Many in the military are able to save money while on tour and spend it on big purchases such as cars and houses when they return stateside. So when he wasn’t keeping order in Iraq, Brian Neumann was planning how to spend the money he was earning on a performance roadster. Neumann admits the car he eventually purchased was not a story of love at first sight. He thought it was too rounded and made even more unattractive by its snub-nosed front fascia. It was not until he started looking at aftermarket body kits, which could significantly modify the look of the car, that Neumann found something to love about the Nissan 350Z.
Neumann returned to the states in May 2005 and bought the car immediately. He scored when the only 350Z at a local dealership was a 2003 Track Edition. He recalls with amusement how the dealership did not think he could afford the cost at 22 years of age. But with two tours’ worth of money saved up, he was in a perfect position to prove them wrong.
Because Neumann’s purchase was predicated on the addition of aftermarket parts, he immediately purchased a top-of-the-line Sarona body kit complemented by one-off fenders, a VIS hood, Veilside wing and Stillen rear quarter window louvers. He even had the antenna shaved from the body and removed the rear window wiper to create a more polished look.
| Stats box |
| » Engine: 6-liter LS2 |
| » Performance: Aeromotive billet fuel rails, Aeromotive A1000-6 fuel pressure regulator, CJ Motorsports twin Walbro fuel pump assembly, Sikky aluminum driveshaft, RAM HDX clutch, Wilwood 7/8″ master cylinder conversion kit, custom-made radiator lines, power-steering line conversion kit, Billet short shifter kit, custom-made exhaust with 3-inch stainless steel H pipe, Sikky long tube headers, QTP 3-inch electric cutouts and turn-downs, Brembo calipers |
| » Paint: Gary Best Kustumz Daytona Blue with black cherry ghost flames |
| » Wheels: Stern ST-1 19-inch, staggered |
| » Exterior: Sarona body kit, Mike Bean one-off custom fenders, Veilside Version 3 rear wing, 2007 350Z headlights, shaved antenna, Stillen rear quarter louvers |
| » Interior: Black leather with blue, black and gold suede; painted center console, dash and glove box; Sony CDX m9905x head unit, MA Audio HK898 amplifiers, Kicker KX400.1 amplifier, Pyle 7-inch monitors, Valor 7-inch LCD sun visor monitors, 7.5-inch NAV backup screen |
On his next go-around, Neumann went to Gary Best Kustumz in Waldorf, Md., for a custom paint job. He opted for Daytona Blue with black cherry ghost flames and aluminum gold accents. The door handles were painted along with the center console, dash and glove box. Best moved under the hood and painted the engine bay, core support and the engine covers as well. Finally, the tail lights and rear turn signals were smoked.
The wheels came next. Neumann used Stern ST-1 rims with custom center caps and Nitto Neogen tires to create an aggressive look.
After a few months of rest, he had all the upholstery replaced with custom leather and suede. The headliner was also customized, and the vinyl door panels were upgraded to suede with custom-stitched leather.
Neumann also upgraded the stereo, a process that took longer than the rest of the interior upgrades. The result is an eye-catching work of fiberglass art housing one Kicker L7 10-inch and two 12-inch subwoofers. The system also features two 7-inch DVD monitors and a custom iPad mount. And just in case he runs out of music, a 10-disc DVD player supports the Sony head unit. The entire system is powered by custom-painted MA Audio amplifiers.
Neumann’s current plans for his 350Z are small in scale compared to the first projects that transformed the car into what it is today. This summer, he continues to enjoy racking up an impressive winning streak on the show circuit and adding to an already full room of trophies.
What do you drive? 2003 Nissan 350Z Track Edition.
Why do you drive it? It’s just a fun car to drive. All my friends think I’m crazy because I come to Gary Best’s shop and e-brake into the parking spot and drift out of the parking lot. But I built this car to have fun in, not sit in a showroom.
What makes this car so special? Well, I have loved the car ever since the test drive and when I started dumping money into it, I knew that I would never sell it. Now when someone asks me how much I would sell it for, I think I’m up to $130,000 now.
What was the first vehicle you owned? My first car was 1983 Ford Club Wagon with a 460 big block. It had four captain’s chairs and a bed in the back with a box of three 12-inch subwoofers. It was every 16-year-old boy’s dream ride and every father of a 16-year-old girl’s nightmare, but we had a lot of good times with it. I still own it but it’s not very good on gas, so it just sits.
What kind of music are you listening to in your vehicle? Everything but country.
And your first ticket? What was it for? I was doing 85 in a 55 in my van with a dual-axle trailer carrying a Bobcat. I think the cop was amazed that I was able to go that fast with all that weight. The first thing out of his mouth when he got up to the van was, “What do you have in this thing?”
