Nissan released a handful of factory-modified cars for this year’s industry-only SEMA show held in Las Vegas. Taking center stage ahead of the modified production cars on display was a one-off, 300ZX-powered ‘32 Highboy hot rod built up by a team of Nissan employees. Nissan also showed a hybrid Altima race car and a lifted Pathfinder SUV.
The ‘32 Highboy – actually based on a ‘32 Ford hot rod – packed a classic 300ZX powertrain under the hood, according to Nissan. In addition to the modern powerplant, which echoed a similar hot rod using a Lexus V8 from several years ago, the customized Nissan hot rod showed off a rich yellow paint job. The Z Highboy Roadster was built by Nissan North America employee Jack Taylor.
Nissan showed off its green side with a race-modified Altima Hybrid put together by Braille Battery. The Altima Hybrid is powered by E85 and uses an electric supercharger to improve performance. Looking like a race car both inside and out, the Altima Hybrid shows off the potential future for performance hybrids.
The 4×4 Parts Pathfinder features 12 inches of lift – nine courtesy of a suspension lift and an additional three thanks to a body lift that separates the body from the frame. The custom truck’s 35 inch tires and numerous off-road bits show that Nissan isn’t afraid of continuing to target the off-roader market – even as sales of truck-based SUVs continue to dwindle.
Nissan SEMA customs
11/04, 5:37 PM
posted by:
A4
is it the twin-turbo 300ZX?
11/04, 5:40 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Cool…. just make sure to bring it to the LA auto show this month…..
11/04, 5:55 PM
posted by:
ckron247
That’s it? You’d think nissan would have a wider variety of customs, considering the line up they have. Whats is this Fast and the Furious2, sticking nissan motors into American muscle cars.
11/04, 6:38 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Braille Battery? Um, I’m not too sure I want to be on the road with THAT driver…
11/05, 3:04 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Hay “chron247″ that was part 3, Tokyo Drift…
Come on my 5 year old knows that…
11/05, 7:47 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Haha…. You know he they do it…. Nothing like a classic American Mustang being powered by a Nissan engine…
I think that hot-rod is bad ass personally… But I always thought it was the other way around… We know how the japs like stuffing big American V8’s in their little cars… I still want an LS1 powered Datsun 280Z…
11/05, 7:57 PM
posted by:
ckron247
I agree Need4SSeep, its a great looking hot rod. I bet it can really put the power to the road. Its good to see the Japanese companies can really appreciate the classic styling of a good American car.
yarddog82abn, excuse me part 3! Sorry except for the cars themselves, all of the FandF movies had crappy plots so its hard to tell them apart.
11/06, 9:34 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Need, I came so close to stuffing an LS1 in my Z. I was looking at kits and figuring out paint schemes. I even had quite a bit of money saved up, but then I got caught in flood waters and killed my Z. That was a sad day. That money I had saved ended up going as a down payment for my PT Cruiser, as I had to let my Z go and I decided to just get a new car instead. I miss my Z. **sniff**
I don’t have the PT Cruiser anymore, either. I traded it for my minivan. I miss the Cruiser, too, though.