Sleek Z

FastZcars, Tsk Tsk,, You have overlooked the most obvious and best source, ZPARTS.COM. I have a huge box with over 45 pristine gas doors from all years including the desireable chromed knob or locking typel. btw, gas doors are not all equal in used quality either. There are some areas of hidden damage that most restorers overlook before going to paint. Where ever you buy, check the backside for metal bending and rust under caulking seal. Eric Neyerlin - owner of ZPARTS.COM

FWiW, 1. I often salvage S30 roofs for resale, when they are in good condition. I cut them off as low on windsheild posts and rear quater joints as possible to aide a body man replacing one. I prefer to not ship these, but if a buyer will arrange pickup and shipping through a trucking company, I'll sell one to a non local buyer. 2. I have several older one and 2 piece sunroofs pulled from S30 bodies that have good glass, plastic and frames and hardware in case anyone wants to repair or replace bad one you may have on your car. Bit of a long shot whether I would have exact one you would need but you can inquire to me at parts@zparts.com 3. Speaking of sunroofs and unique roof mods, I have a customer with a 78 280Z that appears to have a factory installed, manually retractable metal sun roof that retracts downward and into a cavity in interior roof area that no one can tell me the history of. The entire roof area has factory looking, welded in, seamless tracks that look very similar to that on one of my former Jaguar XJ6 sedans! I have heard rumors of Nissan actually producing a few of these factory sun roofs, but never uncovered solid proof. Anyone know for sure? Chow for now,

Here's another cool clue. When I take photos of this new product at the Rio Vista HYBRID Z Show on Saturday I will be able to photograph it from the "outsde in" or from the "inside out" Look for my detailed photos of John Washington's newest product featured at ZPARTS.COM the day after. How's that for blowing a bunch of hot air to heat your imagination? Full Rio Vista Show details at http://zparts.com/events/nchz2003/intro.html Zee you there,

Now Dan, you aren't just blowing a bunch of hot air are you? Inquiring minds want to know!

OK, Gang, here we go again on this topic. Quite a few new custom tail light projects have come to my attention in the past 4 months and I hope to have photos of some of the best posted in my Custom Tail lights Showcase at ZPARTS.COM shortly after I return from photographing the West Coast Nationals in late April. So far photos of every thing from Pontiac tail lights from the 60's, to current day Honda corner units to the wildest yet, Z32 rear glows integrated into some of John Washington's rad rear body flares, have been sent into me to display in my Tail lights showcase. From what I hear one or two of these rad custom tail light projects in progress will make their debut at the NorCal HYBRIDZ Show & Swap being held this coming Saturday, April 5th, in Rio Vista, California in the Sacrament-San Francisco Bay Areas. If curious I highly suggest that you attend this first Z gig of the Bay Area Z season. Hope to see many of you there this weekend,

Drew, Thanks for the comments & good suggestions. If many others speak up about similar preferances I'll be happy to cook up an example, but I'd like to see strong interest in that direction first. Who else agrees with Drew's suggestion above? I like the idea of metalic or chrome/gold look as well, but my experience with such effects is that it takes a long time to construct really credible gold or silver melatic or chrome surfaces. Most quickee photoshop filter efforts look cheesy and cartoon like to my eye. Secondly, use of chrome and gold look need to be used in moderation within overal background, colors and textures or the whole thing becomes tacky and gaudy looking, IMO. Third, basic outline design has to stand up on it's own in 2D solid colors or line art before being evolved into chrome/gold effects because some hybridz.org uses may require simple black & white reproduction in the future. Now we need more basic, but new and fresh, line art ideas that express the stongest ideals and spirit at Hybrid Z.org. Once we have that illustrated adequately the PS gurus here can can chrome and gold plate the sucker to death if the general consesis is that is what most members prefer. Thanks for the input. Keep'um com'in.

