There’s no doubt that the S30 Fairlady Z was a styling icon. It’s the most beloved of all the designs, and it’s something that Nissan has been trying to chase ever since with varying degrees of success. Chief among the styling cues that made the original Z so distinctive was its “sugar scoop” headlights. One Japanese shop has now answered the question, could that look be replicated on a modern Z-car?
When it was launched in 2003 the Nissan 350Z was the first Z with a throwback design. At the time, many argued that it wasn’t retro enough, but in the years since the design has grown on us. One of its more controversial elements were its blocky rectangular lights, which didn’t seem fitting with the Z’s character.
Well, a small shop — self-described as a one-man operation — in Japan called SKP Bodyworks has answered the question of what the Z33 would look like if it had S30 headlamps. And surprisingly, they work quite well on the 350Z’s nose. They do stick up above the Z33’s hood profile, but not by much, and represent the original sugar scoops perfectly.
What is perhaps a bit distracting is the fact that the demo car is wearing a body kit meant to turn the Z33 into the facelift RZ34. It’s a kit of SKP’s own design, and the side skirts and rear valance look pretty decent. But now that Nissan itself has reworked the large rectangular grille into something sleeker, a kit with that nose may look even better with these headlights.
Images: SKP Bodyworks.
I think this is a miss. It doesn’t have the bulb/lens housing under plexiglass look like aircraft landing lights. Reminds me of installing covers on my 240-Z. A too fast & cold drill bit gave me a crack. Had to get a replacement.
It’ll look better still when painted the same color as the body, but it really needs separate chunky rectangular amber-lens turn signals in the top corners of the grille to complete the look.
Can I be honest? It sucks. The same way the 3rd and 4th gen Camaro’s had the same scoop headlights that acted like giant parachutes trapping the wind.
Honestly, I really love the futuristic functional look of wedge and catfish. And the Firebird was even cooler with the pop-ups. Hate me as much as you can.
Hideous.
Looks like the 300R from GTA Online
Growing up with the design of the Fairlady 350Z, I used to like it more and more these days for a couple of reasons. Not that I’m much of a fan of curves, but I get why it was designed that way. The 2000s retro trowback happened due to an easy economical and cultural situation the globalization had in those days. I even think the Audi TT was the kickstart for Nissan, a reference.
However, looking in retrospect, I think people in 2000s probably expected the current design of the 400Z. Then in 2010s we could’ve proceeded to the 370Z. And now in 2020s it could’ve been the squared 350Z design. It kinda works this way. Nissan was able to mantain the same monocoque and not give a damn to planned obsolescence. They deserve the merit of that feat, same for the Skyline GTR-35.
But people can hardly think about how much the old Fairladys (S30 and S130) actually sucked until the Z31 came into existence. Poor aerodynamics, poor handling, poor weight distribution, poor balance, poor cornering, the worst engines and gearboxes. For a mixed like me, Z31 and Z32 will always occupy the zenith of development. The modern generations just carry the technologic refinement I’d probably wanted in 1984.
But again, that’s only my personal opinion. I just don’t like chrome and carburettors the way I was induced to enjoy them. It was only after a fatal affair with JDM that really put my mind into the joys of electronics. Quality over quantity, as the japanese craftsman wisely teached me.