USD for the 370Z Roadster 7AT.  Also offered are two Touring models, which add a 6CD Bose^® audio system, XM^® Satellite Radio (XM^®Bluetooth^® Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink^® Universal Transceiver, aluminum-trimmed pedals and power leather-appointed heated and cooled ventilated net seats.  The 370Z Touring Roadster 6MT is priced at $40,520 USD and the $370Z Touring Roadster 7AT is $41,820 USD.

Two option packages are offered (Touring model only): the Sport Package, with 19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, Nissan Sport Brakes, SynchroRev Match (6-speed manual transmission only) and Viscous Limited Slip Differential; and the Navigation Package, with Hard Drive-based Nissan Navigation System, 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and USB connectivity. subscription required, sold separately),

So it looks like a Touring Roaster is going to cost just about the price of a NISMO?!?  is that crazy to anyone else?  Do you remember why the Z went away in 1996 for the USDM?  Outrageous pricing.  I know the new Z is a HUGE improvement over just about anything else on the market today but I would hate to see such a great car disappear again because no one can afford it.

What do you think?   Am I overly critical of the pricing?  We’ll have to wait and see how many they sell I guess.  (Let me know if you want to see the sales numbers, I have access to them)

Source: NissanNews