An ambitious enthusiast is taking it upon himself to build the sports car Nissan won't, and it'll bring back a distinctly retro feature.Rear view of a dark gray Nissan Z sports car showing the rear window, spoiler, and illuminated taillights.The new Nissan Z owes its striking design to a plethora of classic-inspired details. It's a car that pulls from multiple moments in its lineage to capture a Fairlady look that's distinctly neo-retro.Not content to stop there, Nissan also reinforces these historic ties more overtly through the Heritage Edition. Be it in color options or accessories, it goes even heavier on nostalgia.Nissan's Heritage Edition outfits the Z with exclusive hues and other inspired details. - Credit: NissanAll the same, there's a new variant coming that promises to be still more faithful to the Z cars of yesteryear. It's bringing a treatment that's so old-school, not even Nissan will build it nowadays.The open-air Z enthusiasts wantI'm talking about a custom Z project recently surfaced by Carscoops. Creator Nick Scherr (NISMO Nick) has announced he will be turning a standard RZ34 Z into a rad T-top like the one mocked up below.View this post on InstagramWhile the open-air configuration was an option available on everything from the 280ZX to the second-gen 300ZX, Nissan hasn't offered it in the United States since 1996. As such, Scherr's build is set to be a true throwback, and it'll make the Z an even more faithful historical tribute.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd an authentic T-top experience, by the sound of things. As NISMO Nick told Carscoops, "Some of the engineering challenges I am facing involve ensuring watertight sealing throughout the vehicle." He added, "the only other concern I foresee is wind noise." T-tops were once a fixture of Nissan's sports car offerings. - Credit: NissanOf course, those realities aren't limited to Scherr's conversion project. Even when they were mainstream items (and built by major OEMS), T-tops were notorious for leaking and rattling. All the same, enthusiasts have been pining for a Z with this kind of treatment since the RZ34 first took shape as the Proto. However, even with the demand, Nissan has only ever entertained the possibility of adding a convertible due to claimed engineering and safety constraints.Given the design similarities to cars like the Z32, it would make for a natural look. - Credit: NissanAn ambitious Nissan builderBeyond capitalizing on an unrealized Z prospect, Scherr's build is bound to bring an impressive level of execution. If you're already familiar with NISMO Nick from past efforts, you know that he's not the type to cut corners.View this post on InstagramBefore this project, the creator whipped up an awesome home-brewed Xterra revival dubbed 'Project X.' Though technically based on Nissan's second-generation SUV, little of the vehicle's stock components remained.AdvertisementAdvertisementInstead, Scherr's overhaul left the Xterra equipped with Frontier bodywork, a VK56 V8 powertrain and some Titan truck suspension. When outfitted with a six-speed manual and a set of NISMO beadlock wheels (and painted a searing neon), it made for a vibrant reinterpretation of the beloved Nissan 4×4.NISMO Nick beat Nissan to the punch with his home-brewed Xterra revival. Will the same happen with a Z T-top? - Credit: NissanBesides, the Z T-top isn't even the most ambitious of the projects that he has planned. As part of what Scherr is calling his 'Open Air Collection,' he will also be building a reimagined version of Nissan's maligned Murano CrossCabriolet, along with a convertible Nissan Juke. More to comeAt this stage, NISMO Nick has yet to announce details beyond a 2027 arrival. If last year's build is anything to go by, SEMA seems like a likely debut venue. However, only time will tell.About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he's not chasing the latest industry news, he's probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.AdvertisementAdvertisementWant to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.add as a preferred source on google
