Feature: This Alphabet Starts with Z

The Z has a legendary heritage. It was the Japanese car that took the world by storm. The performance, the power, the styling, it had it all. The Z line ran all the way up to 1996 in America, and ended with the 300zx. It continued until 2002 in Japan, and was brought back to American shores in 2003 as the new recreated 350z. Once again, taking the world by storm. It offered everything a performance enthusiast could ask for, and owner John Michalec took it one notch further, starting with the letter Z.

John got himself into the car game from his friend, and photographer, Evano Gucciardo. Friends since 2nd grade and long time car enthusiast, this Z is Evano's brother's ex-fling. Evano had an Evo 8, and his brother, a 350z. John started to hang out with them and caught the contagious mod bug we all try to fight off. "I loved the bodylines, it just looked so clean, it was the cleanest car I could find in my price range." He eventually bought the 350z and started to dig deep into his new machine.

"The whole car is based around the wheels" says John. "I know it's not crazy fast, but the wheels really set it off." "I'd say it's around 270rwhp with basic bol-on's."

Those basic bolt on's consist of an Apex'i N1 exhaust, 5/16 top plenum spacer, Berk test pipes, and Jim Wolf Technology popcharger intake. Z's are pretty well tuned from the factory, so extracting power from the VQ35 without a turbo or supercharger isn't exactly easy, or cheap. The 5/16 spacer alone is good for over 10+rwhp, which essentially just spaces out the top and bottom intake manifolds, which were poorly designed from the factory, and caused the front 2 cylinders to starve for air. such a simple solution, and some impressive power gains, not to mention the exhaust note sounds like an exotic.

Moving to the exterior, the Redline paint draped over and INGS+1 kit forces you to focus all of your attention on the aggressive lines and stance of this Z. The pride and glory of the setup revolves around a set of Work VSXX wheels sized in 19x9.5 + 4 up front, and 19x10.5 +2 out back, requiring some serious fender rolling. Slammed on Stance GR+ coilovers, the beautiful Work VSXX wheels are perfectly aligned thanks to a set of Stance rear adjustable camber arms dialed in at -3.1 degrees. The rears are balanced out by a set of Eibach Front control arms in a -2.7 fashion. All these numbers equate to one thing; one hell of a stance.

Living in Rochester, New York, the roads aren't the greatest, and even still, as low as it sits, this Z is immaculate. "It doesn't even know what rain is" laughs John. "It's depressing to see it in the winter just sitting there, but it's worth it when it comes back out in the spring because the paint is so clean and immaculate." It's hard to believe this is John's first modified car. Not only are the mods spot on, but the paint, wheel selection, even down to the bodykit are a perfect match, making this Z automotive eye candy.

"I've owned the car for 2 years, and 1 month to the day" says John. "I don't really have too many other plans for it at the moment...except maybe some different wheels. I'd eventually like to get into a right hand drive S2000, or a right hand drive S14 or S15 because you just don't see too many cars of that magnitude around." Judging by what he's already accomplished, I'd say it's safe to say that whatever his next car is, it's gonna be damn fine.

John would like to thank his best friend and photographer Evano Gucciardo for getting him into the car scene, always taking pictures, and guiding him along the way down modification valley.