First Photos Post Body Shop Rebirth

[Rob.M]

Having now owned my Z32 for an entire decade, things look vastly different than they once did through the eyes of a cocky suburban cloistered high school Junior in 1998...and in acknowledging that it is also important to admit my perception and plan for the Z32 has equally changed over the years.

I still remember the feeling of exhilaration I felt the day that I picked the Z up from its first owner and drove it home. At the time I also owned a pig nose S13 that would later undergo one of the early SR swaps in Florida but thats a story for another day. No, I was in love with the Z from the first time my parents test drove one in 1990, I was 9 and that car was everything I found most captivating, in fact the only more moving experience felt in those early formative years was a ride in a 911 Turbo... One day, I'll add that 993 to the collection... But I digress, I was in love with the Z from the first time I saw it and by 1998 I was able to own one. Awesome car to have in high school though in retrospect as I look back at some of the things I thought and did with that car...well suffice to say I think the old folks are right to say that youth is wasted on the young.

http://www.downshiftonline.com/rwm/albums/userpics/10001/zhouse1.jpg
The Z the day I brought it home in 1998.

Regardless the car has stayed with me over the past decade, seeing me transition from high school, through college into my profession and even into the ownership of my own business. Several S13's have come in gone in that time, along with an MR-2 that has stuck around for one reason or another. (Its all HaloZ's fault :hm: haha)

So, at any rate having been through all of that the Z had become a little worse for wear and rough around the edges. Its only been in the past year that I have really found the time to see to its restoration and rebirth, something which brings me to the point of this thread. Below, you will find some of the first real photos taken of the car in, well in all reality the last 4 or 5 years. Its not entirely done yet, having an appointment to go back for the install of its new Kaminari side skirts and some Tein suspension but its 90% there and I would be lying if I said that taking it out driving it does not make damn near as a giddy as a school girl once more. Good times.

All of that being said, I took the Z out in the parking lot the other afternoon and grabbed decent photos of it. Tentatively, I'll put together a real shoot for it over the next couple of weeks with a model or two and some good locations but in the interim these will suffice on its journey back to black.

http://www.downshiftonline.com/rwm/albums/userpics/DSC_2280EF_Desktop_%28Large%29.jpg
http://www.downshiftonline.com/rwm/albums/userpics/DSC_2290EF_Desktop_%28Large%29.jpg
http://www.downshiftonline.com/rwm/albums/userpics/DSC_2291EF_Desktop_%28Large%29.jpg
http://www.downshiftonline.com/rwm/albums/userpics/DSC_2304EF_Desktop_%28Large%29.jpg
http://www.downshiftonline.com/rwm/albums/userpics/DSC_2315E_Desktop_%28Large%29.jpg

Eh, what the hell I'll even include a driveway shot since I am notorious for pissing and moaning about them every year come time for the Z32 wall calendar submissions.
http://www.downshiftonline.com/rwm/albums/userpics/Z%2BHouse_Desktop_%28Large%29.jpg

[LightningToGo]

Nice angled shots but a little dark.

[Michael.]

Nice angled shots but a little dark.
lol angled shots are horrible!!!

hardly EVER, maybe not even once, have I seen an angled shot look classy or artistic...IMHO

like the car, but what camera are you using?

[.:Chris:.]

Looking god Rob, it's always cool to hear the story behind the car. I've seen you post on the TF side but I've wondered why you don't post here. I've read through your Photographic History thread a number of times, it's very interesting.

Welcome to TR P&G. If you're looking for someone to shoot with you we always have people willing to shoot. :thumbup:

[Exodot]

Nice man but on some it kind of dark.http://www.exodot.com/cs/angel.gif http://www.exodot.com/cs/mycar20.png

[ERG]

I like the Z, but I never understood why people feel the need to angle their shots. I've seen very few motorsports pictures, even those taken by "professionals", where the angle adds to the shot.

[98_GstEclipse]

Car looks good. I think Ive seen you around on kacey at about 745 in the morning a couple times. Was that you?

[Ronald Mcdonald]

Car looks nice.

And to all the people who say to never angle a shot: The picture on my desktop is a picture I took, that is angled, and would not have looked anywhere as awesome without said angle. I'll upload it, and start a new thread about it in a few minutes.