Mat73GNZ and others suggested preference for red & blue with a bit of white in Z car related logos so below is my contribution for now. See HybridZ forum thread on Logo contest to see more examples. Quick update. I've been following the comments in this thread and have most appreciated them. As Dan Juday has announced, there will be NOR CAL Hybrid Z Car Show and Swap at Rio Vista, CA again this year, so my logo creation effort for that one is almost over. However, there is a much larger discussion on this site devoted to creating a new logo design for Hybrid Z. org. We could use a lot of your comments and input over there at the moment. Please post your comments and suggestions there if possible. Thread is 5 pages long now, but starting at page 4 will show you the latest. http://www.hybridz.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18576&start=45 ---- Sleek Z

It's precisely because it is hard to convey a picture with words that members need to try to make this effort here if possible. Such efforts produce a necessary energy that is helpful to logo design and graphic creation.

See large images of above at index to last year's Rio Vista Hob Nob & Swap http://zparts.com/events/riovista2002/riovista2002/index.html The TOMAHAWK Z kit is now made for the Z31 coupes. Not all that well known amongst Z owners these days, but a suberb looking kit for S30, S130 and Z31 Z car unibody coupes nevertheless. If you can convince Rory Bateman to accept your order for one you'll next find yourself included in his merry band of loyal and enthusiastic Tomahawk Z kit car owners. The trick is to persuade him to build you a kit in the first place. Hint, I know for a fact that he is currently working on building and installing a new Tomahawk kit on a Z31 turbo car for someone so it's still possible to order one. Recently I had photos of this latest "build" sent to me from one of my Tomahawk Z "spies" and may post a few soon at my ZPARTS.COM website.

So where's the fire under this idea? Reference to suggested Hybrid Z graphic and logo contest is featured at entrance to Hybrid Z site with a link to this topic thread, but there doesn't seem to have been any posts to this thread since Feb 7th? Is this contest happening or not? Is the topic being addressed in another thread or somewhere else? For the most part I have been quite pleased with the re-design of the look of the site and added features with the exception of the default "black cat in a dark room" visual effect I first was greeted with. Once I changed my personal settings to "silver" I've been enjoying the new design without complaint. In fact I was not displeased with former design, but the Hybrid Z site logos, past and present, have always struck me as falling short of expressing the spirit, goals, knowledge and talent that frequents these forums. I'd love to see some new logo ideas to consider and vote on. So ".....where's the beef"?

LEN, If I don't get some more input on this question soon, I just may have to take you up on your Golden Gate Bridge pose offer. Of course we may find ourselves waiting in line to get onto the bridge behind the soldiers chasing the terrorists, but hey, sounds like "cheap entertainment" to me. Keep your french inhales at the ready. Meanwhile what's with all the views of this poll and no responses other than yours? Com'on gang, speak up. Certainly the "Wacko Jacko" question is not more important than this one on the HybridZ forums?........or is it? Chow for Now,

Hi Gang Am working on designing a graphic LOGO for an upcoming "Hybrid Z" regional show and would really appreciate hearing your ideas related to several questions I am asking myself in order to pull together the look and feel of the logo design. Feel free to expand the topic with questions of your own if you like. No need to respond to numbered questions. Just wing a response off the top of your head as long as it's coming from your heart. Questions: 1. What color or group of colors in relationship, would you most likely first associate with Hybrid Z cars and events? What colors would you most prefer to see in a graphic logo advertising a Hybrd Z show or event? 2. What would you most like a Hybrid Z graphic logo to symbolize? What would you most like it to convey or express first and foremost? (for instance, speed, classy, individualism, creativity, fellowship, top dog, car knowledge, engineering, best of breed amongst street cars, etc) 3. Do you associate the hybrid Z spirit here as mostly related to powerful engines, customized body looks, one upsmanship or overal originality and creativity? Possibly related more to the past glory of the Z or more concerned with modern trends in sports and performance cars. Maybe just hanging out with like minded enthusiasts? Spirit of sharing perhaps? 4. In what ways do you feel this HybridZ forum and the HybridZ shows springing up around the country the past year, as a result of this forum, are different from all other internet based Z forums and regional gatherings of Z car enthusiasts? In other words, what is "unique" about the HybridZ forum spirit and Hybrid Z events inspired by it? Anything obvious come to mind that could be conveyed GRAPHICALLY in a logo for the show? Please give me your opinions and ideas, no matter how off the wall or unrelated to what I have suggested above. Mostly likely I am stuck in my own way of thinking and I need others to shake me loose from it so I can better serve the need at hand. Thanks much for any comments or ideas you offer,

