We met Bill in 2019 when he came to Z Car Garage on referral from our local Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC) club. He’s owned a pretty 1973 Datsun 240Z in Metallic Brown for many years and this 2008 Nissan 350Z Convertible that we also take care of. Let’s hear how Bill got into Z cars…
BILL: “I had a 1977 280Z that I loved and drove to almost 400,000 miles then I wrecked it. After maybe four months without a Z I bought my 240. I was a teacher on the low end of the pay scale so whatever I could afford I put into the 240. Then I was offered a spot in administration and with the new position, a raise. I thought it would be fun to have a new Z to go with the 240 so I ended up buying a 2008 350Z.”
Bill had a few criteria for his newest sports car purchase:
“I had never bought a car from a dealership and never anything this new. I had four criteria: (1) It had to be a Z, so I looked at nothing else (2) I wanted a standard (stick) transmission, and this was hard to find (3) I wanted a convertible (4) I wanted the good stereo option for whatever year I bought. Funny thing was it wasn’t the convertible part that was the problem. The main problem was that there were very few stick shifts. I found one… but it was (is) red – bright red. I wanted grey or black, but there were zero available in California at that time. So, I bought a red Nissan 350Z convertible. It is an amazing car. I just wish it were black.”
Keeping Bill on the road
BILL: “I was taking the 350 to the dealer since it is 5 minutes away from where I live and ZCG is kind of far. I trusted the 240 with only ZCG but I thought the 350 was newer so the dealer could maintain it until…I ran into a problem with the convertible top that the dealer had no idea how to fix. The top was stuck down – as in it couldn’t close. I called a couple of convertible places in S.F. and they wouldn’t touch it because of the “kind of system” that Nissan used. ZCG not only was the only place willing to even look at it. They fixed it and it has worked ever since.”
ROB:“Bill brought his Z to us back in 2022. The convertible top had an issue where it wouldn’t lock. We were able to replace the lock assembly and get it operational without the costly dealership replacement of entire thing. We also replaced the T/C Rod bushings, LCA bushings, installed Whiteline diff bushings ( a common failure on Z33s)”
Full 60k mile services performed with a new radiator replacement:
Bill was pleased with the work done by Z Car Garage:
“The 350 is SO MUCH FUN to drive! ZCG fixed the top but they also did bushings that changed the handling. They have also done general maintenance. At this point I only trust ZCG to look at it.”
Filed under: Maintenance,R35
by Alvin G @ 4:35 pm on June 6, 2023
Bruno is the owner of this 2015 R35 GT-R and he visited Z Car Garage on referral from the online GT-R forum. We’ve been receiving a steady stream of R35 owners since Boardwalk Nissan’s closure and it makes us happy as we love both vintage and late model Nissans.
This GT-R is a limited-production 45th Anniversary Gold Edition featuring a special paint color called Silica Brass, the same hue as the 2001 (R34) Skyline GT-R M-Spec. Available only in the Premium Edition trim level, the R35 included a special emblem on the lower part of the interior center cluster and an exclusive model plate number in the engine compartment. Bruno’s car represents just 1 of 27 in the US and 1 of 79 worldwide, a rare R35 indeed!
R35 GT-R Services at ZCG
Bruno had 42k miles on the odometer and it was time to service the brakes. We installed DBA front replacement rotors with Hawk HPS pads f/r and bled the brakes with Stoptech fluid. Rotor/pad removal and cleaning:
New rotors/pads installed:
We also performed a 45k-mile service, replacing all fluids/filters and Nissan drive belt. At Z Car Garage we not only build the wildest vintage cars, we also do anything service related. We often get calls with folks assuming we don’t want to do something simple…ZCG handles the easiest things like oil changes or ensuring you stay on top of your maintenance…to all all-out war builds. Please let us know if we can help you with your R35, 370z, 350z, G37, G35, Q60 or Z32. It was great meeting your Bruno and we loved working on your Gold edition R35. More photos in the gallery below!
We are huge fans of the 1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX and this “Stillen GTZ” example is a unicorn among Z32s. In the early 90’s the GTZ was a limited run, special edition 300ZX Twin Turbo produced by Steve Millen Sportparts Inc. Only 6 GTZs were built in the series, and our client Mike B owns #6 finished in Diamond Black Pearl Metallic. Z Car Garage performed a mechanical refresh with dyno tuning to get it back in fighting form.
