The Internet is already making some great Nissan Z Proto design upgrades

Jeff Glucker

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The Nissan Z Proto has landed. And it’s styling is leaving the Internet… conflicted. The general consensus seems to appreciate what Nissan is doing here but everyone has a few questions or concerns. That’s fine, of course, but the good take away from all this is that people still care about a new Z car. And the Internet than did what it does when a new or redesigned car lands, and that’s start tweaking.

I created that lead image last night. My Photoshop skills are sub-par (see the still yellow reflection, LOL) but I wanted to see what a simple BRE-esque livery might look like. A better artist took a stab at one as well and the results are great. Have a look at what Thomas Hank from GoFetch Design created:

Then one of my favorite artists Jon Sibal took a crack at the car. Sibal is an amazing illustrator and all-around great artist and car enthusiast. He posted a track-ready version of the Z Proto on his Instagram page:

After that, the wonderful Larry Chen shared his version of a Z Proto which is inspired by his own 240Z. Oh, and Sibal drew this one up too:

Next, SSR Wheels shared its own vision of a Nissan Z Proto. This one is modeled on Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg’s 370Z drift car. And yes, Sibal drew this one too:

Damn Jon, leave some modeling for the rest of us! Seriously though, these are great mockups and we can’t wait to see how the actual Z turns out. And now if you’ll excuse me, I need to try my hand at making both an Eastern Safari Z Proto Tribute and a future 35th Anniversary 2023 Shiro Special Z Proto.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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15 responses to “The Internet is already making some great Nissan Z Proto design upgrades”

  1. caltemus Avatar
    caltemus

    I thought this was a neat take:
    https://images.cdn.circlesix.co/image/1/1000/0/uploads/posts/2020/09/cf899dc8db273f772a01bad8a42a035f.png
    https://www.carthrottle.com/post/49872vq/

    Reply
  2. caltemus Avatar
    caltemus

    I thought this was a neat take:
    https://images.cdn.circlesix.co/image/1/1000/0/uploads/posts/2020/09/cf899dc8db273f772a01bad8a42a035f.png
    https://www.carthrottle.com/post/49872vq/

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I like the shoulder line modification, but the lowered, shorter grille reminds me too much of the 350Z.

      Reply
  3. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    Looks better in normal colors. I get why they did it, but the yellow color isn’t something that many people will want in their own garage.

    I’m digging the Torq-thrusts with some sidewall too.

    Reply
    1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
      Wayne Moyer

      Torq-thrusts make any car better.

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        My wife stopped me from putting Torq-Thrusts on our minivan. Probably a wise move, but then I went and put BFG KO2s on it instead.

        Reply
        1. Wayne Moyer Avatar
          Wayne Moyer

          I was going to put them on my Kia Soul but then I made it part of a trade for my Frontier. I can only imagine how that would have effected value. My daughter has asked me to find wire looking hubcaps that work on a 2003 Saturn Ion 2. That’s my next task of this task.
          Although torq-thrusts would look cool on a 2019 Frontier. I mean it is already an old truck.

          Reply
          1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
            SlowJoeCrow

            I generally associate 5 spoke wheels like Torq-Thrusts and Cragars with larger cars and trucks, My go to wheel for smaller cars is a Panasport/Minilite style. Since it’s already a bit of a caricature I think Ronal Teddy Bears might be fun on a Kia Soul.

        2. salguod Avatar
          salguod

          A guy at work dailys a 924 with a roof rack and KO2s that barely fit in the wheel wells.

          Reply
  4. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    The GoFetch BRE rendering demonstrates something that I tried to do in photoshop last night, but failed. The grille needs to be broken up, and that high splitter works perfectly. I was attempting to add some chrome trim to mimic the thin bumper of the 240Z, but didn’t like the results. There’s a fine line between a retro-inspired homage and just attaching old shit to a new car.

    Reply
    1. Tiller188 Avatar
      Tiller188

      Came down here to say that — adding that splitter both solidifies the callback to the 240 and helps break up that maw. I’d love to see more angles of that rendition, but offhand, what a difference. The BRE livery doesn’t hurt either, although that makes me curious how that visual modification would work in a more “streetable” form with a single body color and without the struts and extended lower splitter to go along with. Maybe a less-prominent version of that high splitter for the “street” version? Even reduced in size, of course, it’d probably never fly, because shins, but still…

      Reply
  5. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    The BRE tribute looks good, and just as fitting as Gulf colors on a Ford GT.

    Reply
  6. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Couldn’t see the IG images (& usernames) on android mobile, is it just me? (ok on a pc)

    Reply
  7. Jeff Glucker Avatar
    Jeff Glucker

    I made another one last night…

    Reply
  8. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    The grille bothered me at first, but it’s grown on me now that I see the direct connection to the 240/260/280. But the lines on nose are still too crisp for me, compared to the softer lines in the rear.

    Reply