• Brandon Miller’s 1986 Nissan 300ZX wins Best Show Car for the Pit+Paddock x Meguiar’s SEMA Show Ultimate Build.
• Inspired by the original Nissan Z432R, Brandon borrowed influences from the limited edition S30 model, opting for a naturally aspirated powertrain and Safari Gold paint.
• To celebrate the vehicle and award, Cooled Collective flew out to Virginia to shoot the 300ZX for a three-part poster giveaway series.

The 2021 SEMA Show may have been several months ago, but the star vehicles that debuted have still left a lasting impression. Such is the case with Brandon Miller and his 1986 Nissan 300ZX. His Z31 didn’t just steal the limelight at the coveted Toyo Tires Treadpass display, but his impeccable build also wowed the judges, including the staff here at Pit+Paddock and industry icon RJ de Vera. Together, we crowned Brandon’s Z Best Show Car in the inaugural Pit+Paddock x Meguiar’s SEMA Show Ultimate Build.

We love Brandon’s car because there’s no build remotely quite like in the world. Much of this is because he decided to pour his heart and soul into one of the more unloved and unfavorable Nissan models, the Z31 300ZX. He also didn’t build the car traditionally or predictably. Instead of opting for the most boost ‘n horsepower, he had a clever and well-thought-out vision. Brandon took inspiration from one of his favorite cars, the iconic S30 Fairlady Z432R. Using those influences, he created a bespoke, naturally aspirated RB-swapped Safari Gold 300ZX that stunned the aftermarket universe with its insane build quality and cleanliness. At SEMA, you couldn’t walk past his car without admiring all the little details in the shaved engine bay, such as Kevlar velocity stacks and titanium header!

To celebrate the award-winning Z, Pit+Paddock teamed up with talented photographer Drew Manley of Cooled Collective to coordinate a photoshoot that would produce epic photos worth printing and cherishing as timeless artwork. The result was nothing short of amazing, as three images were used for limited edition 18×24 posters that were given away on our Instagram page (#1, #2, #3)

A big congrats goes out to Brandon for truly giving not just Nissan enthusiasts but all car enthusiasts a project car we can all look up to. His Z31 will be remembered in history as one of the best Z’s ever built!

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