Would you look at that – a whole new project for FC… and this one could very well end up on your drive!
Hey Midge here, normally of course, you’ll have to endure all sorts of ramblings and excuses about why I haven’t finished my own cars yet. Well, this time around I’ve actually got a really good excuse – we’re gonna be a bit busy building a top notch motor that could be all yours!
Now, some have already noticed a rather big, sexy Nissan in the background of my Bug pages last month… but that’s enough about my Navara D40 Daily. No, there was another one there too – this rather hairy-chested, 300 horsepower, Japanese muscle car.
Well, in a very special collaboration with the fellas over on our sister mag, Banzai, we’ll be sorting this 350Z right out with all sorts of top mods before we give it away at TRAX in October. All you need to do is get yourself to Japfest Donington, TRAX Donington or TRAX Silverstone this season to find out how you could be driving this one home.
Anyway, first thing’s first, after searching for a good few weeks and finally finding a decent, low mileage 305Z (no easy task I can assure you), not to mention parting with every penny of our combined 6-grand budget, we thought we’d better give it a good going over with a bucket and sponge first.
Now, whether the complex world of detailing floats your particular boat or not, it makes sense to get started on any new project with a good valet, if anything to give a decent base before the modifying fun can begin.
This time around, we thought we’d draft in the expert skills of a good mate of mine, Rob at Eco Steam – RJS Steam Valeting Services. What Rob offers isn’t any old car slap-dash car washing, he’s one of the very few that can get your motor cleaner than a nun’s hoo-hoo by using the power of steam. It makes more difference than you might think too. For engines, door shuts, around badges, fuel flaps and all the other places you don’t particularly want to tackle with your hosepipe, steam cleaning shifts the most ground-in dirt with a minimum of hassle. And, as for interiors? Well, it’s not your spit and skin all over the steering wheel is it? Or booty sweat trapped in the seats… you getting the picture?
The advantage of using steam is that it also kills any lurking bacteria, you can even shoot it through the vents to clean out the blowers, so what you’re getting isn’t just clean, it’s hygienically clean.
Rob spent a good few hours outside my workshop, steam cleaning every part of the car, before giving the whole lot a Gold Star Valet and hand polish.
Suffice to say, the transformation has to be seen to be believed, even the pictures don’t quite do it justice. I thought this was a minter when we picked it up, but it looks soooo much better now. It’s just a pity they won’t let us keep it! Right, on to those mods…
SPENT
2006 Nissan 350Z 3.5 V6 – £6000
Interior, exterior and engine bay steam valet – £170
TOTAL £6,170
CONTACTS
Eco Steam