IMO, the NEW Z should look like a Z Car, not mimic an Audi or try to appease non Z car owners. How many of you would go out and buy a new Corvette if the new design looked like a Mustang, an Audi or a Hummer with spiked hair tail lights?

Just was talking to Dan Juday this evening about mirror choices and I happened to menton that a private party is planning to consign for sale a brand new set of bullet style mirrors just like the one shown in this thread on the red car. Looking over MSA's catalog these appear to be the type with the 2 1/2" base. Dan recommended that I check out this thread about what I have for sale. Anyone interested? If yes, please contact me ASAP to save me the task of preparing the photo ad for them on my website. Eric Neyerlin - owner of ZPARTS.COM parts@zparts.com

I am a bit perplexed by this thread and the style of flare here being referred to as "IMSA". Reviewing MSA's catalog I can see the flares labeled as "IMSA", but every early reference I have ever seen referring to IMSA flares and style kits on early Z cars look more like white car shown above. I photographed and brokered that car for sale many years ago and at the time the owner advertised it as a "IMSA" Z car. Pretty much that car is the same style as Hoover's red "IMSA" G-nose car featured at my website 2 years ago. I am wondering whether MSA may have taken some "liberties" in naming their flares "IMSA" after all the IMSA race cars disappeared from the racing spotlight as if possibly current day owners might not know the difference? I don't claim to be well informed about the history of the IMSA look, but Rick Bower's car , as great as it looks in the photos, does not strike me as having the "IMSA" look. Anybody know more? btw, Rick, great looking car. Hope I can put my lens on it someday. Bet I could show you your car like you've never seen it before in photos. NICE!

Tim, just the man I wanted to talk to. How's your rear tail light project progressing? That I do not have good photos of your design in my Tail Light Showcase is my fault due to just getting behind with my promises, but I am still hot to get photos of yours, the guy with the 300ZX conversion and Dan Juday's surprise, showcased there ASAP. Got any time and energy to work on a few for me to display? I think your idea and it's execution is one of the best I have seen in a long time. About what's troubling you with the nose. No doubt the proportions/length of the hood and the distance of the front wheel wells from the leading edge of the door is part of it. I drew this body without an exact S30 body outline as a reference point. Hence the wheel base may be off far enough as to make you uneasy. As for the nose, keep in mind that it is patterned after a G-nose's extension beyond the stock hood, but is not meant to be a copy of the G-Nose's design nor exact dimensions. The slope of the hood and front fenders are purposely raked down steeper than stock position. Part of reason is that I am intrigued with ideas of cutting away as much of the underlying upper front unibody structure as possible before laying in substitute fiberglass fenders and altered stock hood or a tilt front end. This nose/hood design reflects those interests. To be more realistic, i should probably work up a see-through skeleton outline of a stock S30's underlying unibody structure from both a factory illustration as well as a side profile photo of a S30 with the fenders and hood removed so I showing drawing-in, cut down "limit lines" along the unibody structure to show how far a customizer might be able to go practically. Last year Rory Batemen, designer of the Tomahawk Z kits, lent me his photo album history of his life involved in modifying cars and designing fiberglass kits. Within there, there were many crude photos showing where and how he drew lines on Z cars and underlying structures as he worked up his approachs to making the dramatic body panels that he is well know for. I've been thinking that I should start getting more serious along the same lines if I want my illustration concepts to have more credibility and worth to others.

