It takes a true auto aficionado to appreciate all rides of life. Exotics, hot rods, and the most common daily drivers have found their own time & place in our shop over the years, and despite differing tastes for what makes something properly customized and/or sufficiently powered we can all agree on one thing: the car is undoubtedly one of the best ways to make a statement about style.
Lowering cars to nearly un-drivable ride heights and fitting adjustable suspension isn’t a recent development by any means, but over the last 5+ years or so the “stance” movement in the US has really taken things to new levels. Possibly due in part to the rising popularity of drifting & the ever-growing influence of Japanese subculture in automotive circles, an entirely new breed of form vs. function fanatics has emerged to battle in the trenches of the internet with anyone & everyone who takes a liking to the slow & low lifestyle. Love it or hate it, slamming is here to stay, and for many that means war.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
With combat just around the corner at StanceWars 2012, this air equipped and minimalist VIP styled 350Z came through in need of a bit of TLC in the form of a full interior and exterior detail. This mean Z isn’t just a show pony after all; it’s driven like a daily and has seen a fair share of road time cruising all over Seattle. When it showed up at the shop it we knew a bit of interior and exterior reconditioning would be in order to make sure it reached maximum show stopping potential.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
We raised the 350Z up to a comfortable rolling height and set to work on the 24-step hand wash over the entire vehicle including wheels, arches, and jambs of the doors, engine, and trunk.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
The 350 was sporting a number of rainbow flake window stickers that sparkled up after a bit of dirt had been removed from their surfaces. We later found out that the Z would be “tat free” in time for StanceWars, which was probably a good look for a such a clean and simple setup!
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
The extra deep Weds Kränze LXZ wheels with polished lips cleaned up beautifully with a little bit of scrubbing. Wheel choice is an important part of proper fitment & a flush stance, since there needs to be just the right combination of offset to push the wheels out to the fender edges, as well as enough negative camber to tuck the stretched tires under the arches. If set up correctly, the lip of the rims can ride nearly touching the paintwork, and the aggressive angle of the wheels give the car a low slung, widened stance that echoes back to the boldly flared & dished out look of Super Silhouette race cars, but with quite a bit more wheel angle!
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
After drying her off with a bit of compressed air and synthetic towels, we pulled the 350Z into the shop, dropped it to max low, and started the detail prep. After a quick clay barring, the exterior was free of contaminants and ready for the single stage polish.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
The car had been relatively well maintained & not washed too hard, as the paint surface only showed minimal blemishes & and swirls. There were a few nicks & scrapes to be accounted for, as well as a bit of fogging & marring near the flatter parts of the body and around the windows. The micro scratches & swirls could also be seen under the LEDs, but lighter surface damage is especially hard to spot on light & silver colored cars to begin with, and often easily overlooked by an untrained eye!
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
As it just so happened we had a trio of silver cars on the shop floor getting the full NWAS treatment. As Solomon and Myron polished away on the RS4 & Jaguar XJ, Mike set to work on the 350’s single stage machine polish with Menzerna to remove all those unsightly swirl marks and surface blemishes.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
After wrapping up the exterior with a fresh coat of wax on all the paintwork & lamps, Mike started in on the Z’s interior detail, making sure all surfaces were prepped & cleaned thoroughly, including the insides of windows, roof lining and all vinyl & plastic surfaces. Using a toothbrush to really loosen up any remaining grime, the carpets and upholstery were spot treated and scrubbed before the final wipe down. The bits of leather & vinyl adorning the interior were carefully cleaned and conditioned using our entry-level leather products. No oily residues left behind here!
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
With the 350z looking fresh as ever, we rolled it into the cyclorama and hit the switches for a few glamour shots.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
The copper orange accent stitching on the seats is a nice simple contrast to the otherwise monochrome interior which is relatively OEM+, featuring a Pioneer head unit and Era-1 adjustable shift knob.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
The Kränze wheel setup is stunning. The polished lips and wide spoke design make the rims seem even bigger than they are, and the added camber really keeps them snug under the fenders.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
Outside the shop the weather was finally starting to clear up a bit, which was perfect since the Z had an impromptu photo shoot scheduled out on the town. Looking extra glossy and ready for anything, we sent the 350 on its way.
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
With such a bold setup and overall clean appearance, it’s no wonder this 350Z took home the gold at StanceWars 2012!
NWAS Seattle auto detailing StanceWars winner VIP 350z
For more information about the detail this vehicle received and to get the lowdown on all of our interior and exterior reconditioning options, check out our detailing services page! To schedule your own appointment or get a quote, contact us today.
Thanks for reading!