From Z to Super Z, by Stillen
Photo by Ryan Brackin
Steve Millen took Nissan’s World Class Sports Car and transformed it into the GTZ. Suspension, engine, transmission and aerodynamic upgrades used in developing this special 300ZX Twin Turbo could be found in Stillen’s performance catalog:
GTZ-specific parts included 17″ Billet Wheels…designed by Steve Millen and Elite wheels allowing 275mm-width tires:
Aerodynamics package highlights included the LeMans-inspired GTZ Rear Wing and GTZ turbo front spoiler that directed air into side-mounted intercoolers. Also shown are the vented front/rear fenders and louvered front panel:
Optional GTZ single tip exhaust system, fitting through GTZ Rear Valance opening. Performance upgrades included Brembo front brake calipers, EVC boost controller, HKS Boost and exhaust gas temp gauges. Catalog scans courtesy of Z32 enthusiast Jay S:
The GTZ received accolades from the press, with an orange example gracing the cover of Road & Track Magazine. Their April 1991 issue featured and extensive review of the car:
“It’s and absolute carnival ride to tip into the throttle, hear those twin turbos spool up and hang on as the GTZ reels in the horizon…a tractable, smooth road car that performs, handles and feels like a race car”
Motorweek put the Stillen GTZ up against a tuned Mazda RX-7 of the same area in their wonderful road test video, you can see it HERE. The GTZ is not to be confiused with the SMZ which was a special edition of the 300ZX that was produced in collaboration with Nissan to celebrate 25 years of the Z car.
Mike’s Z32 Story
Before we get into the mechaincal work let’s hear from Mike and how he acquired his 1991 Stillen GTZ…
“I was working in Phoenix during most of the 90’s in advertising and design for major automotive brands. My job was so stressful but at the beginning and end of each day I had a 30-45 minute drive home. I was driving a 1964 Triumph TR4 at the time and also a 1991 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. I wanted a 300 ZX TT in black and then I would add all of the body stuff like wings and front valence etc later. Saw the ad for a Stillen GTZ in Autoweek magazine and bought it in 1994 with about 7,000 miles on it. It was like brand new.”
“I bought the car from a lady who had just moved back to Beverly Hills from Hawaii. While in Hawaii she saw the orange GTZ that was on the cover of the April 1991 cover of Road & Track magazine and wanted to have one built for herself. She called a Nissan dealer while she was in Hawaii that was in San Juan Capistrano, CA and ordered a Diamond Black Pearl Twin Turbo. She paid for it with a credit card. It cost about $40,000. It was then trucked to Stillen in Costa Mesa where the car was turned into a GTZ. She spent somewhere around $45,000 on the car to do that. She also had a car phone installed in the center console. It is still there and works. She also had TeleTrac installed which was a GPS tracking device in case the car was stolen, pretty rare at that time. Once the car was finished Stillen put the car in a wooden crate and it was air-freighted to Hawaii. She moved back to the mainland, got pregnant and decided the GTZ was not the car for a pregnant woman so she bought an Infiniti Q45 and had Stillen trick it out. I had the car serviced by Stillen, for the most part, while I was living in Phoenix.”
Mike recalls attending a Stillen Z meet in the 90’s and meeting Steve Millen for the first time with his GTZ. A recent visit to their facility in Orange County in 2022 yielded some great results:
“Steve Millen had sold the company and had moved back to New Zealand, but as I walked up the path to the front door of the shop an older guy was walking out of the building towards me….I was all…that looks like Steve Millen, and it was! We talked for a bit about the car and how he remembered it and the lady who commissioned it. He wrote a short letter for me stating that it was a genuine GTZ, number 6 in a series of 6 built by him. It also stated that my car was most likely the only one still in existence.”
The GTZ at Z Car Garage
We met Mike B in early 2022. He has owned this Z for 28 years and it was not running correctly so it came down to Z Car Garage from SF. We performed a full inspection, resolved some items while it was here and ordered several parts for it: “I was getting an oil change at a Nissan dealer south of SF a few years ago. While it was on the rack they noticed a few things that needed to be fixed. They didn’t recommend their dealer do the work and gave me Rob’s number and info. It was in the middle of covid so times were weird. They said Z Car Garage was one of the best in the country for Z work and I was happy to hear the shop was about 40 miles away from me. I went down to meet Rob and we discussed what should be done with the car to bring it up to snuff.”
The Z had an older exhaust system on it in rough condition. Rob had one in his parts stash so we hooked Mike up with a fresh Stillen axle-back exhaust system. We replaced all power steering hoses, rack bushings, valve covers, PCV valve, EGR, O2 sensors and everything under the plenum:
We installed Koni Yellow sport shocks F/R, lubed sway bars, and performed a full alignment. The passenger side door window motor failed, NLA but we had one and installed it. The oil was changed and car prepped for smog.
Dyno Tuning
With larger 740cc injectors we made a new chip so we could dyno tune it. It has a Greddy Profec b boost controller, set boost for 91 octane and made 310hp/352tq at the wheels. Solid gains over the baseline of 221hp/236tq:
The Stillen GTZ in action: walk-around, dyno runs and in-car driving with Rob and Mike B, enjoy!
