Rich Ces’ TT Z32
About the owner:
I originally purchased my 1990 Nissan 300zx NA in January of 1997 when I was 21 as my "dream car". I fell in love with the Z32 design when I first saw it featured in the "G.I. Joe/Barbie" commercial with the Van Halen cover "You Really Got Me" as well as in the Need for Speed/Gran Turismo video games. One night I was driving passed Valenti Audi in Watertown, CT (where I live) around closing time when I saw it being unloaded. I walked in & put a deposit down before even test driving it, returning the next day trading in my Camaro Iroc-Z. Unfortunately, it was a lemon but one I'd build up over 24 years. Flash forward to 2001, my engine harness caught fire throughout the engine bay. I immediately thought 1 thing; Cue the scene from the original Fast & the Furious yelling "NOS!" (Although I never ran nitrous LOL). I thought it was over, car was done. I ended up scoring a totaled (from the rear) 91 Twin Turbo with a perfect engine having only 48,000 miles on it. The perfect donor car! The job originally fell into the hands of a bad mechanic who's mouth was bigger than his work ethic. He strung me along for 3 months lying about the work he said he completed. One night a friend & I got into his shop lot, popped both hoods to find only the intercooler removed. I pulled both cars out the next day & delivered them to a well known & very talented mechanic in the greater Waterbury, CT area (Carlos Soto) who IS the mad scientist (or as I like to call him "El Científico Loco") who has done all of my major work since & has become a dear friend.
I love driving the car which is garaged during the Winter & barely sees rain in the Summer. It's amazing to me that not many are familiar with the design & still ask "What kind of car is that?" When I reply "A Nissan." they usually reply "A Nissan? Is it new?" When I explain it's a 1990 they're blown away! I had 2 cash offers for my Z32; 1 from a former member of Paul Newman's (who was a huge Nissan guy) race team which I denied & another from a (cough) "Street Pharmacist" who wanted a fast car to run drugs with up and down the East Coast which was denied even faster! My wife (Lauren, Fiancé at the time) included my Z in our engagement photos, which convinced me she's a keeper! I'm hoping to one day pass it on to my son (Matteo) or maybe build something he's interested in with him. As for my Daughter (Giordana) I guess I'll have to start a new project. R34 perhaps? Don't tell the wife.
About the car:
Specs:
1990 Nissan 300zx 2+0 USDM
Twin turbo swap
5-speed manual transmission
Power: 390hp
Modifications:
Motor: Rebuilt in 2002 and in 2013.
Intake: Greddy dual intake w/ hard piping, Mishimoto front mount intercooler w/ piping, HKS BOVs,
Exhaust: HKS cat-back, test pipes,
Fuel: Nismo 370cc injectors, TT fuel pump.
Suspension: Stock
Brakes: Cross drilled & slotted rotors.
Misc: ECU Upgrade (Jim WolfTechnogy), Clutch & Transmission (Z1).
Exterior: TwinZ JDM front bumper (shaved plate mount), TwinZ Type 2 front lip, TwinZ Type 1 nose panel, TwinZ Type 1 vented hood, Kaminari body kit, GTS Solar Wing for 300zx, 1995 twin turbo rear spoiler, New engine bay cowls & window molding (ZThirtyTwo), HID headlight & fog light upgrades, Headlight Accent Lighting (R8), Taillight & Turn signal upgrades
Wheels: 17" Excell 5 star rims w/ custom Autobot center caps
Interior/electronics: Tri-pillar gauges (Autometer gauges) w/ Apex-i turbo timer, Z1 custom gauges (ZThirtyTwo) with carbon fiber bezel & chrome gauge rings, "Fairlady Z" clock replacement (Z1), Interior Innovations interior replacement (black w/ red stitching), floor mats (ZThirtyTwo), steering wheel & pedals (MOMO), short shift / shifter & brake (Z1), heads up display & K40 radar system, Pioneer double-din sound system w/ Kicker interior speakers, Kicker amp, Kicker 10" sub-woofer (custom Z32 box), Viper security system with GPS tracking.
