CRUISE MODE
NZ Performance Car : Hi, Darren. Tell us how you found yourself interested in modified cars and what your first was.
Darren: Hey, NZ Performance Car. Well, I’d have to say that it’s probably from reading this very magazine, since I was roughly 11 years old. I remember back then reading about all the sex-spec cars of the early 2000s, so I’d say I’ve always had an interest in cars since an early age. My first modified car would have been an R32 Skyline coupe.
And what was it about this particular JZX that made you want to buy it?
The whole VIP styling mixed with a somewhat-powerful factory engine was a big drawcard for me. At the time I started looking to buy one, there were very few of them around, as they weren’t quite eligible to be complied for New Zealand roads under the 20-year import rule. It was a bit of a hard time finding an example that wasn’t a heap, and, in the end, I settled for this, which was an automatic Tourer V with solid bones but needed some work — a project was going to be more fun, anyway. It came from up north and had only been complied for a week before my ownership!
So, it’s fair to say that it’s changed a bit since you got your hands on it?
[Laughs] Yeah, a fair bit from its former state. The paintwork left a lot to be desired, so I took it over to my good mate Alex at ADM Refinishing for a full respray in Holden Passion Red. I sourced a half cut for the manual conversion which uses all factory parts, and seeing as the factory suspension was less than ideal, with a stuffed shock, I chose to bang a set of BC Gold coilovers in to replace them.
What would you say the aim was during the build?
Just to make a cool streetable car for weekend driving, really — nothing too major.
Wheel choice is always hard — why did you go with the VS-KF?
It usually is pretty hardball, but this set was acquired quite easy, really. They popped up for sale on Facebook and were the perfect sizing, right down to the offsets for the factory guards. I didn’t want to go too gnarly on the body, especially with the fresh paintwork, so they did well. I’ve always liked the styling of VS-KFs and think they suit the big body.
And do you have any plans for it in future?
Just the usual. More power — around 300kW would be nice. I need to fit the GT86 diff that I have for it and do the interior too. Maybe a more aggressive set of wheels with some guard work. Who knows how far it’ll go? [Laughs]
Best not to think, just do! Thanks, Darren.