I thought I'd share what I've done to my Zed lately, during what has been a difficult time personally. The rollercoaster extremes in the past 2 months have been sureal to say the least. It started with purchasing some genuine Altia indiglo door sills & rear centre panel from Method some time back. Getting these installed was something I've always wanted. Then I finally purchased a Stillen GTZ front lip spoiler that I have lusted after for many many years. I got a bit busy with work after changing companies so it just sat in my loungeroom mocking me for quite some time. After seeing Jedi's car with Jack's old wheels I thought I'd put a call out to the best wheel & tyre guy in the whole of Australia - Rik (aka Roi) for some old school type rims that I couldn't find new anywhere. Without word of a lie within a couple of weeks he came across a 2nd hand set of wheels which were exactly what I wanted. While I ummed and erred for a couple of days and negotiated with the 'Minister for War and Finance' about whether I should buy them or not, the seller changed his mind about selling them. Rik went out of his way to "persuade" the seller over the course the following few weeks. All this by someone who wasn't making any money via the sale - just to help a forum member. Outstanding. So Vic guys, get behind a fantastic forum member and get your tyres, your families tyres etc from Bob Jane Box Hill. Thanks Rik, you're a champ! During this time my Mum was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, and so as much time as possible was spent with her in hospital and all car related activities were put on the back burner. From diagnosis to death was 6 weeks, but thankfully she was in no pain at any stage and died peacefully with all of us around her, and nothing was left unsaid which is all you can ever ask for. This was the reason I was slack in organising the GOR this year. So in the 3 weeks since Mum lost her battle, I decided to keep myself occupied and get the Zed sorted. I went to Frank at F1 smash repairs in Bulleen who fitted the new lip spoiler, removed a dent from the front right fender (kindly put there by a former workshop), resprayed the bit between the foggies a darker grey, and did a 'touch-up' job on all the stone chips to get me through to a full respray in a few years time. An amazing job, and a really good guy to deal with. I'm stoked with the result. Then I decided that I wanted new front fog lights because the little side covers had broken off sometime in the last few years, and they were looking a little dull compared to my nicely painted front bar. I thought I'd check out the usual suspects, and found with the aussie dollar the way it is Coz @ conceptZ to have the best price, and was FANTASTIC to deal with (prompt responses via email, and answered all my questions). While a parcel was coming from the US I thought I might as well sneak in a set of 2000 spec rear lights which I also really wanted. A$580 and 4 days later my parcel arrived. Thanks Coz - it was one of the most pain-free and enjoyable purchasing experiences I've ever had! So to the end result! I know it won't be to everyone's taste, but I LOVE it, and think it maintains the stock lines of the zed while making it look a little 'meaner' but not in a flashy cop-bait over-the-top kind of way. There are lots of little things still to do like painting the calipers & wipers etc), but I just couldn't wait to share! Here are the pics (excuse the quality, clearly I need to buy a DSLR): Oh, did I mention Rollercoaster? Well, after 11 years together, my long suffering partner Nadine (aka Narelle, aka Helga) and I got engaged today. YAY! p.s. Still no pod filter on the horizon boys....
mate she looks stunning.....soooooo nice....well done much better than your sig pic......time for an update i think and congrats on the engaement and soory about your mum
Congrats Col youve done well. The thing about rollercoasters is for every downside there is always an upside. Heres to some more Upsides for you
Congrats Col! mate i have no idea how you managed to hold out for 11 years, can you give a young bloke some hints! & the car looks fantastic mate, always loved the stillen front lips. are the wheels work rezax??? regardless they look great & I look forward to seeing them on the GOR cruise, in november right... hint, hint! cheers, tim
Hi Col, Firstly let me say how sad Lynn and I are on hearing of the untimely demise of your dear mother. I lost my mother some years ago, and I know that whilst it is something you will never fully recover from, it is also something that will strengthen your relationships with all those people that you hold in a special place in your heart. Continue to be the person that gave her so much joy. Mate, your car is looking great.:zlove::zlove: Nothing beats tasteful.:zlove::zlove::zlove::zlove: Sincere congratulations to Nadine and yourself, may everything be as you both wish for each other. Regards Lloyd & Lynn Chilcott
My thoughts are with you Hi Col Wow you've had a roller coaster ride. I am sorry to hear about your mum. It is something we must all endure but I still don't know how people cope. I am glad she didn't suffer pain. Your car looks great too and congratulations on your engagement. All the best for the future. cheers Geoff
hats off to you mate.. Col, so sorry to hear about your mum.. I know what its like to have cancer in the family and nothing anyone says really helps, but its good to know you have friends around you in case you need them. Sincere condolences from Judith and I. As for the car, wow.............. I have known you and your car for a good number of years and the transformation is fantastic! That lower lip makes the NA front bar look so much nicer and the wheels just puts it all together.. Good stuff. I gotta say, I really like that darkened grey strip on the front bar! It breaks up the red and makes it look more aggressive.. very nice indeed.. I dont know if you've considered it, but I would highly recommend coming to Berri in november and winning some prizes for your hard work.. and hey, congrats to both you and Nadine (ok, narelle)!!! You make a great couple. Now you have the fun of planning a wedding muahahahahah!!!! Cheers P.s (you'll have a pod filter soon enough, even if I have to put it on in secret!..)
Looks fantastic mate, love the red! And congrats on the engagement mate but sorry to hear about your mum, I know what that like, having watched my mothers health go all over the place in the last few years, cancer, stroke and many operations. PS Cant wait to get mine back from the panel beaters all nice and shiney! May have to change colours one day after seeing yours. MattB
Very Sorry for your loss Col but also congrats on the engagement. Your car is looking mighty fine. Those wheels really suit the car. Are you running the new Potenza's?
I would also like to reiterate my condolences about the passing of your mother, as has been said before, and Im sure a smart man like yourself will know, that experiences like this will help you grow (not any taller I hope ) and love and appreciate those close to you On the secondary note about your car...its looking HOT! I was lucky enough to see a small sneak peak a good few weeks ago, and it has turned out beautifully! Those wheels look great, the resident wheel god (roi) has done another fantastic job! I think as an engagement present we can get some of the vic boys to put $5each towards a pod filter that maybe fittingly can be installed the morning of the next GOR cruise? We definitely need to organise a time for a photoshoot (my car has been delayed until next week) but would like to talk soon about a proper date Cheers, Andrew
Been down That road your on Col, all part of life i'm afraid. Condolences on the loss of your Mum. Congratulations on your engagement. Car looks sweet eh.
looks absolutely magic, col .. brilliant stuff .... .. stay strong through your adversity, mate .. it is hard losing your, mum ... may she rest in peace ... .. and as your life enters a new phase, congratulations on your engagement .... .. and enjoy your almost new zed ... love it ...
Well said Ron. My thoughts exactly. Mothers hold a family together. I must say Col, and I don't often post on this, your car is very tastefully done. One of the nicest turned out red Zeds. Credit to you. Cheers, Peter
Well what can i say Pretty much 1 hell of a rollercoaster u have been through mate, i too have had a similar occassion this year where my mum was on the brink of life and death, in a coma etc, so i partly know what ur going through.... As for the zed, she looks great, very very clean red :zlove: And on the upside congrats about the engagement