Not sure how much interest there may be here in such things, but FWIW, I have worked up a rather subtle design variation on the G-Nose look that I'd like to get some feed back on if anybody cares to comment. Main departures from stock lines are in the hood & fender slopes, cowl vents, grill area, lower air dam outline, rear fender arc and back tail/spoiler section. This is a work in progress somewhat related to the 2+2 Z convertible project shown earlier, but mostly I am trying to practice my illustration skills while exploring subtle detail changes to the S30 body. Full size image and a few extra notes can be seen at http://zparts.com/showcase/sleekz/szconcepts/misc/gnose1d.html Image displayed on that page comes across stronger than one displayed above with light background. Check it out and you'll see what I mean. Thanks much for any feed back or suggestions you care to make.

I am sure this is not the Zvette, but it's a start. Check photos at zparts.com at Z Car Monsters page

I'd like to see pics that illustrate the discrepancies in the fiberglass g-Nose that you are referring to because I can't quite visualize where the fit problems are based on your text description. Thanks,

I'll try to reply to a few of your questions. First off, even though I have referred to the street racer as a kit design, I did not intend to imply that my objective at this point is to create a sellable kit. The street racer theme is only a design exercise at this point, meant to help me work on visual thinking that interest me and hopefully others, particularly as it relates to re-interpreting the S30 body's potential 30 years after it's introduction. However, if this design or others that I have in my mind, managed to credibly evolve to the point that I feel jazzed to create test molds, then I suppose anything could be possible eventually. D Carrow: Design intentionally blends onto the door panel from both front & rear fenders, but angle and blend-on points probably will change. Doors will become thicker also. Not likely I would shorten front area ala 350Z because wide rear requires balancing length at the front, IMO AviaTorx: Agreed, most fender flare designs look awkward and incomplete because they abrubtly terminate at the door outline, leading to lack of harmony in look between front and rear proportions of car. Yes, the rear haunches of the street racer are quite wide, maybe too much so, but in this design experiment, it is their exagerated width which defines the main theme of the street racer look as opposed to a Jaguar/Ferrari or G-Nose IMSA style look. I was sorely tempted to add the G-Nose look and may do so as one design variation, but personally, I'd like to avoid any front end look that appears to copy well known older front end mod styles. Having a real 5 piece G-Nose here on a car staring me in the face everyday, I have many opportunities to look at it's virtues and weaknesses, design wise, and it has many of both. What I most want to avoid is a front design that has the weaknesses of the G-Nose look, but I am open to somekind of extension beyond the hood tip, especially because I have always wanted to come up with my own design interpretaion of a a front and rear bumper look for a S30 body. Tomahawk Z: I made no predetermined calculations about how wide of a wheel and tire would be needed on this type of design, but it is intended to take as wide a setup as possible even if that requires going to 5 lug adapter setup. It may not be practical on this design, but I have contemplated the possibility of adjusting the design so that the rear flares could be cut down to accomodate size of wheel owner prefers to use without the strength of the design being grossly diminished. Will need more input about that idea from guys here and seasoned kit builders I know. ToplessZ: Curious that you should mention the potential of such a design to look good on a topless Z body because some of the motivation for such an extreme Coke Bottle look was first fostered in my mind based on my irratation with how bland and unexciting a S30 Z body looks to me after the top has been removed. The first remedy I see for that blandness is increased outline curves to the top and side of fender areas, ala the old Stingray Corvette, Viper or Shelby Cobra/Tomahawk. The chief challenge with that approach is of creating a gaudy or stubby look without lengthening the front or rear overhang or both. Unless the length, (and perhaps the width) of the wheel base is modified to be longer (worse handling?) extending the front or rear overhangs very far could result in a design that could look decidely out of balance and cartoon like and hence, "not cool" to look at nor be seen in. "Form following Function" and "balance, balance, balance" are what it's all about in trying to come up with a design that really works for many as opposed for the few. Hope that answers some of the questions so far. I'll try to work on a side or 3/4 view next, but I don't feel all that confident in my illustration skills at this point to show the 3D aspects of a side view with many curves and flowing lines as I have envisioned. Advise welcome if you have experience with Adobe Illustrator. Eric Neyerlin

