Projekt Z

It's a matter of fact: Whether you build it for street, strip or show, an aftermarket body kit can make or break a car. The wrong kit will turn heads for all the wrong reasons, but the right one will have those same heads enthralled. In our quest to turn Projekt Z into the ultimate street car, the exterior styling was a pivotal point in the buildup. With the handling characteristics taken care of with the installation of the Tein suspension, Cusco sway bars and 19-in. Racing Harts wrapped in Pirelli rubber, the urge to complement the Z's aggressive new stance took precedence.

We knew from the get-go that turning the Z into a clean, mean street machine would required a select crop of subtle, quality pieces that had enough durability to handle life on a car built for the highways. The initial step would mean plenty of research and a definitive idea of what look we were after. For weeks we searched the world over looking for a kit that was clean and tasteful, one that wouldn't distract from the Nissan's impressive sheetmetal shape. As many of you know, the 350Z debuted in Japan under the Fairlady badge several months before it hit U.S shores, meaning the aftermarket in the East got its hands on it long before anyone here. Nevertheless, after countless hours of surfing through numerous overseas markets, nothing seemed to fit our vision of what we wanted. No one seemed to see the Nissan's potential in the same manner we did.

Then, out of nowhere, it smacked us upside the head--and right on our own doorstep. GReddy Performance Products in Irvine, Calif., is recognized as one of the grandfathers of the import performance aftermarket and is renowned for quality products. The company blindsided us with the release of its aero kit for the 350. It was perfect; GReddy had the same vision as we did for the Nissan. The four-piece kit includes a front urethane spoiler, side skirts and rear valence, plus the quality and fit we've become accustomed to with the GReddy line. Fitment is as important part of the body kit equation. A poor fit, misaligned pieces and huge gaps can make your ride stand out in the wrong way--its not just how dope your new kit looks.

For the finishing touch we needed to find a rear wing. Our goal was to mimic the monstrous appearance that only the Porsche Carrera can brag about. This proved easy to do thanks to Veilside USA's Version 2 rear wing. The Veilside piece also bolts into the factory location and incorporates the same Z squares, tying in the factory mindset.

The search was over and the hardware decided. But these left us with at least half the mathematics still waiting to be done. Many of you will of learned the hard way that there is a simple rule with body mods. A quality body kit eliminates half the problem, but poor installation and paint can put you right back to square one--and possibly even further back. M.O.B Works in Orange, Calif., has established a reputation for being one of SoCal's leading auto paint professionals within the import arena. M.O.B even sells an expanding line of JDM parts. Having had several of its rolling creations grace past pages here, we opted for the same quality work for the Z. After endless hours of searching out the perfect kit, it seemed only logical to stay on the same path by choosing a high-quality auto painter. The M.O.B crew understands the import enthusiast's needs and they have taken on everything from repair work to custom sheetmetal fender treatments. Our requirements this time around were relatively simple, but quality paint in terms of color matching and longevity were a must, along with precise fitment. The "M.O.B." doesn't mess around with small-time products and knew exactly what was needed to raise the bar with the Nissan. The finished product speaks for itself.