The Story Behind the Build
Sometimes passion is born from tragedy. For Roland Mikita, his journey with the Nissan Z family began with a 350Z he had meticulously rebuilt. Unfortunately, when a fire consumed his workshop, the car was lost with it. After that, Roland swore he wouldn’t get another Z. But fate had other plans.
In 2023, a friend tipped him off about a pristine 2016 Nissan 370Z Nismo — the very spec Roland had always dreamed of, especially in white. The car had just 21,000 km on the clock and had been pampered by its previous owner, wintering in a heated garage. Completely stock, it was the perfect blank canvas.
Power Meets Personality
While the Nismo came well-equipped from the factory, Roland craved more performance — and above all, more sound. The transformation began with a major order from the U.S.: Stillen intake, ARK catback exhaust, and ARK high-flow sports cats. To keep temperatures under control, he added an oil cooling kit from Jagy at Jedetoshop — a must-have for this platform.
Once the upgrades were installed, Roland took the car to Red Sun Service in Budapest, Hungary, where it was tuned using Ecutek software. The result? A healthy jump from the stock 350 hp to over 410 hp, unlocking the raw potential of the VQ37 engine.
A Japanese-Inspired Look
Performance wasn’t the only priority. After visiting Japan, Roland was captivated by the Itasha style — a unique car culture where vehicles are wrapped with anime or manga characters. He reached out to BeeyouStudio in Brazil for the design, which was then brought to life at Nascar Studio locally. The result is a bold, head-turning look that connects Roland’s build to Japanese car culture on a global level.
Life With the Z
Beyond regular oil changes and basic maintenance, Roland hasn’t needed to do much else mechanically. The car is dialed in exactly how he wants it. He frequently takes it to meets in Hungary, where the tuning scene is still thriving, and every drive puts a smile on his face.
For Roland, the 370Z Nismo has achieved the perfect balance — performance, style, and reliability. The only question left is what comes next. He admits the idea of stepping up to a Nissan GT-R is tempting. But for now, his Z is everything he ever wanted.
Key Mods:
- Stillen intake
- ARK catback exhaust + sports cats
- Jagy Jedetoshop oil cooling kit
- Ecutek tuning (Red Sun Service, Budapest)
Style: Custom Itasha wrap (BeeyouStudio Brazil x Nascar Studio Slovakia)
Notable:
- Purchased with only 21,000 km, pampered in a heated garage
- Inspired by Japanese car culture after a trip to Japan
- Built for both performance and style, delivering smiles at every meet
Instagram: @rolandmikita | @japangarage_nz
Car: Nissan 370Z Nismo (2016)
Engine: VQ37 – 3.7L V6, 253 kW (343 hp stock, tuned to 410 hp)
Transmission: Manual
