SVX bodykit and front update

[Freeman]

A ford probe? Yuck..

[BoxerFanatic]

Originally Posted by michael

This thread is so fun, your efforts are much appreciated Farang. I can't wait to see some updates on your SVX. If you get time could you possibly try the front end of a 92 300zx & Ford Probe? You're either a photoshop ninja or spend a lot of time working on these mockups, I hope it's not the latter. Thanks

I owned, and liked a 93 Ford Probe GT. The SVX is a better car in most ways, other than not offering a stick shift, and the back not opening as a hatch, but only a trunk.

If the SVX had a manual, and liftback, it would be very close to ideal.

I really like the Z32 300zx cars, as well, and I kinda want to buy one as another fun car. T-tops, manual gearbox, and a hatchback, and those sleek looks...

I could see the SVX gaining the Z32's sleek front end.

I'd love an NA 2+2 5-speed in blue. Either with the VG30DE tuned to 250-300 naturally aspirated horsepower... or in some sort of fantasy land, which I mentioned in another thread here... a nice low EG33 boxer tuned to about the same level, under that low hood.

A TT would be very fun, but the care and feeding of a 20+ year old twin-turbocharged car is a special kind of challenge. I don't know if I would want to take that on without a garage full of tools, a lift, and years of experience as a mechanic... or the dollars to be able to afford to pay someone else with those things.

An SVX would be interesting with a flush-glass hatchback like the 93-97 Probe, but styled like the current SVX... just the rear glass opening tall, with the trunk-lid, basically, and then the front end of a nice Z32 from the firewall forward.

[Farang]

today's job

300Z front.....T-roof too

[michael]

Looks awesome! Thanks. The hood scoop makes it a little busy though.

[Farang]

couple of pictures

What about SVX are better? The hood scoop is a bit less and above.

[BoxerFanatic]

Now that is hot. I am glad you chose the 99-spec front end, although the earlier front end is not bad, either.

Someone mentioned earlier that the SVX chassis has roots with the Z32 chassis... I've not heard other verification of that, but I wonder how close the dimensions are... The front axle line is probably nowhere near the same place.

I have wondered why Nissan did what they did with the hood, though. I love the Z32's slick headlight treatment... but why is the nose panel not part of the hood, and why does the hood not open from the front, with the hinges under the nose-panel part, unified with the rest of the hood. The previous Zs had the hood line wrap forward of the headlights, and most were reverse-opening prior to the Z31.

I could see the Z32 with a hood scoop, but it would have to be just right, in terms of size, and placement. It would probably help for those Z32s that have VK45DE V8 engines swapped in from an Infiniti Q45, as the intake doesn't fit under the Z's hood.

I still wish I could afford to keep both a pristine SVX and a pristine Z32, both in my garage. Either both sapphire blue (pictured below) or the Z blue, and the SVX Ruby Red with a black roof. I'd also black out the center spars and T-roof structure of the Z32, as well, for one continuous graphic from the windshield cowl to the rear window, even with the t-tops removed, but I would leave the side roof rails from the A-pillars to the rear hatch, in body color, including the outer edge trim of the t-tops.

I wonder if the non-turbo VG30DE is as tuneable as the EG33... to 250-300 naturally aspirated horsepower (nothing crazy, just healthy and optimized), without the complication and heat of the twin-turbo engine. (although TT would be fun to drive... I wonder about fun to own.)

Tuning the VG30DE would probably easier than trying to modify everything to put a well-built EG33 under the hood of a Z32, although the boxer in that car, driving the rear wheels through a manual gearbox would likely be sublime and smooth, and fit under that low hood, but the suspension and chassis, and transmission compatibility is probably all significantly different.

It doesn't get much better looking than this short of Porsche or Ferrari kind of money.


An SVX in that color, with that front end, would be gorgeous, too.

[Gamesy]

The SVX competed mainly with 2 cars, the 300ZX and the 3000GT(GTO)
they all share similar styling expecially the way the rear 1/4 are styled

[SilverSpear]

The 300ZX is the last true Nissan. Whatever came out later with a nissan badge is cr@p.

It is weird, the 90's Japanese had a special look which you can never see nowadays, as if the sparkle of attraction has faded after 2000..

[BoxerFanatic]

Originally Posted by SilverSpear

The 300ZX is the last true Nissan. Whatever came out later with a nissan badge is cr@p.

It is weird, the 90's Japanese had a special look which you can never see nowadays, as if the sparkle of attraction has faded after 2000..

Agreed. However, I think it is more widespread.

Cars are all getting taller, and more blunt, and uglier. Engines are getting better, which is good... but most mainstream price-range cars are getting horrifically ugly.

I am finding myself attracted to 90s era cars more and more, and water-cooled boxer Porsches, which also began in the mid-90s.

But I like the 70s and 80s Ferraris and italians. 308/328, Maserati Merak and Bora, Lambo Miura, stuff like that.

Originally Posted by Gamesy

The SVX competed mainly with 2 cars, the 300ZX and the 3000GT(GTO)
they all share similar styling expecially the way the rear 1/4 are styled

I never really liked the styling of the 3000GT. The Stealth's window treatment, and tail treatment always looked better to me. But they were even heavier than 300ZX and SVX, and transverse-engined. The bloated-looking Supra never really appealed to me, either, even though it was fast. It always looked to me like it was trying to make a Ferrari F40 look rounded, and that just isn't right.

I always loved the FD-RX7, and I actually like the looks of the FC-RX7, too. The 300ZX was quite a looker, over the 3000GT or the Supra. I also like the Porsche 944, 928, and some things about the 968, too. I've always thought the SVX was interesting looking, but the more I own one, and look at it often, the more I really like it. There is very nice subtlety under the instant reaction to the flat front end, and the window lines that really dominate the first impression.

[Nevin]

Originally Posted by Freeman

A ford probe? Yuck..

Yuck huh? Well, guess who can't ever buy a swaybar from me now.




















But seriously, I love my probe. It was my first car, and it was what made me fall in love with cars. The SVX is in many ways just a "grown up" probe.

Both are great, under-appreciated platforms.

[Freeman]

I think the last one you did looks like a saturn front end. Looks dated like 90's. Sorry..

[michael]

ok, the probe has lots of vents in the front, not so nice. I do think the svx should have had a flip up headlight like the early sketches. The 300zx works well as it smooths out the angle from headlights to bumper. I think the 90 eclipse would also work well. I think this though dated is the direction the svx should have gone in. Maybe I just have an abnormal childhood obsession with Crockets Testerossa

[briansvx]

Hi! Farang
Clearly another great piece of work!

any way to show a side view of the 300zx hybrid? again, wonder how much difference there would be in real dimensions..

thanks!

[XT6Wagon]

You can see the Z32 roots of the SVX the clearest in the gas tank and rear suspension subframe. The SVX uses that wierd design since it still uses the Z32 subframe mounting points but subaru style strut suspension instead of the multilink.

Much of the rest of course had to be changed to deal with the very different drivetrain placement for the AWD and wide boxer engine.

One of the best ways to tell its not a subaru pladtform is it shares little to nothing with anything before it or after it. Which isn't a bad thing since the Z32 had a better sporting platform for subaru to work with rather than trying to make the XT6 platform into a proper sports car at the same time they were working on making it into the legacy. To this date its still the only subaru you really sit between the wheels instead of above them, and all that implies for the feel of driving.

[SilverSpear]

Originally Posted by BoxerFanatic

Engines are getting better, which is good...

Hmmm... I do not completely agree with that... tuning wise.