Mike was really happy with the Z Car Garage service:
“Z Car Garage is great! I feel really confident that Rob does the best work out there and really knows his stuff. I took my car in for the boots etc and when all of the work was completed late last year my car was like a whole different beast! Rob did work on the engine like larger injectors and replaced all the fuel lines etc. He did some suspension work as well which took it to a whole new level. My first trip down to the shop, when the car was ready, Rob took me for a spin. That car had never handled like that before or performed like that. I think he said I got about another 100hp to the rear wheels after time on the Dyno. It was unreal to drive.”
“The engine pulls now like it has never before. The power comes on fast and it just feels like it can go and go! When Stillen first built the car they installed Bilstein shocks and Tokico adjustable struts. Over the years I had those replaced and the car never handled as well. When Rob was done with the car it now corners like it used to…like a road grader!! We took a corner near his shop at about 80, and this is a corner I’d usually take at about 40. It handled that corner like a race car, no body roll and tons of grip.”
With the mechanicals sorted, Mike went a step further and had paint and bodywork by our man William. Mike also had the original decals reproduced so the car now looks like it did back when it was built:
Mike’s GTZ at home in San Francisco. Although he’s owned it for nearly 30 years it’s time to let it go to another Z enthusiast. The GTZ is up for auction on Bring a Trailer right now! You can view the auction HERE
We enjoyed working your special GTZ, thanks for your support Mike and Long Live the Z! More photos in the gallery below:
Brad L is the original owner of this 2008 Nismo 350z #1188. He generally uses this Z for fun road trips and wanted a little more power so we installed a Stillen supercharger kit last year. Brad recently visited Z Car Garage for routine maintenance and we spent some time admiring the details Nissan added to this rare Z33. Enjoy the photos!
When the Nismo Z33 made its debut 15(!) years ago its aero package was considered downright shocking. We think it has aged well, from the aggressive front fascia and side skirts to that unmistakable SuperGT-inspired rear spoiler/diffuser.
Brembo brakes, and super-sexy NISMO forged wheels still make our mouths water:
The interior also reminds you that this is a special Z with red-accented seats, NISMO white and gray tach, and a serialized NISMO-etched aluminum plaque:
With roughly 1,600 units produced for 2007-2008 the Nismo 350Z is quite rare. We still love them. How rad would it be if Nissan offered a Nismo model of the new Z?
Last week our friend Eric Straw visited us for tuning on his incredible RB26DETT-powered 1984 DR30 Skyline. You might remember Eric stopping by the shop last year on his way down to the JCCS show, where the DR30 put down 462hp/348tq on our dyno. Eric expressed interest in more power without sacrificing reliability:
“The only plans I have for it at this point is a pair of GT2860RS, new injectors and Haltech Platinum Pro Tuning by Z Car Garage in spring”
So spring arrived and Eric collected his parts including new GT2860RS turbos, Radium Engineering fuel supply, Injector Dynamics ID1050x injectors, and a Haltech Platinum Pro from ZCG. Rob began dyno tuning sessions and road data-logging.
Eric wanted the Skyline to run on Oregon’s readily available pump gas, and the result was 532hp/389tq to the wheels on 92 octane. Power delivery is very linear and Eric’s fastidious chassis-prep harnesses the power so well it is hard to believe you are riding in a 80’s Japanese car! Here is video of the DR in action:
Our good friend Michael Spreadbury accompanied Eric on the roadtrip down from Oregon. Michael was instrumental in the DR build and is a well-known Datsun-guru building some killer SR20-powered roadsters from his shop at Spriso Motorsports. While the two were in town Rob shared the Nissan Patrol and had the boys put some miles on the DR30 after the fresh tune.
On Saturday 4/15 we had a great opportunity to take the DR30 to Laguna Seca and watch Patrick Chio race in the USTCC and our customer Kevin B enjoy a track day. I had to join in on the fun with my roadster 🙂
The Skyline was impressive to watch on the freeway. From inside it feels like it is carved from billet with surprising balance between ride stiffness/NVH. Oh, and that RB26 is velvety-smooth with thrust for days. We think Eric is quite happy look at that RHD smile!
Laguna Seca was filled with plenty of eye candy. We even saw a few BAYZA Z32s/Z31s! Always fun to see owner’s solutions to the ever-changing sound restrictions:
Laguna Seca also makes a fantastic backdrop for photos.
At the end of the day we snuck into the garages to capture some “pretend” race-day shots:
The trip home was exhilarating. The DR30 has some glorious 80’s lines and those after-burner tail lights glow just right at dusk:
We had a rad time with you Michael and Eric! Enjoy The Boost!
