Let's get the obvious bit out of the way, shall we? Yes, this is a very big car. The 350Z has big hips from the factory anyway but, when the Veilside bodykit is added, those hips become BIG! It certainly made an entrance when it pulled up outside the workshop.
From the carbon fibre bonnet to the lime green "Rising Sun" design on the roof, this is not a subtle vehicle. It's one that shouts, even when the engine isn't running. It's a genuine head-turner. That said though, the interior was, by and large, as Nissan built it, albeit carrying some wear from a decade or so of use.
The owner had a very specific colour scheme in mind: black and lime green leather. The finer details were left to me, for the most part. I decided to extend the green hide into the shoulder "wings" to make the seats look bigger than they are. The matching topstitch really stands out against the Crest Vele Black leather, and the black-embroidered "Veilside" logo in the upper centres adds a detail to everything.
The doorcards. These are my own bespoke design and they completely transform the cabin's appearance. The original vinyl covering that Nissan used was removed entirely and then the new leather covers constructed and fitted. The window switch panels and the passenger grab handle insert were painted satin black to blend them in against the retrimmed armrests on the doorcards.
The steering wheel had been reshaped elsewhere a couple of years previously, but the cover and stitching looked out of place so it was stripped back and treated to perforated black leather grips and a lime green TDC ring. The matching stitching was the finishing touch. The airbag cover was debadged, filled and smoothed before being trimmed in the Vele Black leather.
Final additions were the gear and handbrake gaiters, as well as a custom armrest for the centre console and a pair of seatbelt pads with the "350Z" logo embroidered into them.
To say the owner was pleased would be downplaying things somewhat. There is apparently a magazine article or two in the pipeline for this 350Z once the bodywork has been revamped, so keep your eyes peeled for that!
