Nissan’s “Z” car lineage is one of the most famous to come out of Japan, dating back to 1969 with the Fairlady Z/240Z. It made a huge splash in the US market, taking all the established players by surprise and creating a legend that continues to this day. Many Z models have appeared during the nameplate’s 57 year lifespan, including the 350Z which I have a particular fondness for. It’s successor, the 370Z, was a genuine step up from the previous generation with a better chassis, a bigger, more powerful engine and class-leading performance which made it quite popular with enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the car went out of production unceremoniously after an all too long 14 year run. Happily, the car is still getting some love and this green machine owned by Brinton is definitely one of the most recogniseable.
Before Black Label 6, this car was actually painted grey. Now I don’t know about you but I’m not keen on dark shades because they are dull and boring. Clearly Brinton had a similar thought and chose this rather interesting shade of green that I honestly haven’t seen on any other car, let alone a 370Z. It’s more of an “army” green than an “acid” green like you might see on a Lamborghini. Another plus in my opinion are the silver wheels which have 10 spokes arranged in a star pattern like a 5 spoke typically would be. It’s a solid, balanced design that allows you to see the brake discs and yellow calipers.
The aftermarket front bumper fitted to this car derives from a style first seen on the 350Z. In JGTC/Super GT, the 350Zs in the GT500 class had longer noses than the standard road car to maximise aero efficiency and create more grip. A few special models of the 350Z road car got a similar front end treatment. Although the 370Z never got the GT500 treatment, the elongated snout style was copied by aftermarket tuners because it does change the profile significantly. Behind the front wheels you will we see an air vent designed for brake cooling like a proper race car. The two little indents above the vent don’t function – they’re just for show.
Coming around the back of the car, you immediately notice the massive Voltex rear wing bolted to the rear hatch. It’s actually a two layered affair, so it’s twice as effective in producing downforce. The tailights are a different style from the original car, with LEDs instead of halogen bulbs sitting behind the darkened cover for a more muted appearance. To complete the look, the smooth rear bumper has been swapped out for something that’s lower to the ground and more purposeful, with a square space for a central light at the very bottom. It reminds me of a rain light on an F1 car. There’s also a large exhaust pipe on the left side of the bumper.
Green cars don’t come up very often so when you do see one, it’s well worth a look. I’ll admit that my relationship with the 370Z has been strained as it overstayed it’s welcome on the production line… but then I remember how big of a deal the car used to be. It’s not a bad car because it has a solid, naturally aspirated engine, rear wheel drive and punchy dynamics that some sports cars do lack nowadays. When I think about it that way, my reasoning for NOT liking it is petty. It’s a wonderful platform to build on, like all Nissans should be. Brinton has proven as much.