Doug, Thanks for the interest and compliments. I hope to start on a side view soon, but I am not good at maintaining proper flip side scale and proportion in proper perspective in my illustrations, but I intend to give it my best shot. When you fatten up the tail end section of a small car like the S30 body, it becomes tricky to intergate the side view proportions to attain the right balance of "form follows function" without sacrficing pleasing aesthetics and visual harmony between the front and rear areas of a car , IMO I can visualize what I want it to look like, but it is much hard for me to illustrate it in a credible manner using computer design programs. For now, however, I'd like a bit more feed back from hybridz minded guys here before I try to illustrate some of the variations I have in mind to compliment the top view on display now.

It is my understanding that an outfit named Puckett Automotive design in Santee? CA still offers a GT40 or Shelby Daytona Cobra like design for sale, but I never hear of anyone that has dealt with them or seen their kits up close. See Sales Brochure Cover image from that company to get a better idea of what they offer. Personally, I have been searching for traces to the Nalle GT kit and it's history for over 10 years and still can not find out where the maker or the molds are. However, within the past 2 years there has come to my attention, a group of street customizers in Pennsylvania, that supposedly ran into a guy in the Northeastern states within the past 10 years that had over 8 Cobra Daytona body kits for sale designed to fit Z cars. These guys apparently purchsed 3-4 of the kits, but communication with these guys has been so poor that I've been unable to even determine whether any of them still know that seller's name or whereabouts. My gut keeps whispering to me that possibly this seller may have been Tom Nalle, the kit's original designer? SideNote, from some of my research it has come to my attention that possibly Pete Brock, well known Datsun race car driver, may have been involved in the design and development of Carol Shelby's Cobra Daytona car? I have often wondered whether he could have been involved in someway in Tom Nalle's Cobra Daytona kit adaptation to the Z car as well?

For all of you keen on new visual concept ideas for your S30 bodies, I have just finished a new illustration, now up for viewing, that a few of you may find interesting and possibly somewhat controversial. Feed back, pro or con, most welcome. Had a bit of spare time this past weekend and decided to work at illustrating a body kit mod concept that I call a "Sleek Z Street Racer" which has been beating around in my brain for a year of so. Although not all variations on this visual theme are completed, you all are welcome to review an intro page I have published in my Sleek Z Concepts section at ZPARTS.COM Cick on this link, SLEEK Z STREET RACER Viewing image in browser's Full Screen mode is advised. Please let me know if the vertical image displays too tall in your browser or within screen resolution that you use. The image kb size is quite small, but the height is 500px. I view the internet on dual 21" monitors set up side by side, each set at 1152x870 resolution, and sometimes I misgauge image sizes that are not practical for others to view on smaller monitors. Please help on this if you experience a problem. Eric Neyelrin

Having owned and driven more than 6 registered, early Z cars at one time plus nearly 100 others over time, not to mention several thousand customers that drive theirs daily, I can confirm that what others have said about averaging in both the low and high 20's is common. I'd guess that most of mine ran in the 21-23 mpg range, but have experienced 28-32 mpg on trips. Occassionally a car or two will dip down into the mid-teens. My guess is that most of them suffered from low compression, worn carb components and improperly set timing & ignition.

Larry, Yup, main thing is to get your subjects out in the open under an overcast sky for a nice even light to fill in dark shadows so lots of detail can be seen and then hit the subject with a weak fill flash each time to give subject a few high lights that will avoid dullness while opening up dark areas that hold important detail and color. I'll send more details in a private post to give you some tips you can try. Did you get the new Photoshop Street Racer Z Concept design image that I sent out to several Hybridz'ers 2 days ago? Any opinions , pro or con?