My Aspen Green STR...
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 252
From: Canada
My Aspen Green STR...
Hi everyone, thanks for checking out my thread,
I've been putting off making this thread for too long; it's about time I introduced my STR to the forums,
I bought this '03 STR a little over a year ago, and it's received a lot of my attention since. Previous owner neglected it, banged it up on more than one occasion, had shoddy repairs performed on it, and finally it was left just sitting there in his driveway for over a year before I came to look at it and subsequently buy it.
Car was very rough around the edges at the time, aesthetically and mechanically.
I trusted it had the potential to become a real cream puff though, so I took the chance on it,
One of the most distinctive things about this particular STR, is its paint, and probably why I bought this one over a WAY cleaner black one I looked at with no history.. go figure.
I kind of liked the idea of parking it next to the other car in the garage, which is British Racing Green,
Generally, when you come across STR's, they are black, quartz, platinum... less common to find is a green STR, which almost always happen to be Jaguar Racing Green (HGZ).
In this case, however, I was looking at an Aspen Green Metallic (HGP) example, which is a very unique color-shifting-metallic finish, that goes from a hue similar to JaguarRacingGreen, to a bit of Baltic Blue. Depending on lighting conditions and angle, this STR is always changing color!
The car received a major paint correction almost immediately, and I took the battered exterior finish to a whole other level. It has to be seen in person to be appreciated, but the finish, depth and clarity of the paint is out of this world. Still has plenty of flaws here and there, but overall appearance is striking to say the least!
Anyhow, here is a list of mods, and little changes I've done to the car,
Exterior
Previous Photos:
Paint is glass smooth and wet-looking...
Initially, when searching for an STR, I strongly preferred the black interiors. Tan interiors I'm never a fan of, and thought black is the best option. Well after spending a lot of time in some all-black interior STR's, I found them to be a bit dark, drab and plain. I actually started to like my ivory seats, and set in motion a plan to swap everything but the seats over to black. The result? The black interior I always wanted, without being TOO black. The ivory seats are a great contrast to the black interior and the perfect compromise to going all-black interior.
'
Cleaned up and painted nearly everything under hood, the SUPERCHARGED script on the intercoolers has been polished,
Some more pics...
Great direct-sunlight shot of Aspen Green poppin'
I've been putting off making this thread for too long; it's about time I introduced my STR to the forums,
I bought this '03 STR a little over a year ago, and it's received a lot of my attention since. Previous owner neglected it, banged it up on more than one occasion, had shoddy repairs performed on it, and finally it was left just sitting there in his driveway for over a year before I came to look at it and subsequently buy it.
Car was very rough around the edges at the time, aesthetically and mechanically.
I trusted it had the potential to become a real cream puff though, so I took the chance on it,
One of the most distinctive things about this particular STR, is its paint, and probably why I bought this one over a WAY cleaner black one I looked at with no history.. go figure.
I kind of liked the idea of parking it next to the other car in the garage, which is British Racing Green,
Generally, when you come across STR's, they are black, quartz, platinum... less common to find is a green STR, which almost always happen to be Jaguar Racing Green (HGZ).
In this case, however, I was looking at an Aspen Green Metallic (HGP) example, which is a very unique color-shifting-metallic finish, that goes from a hue similar to JaguarRacingGreen, to a bit of Baltic Blue. Depending on lighting conditions and angle, this STR is always changing color!
The car received a major paint correction almost immediately, and I took the battered exterior finish to a whole other level. It has to be seen in person to be appreciated, but the finish, depth and clarity of the paint is out of this world. Still has plenty of flaws here and there, but overall appearance is striking to say the least!
Anyhow, here is a list of mods, and little changes I've done to the car,
Exterior
Major Paint Correction, 2-stage polishing, and many, many coats of Zaino polymer-based wax since,
Headlights were taken apart, the lenses completely restored inside and out, interior of the housing was painted my own custom Semi-gloss-black,
Lower Grill and foglight trim was painted same Semi-gloss-black,
Front and rear sidemarker/reflectors were painted body color,
Mina Gallery Clear Smoked Marker lights on the fenders,
HID headlight bulbs upgraded to 5000k units
PIAA yellow foglight bulbs,
Updated the three R badges to late model XF R badges,
Windows Tinted,
S-type debadged from trunk lid,
InteriorHeadlights were taken apart, the lenses completely restored inside and out, interior of the housing was painted my own custom Semi-gloss-black,
Lower Grill and foglight trim was painted same Semi-gloss-black,
Front and rear sidemarker/reflectors were painted body color,
Mina Gallery Clear Smoked Marker lights on the fenders,
HID headlight bulbs upgraded to 5000k units
PIAA yellow foglight bulbs,
Updated the three R badges to late model XF R badges,
Windows Tinted,
S-type debadged from trunk lid,
Converted the stock Ivory interior to mostly Black, door panels, dash trim, center console, etc, were replaced with black. I kept the front and rear R package seats Ivory white for a nice contrast.
All Leather surfaces restored with multiple "Leatherique" applications,
Wheels, Suspension, PerformanceAll Leather surfaces restored with multiple "Leatherique" applications,
Forgestar F14 wheels, 19x8.5F 19x10R with Hankook Ventus V12 evo 245/35 and 275/30
Forgestars ordered through Jurrian @ modbargains.com, be sure to contact Jurrian for STR fitment custom wheels!
Custom 'growler' center caps I designed and printed to go with the forgestars for that OEM look,
Wheels arrived unpainted from forgestar, at which point I prepped and painted them VW/AUDI Reflex Silver,
The brembo brake calipers were also painted Reflex Silver at this time, new 'JAGUAR R' decals were applied,
I've recently polished the wheels too!
EBC RED brake pads and brakeperformance.com rotors,
Mina Gallery lowering springs,
Mafioso Intake Tube, Ceramic Coated
K&N drop-in air filter,
WOT flap delete in airbox,
Mina Gallery Axle-Back Exhaust,
Custom downpipes, cats, 2.5" piping to and from factory resonator,
Powerhouse 3lb stainless supercharger pulley,
Eurocharged ECU Tune
LATEST PHOTO:Forgestars ordered through Jurrian @ modbargains.com, be sure to contact Jurrian for STR fitment custom wheels!
Custom 'growler' center caps I designed and printed to go with the forgestars for that OEM look,
Wheels arrived unpainted from forgestar, at which point I prepped and painted them VW/AUDI Reflex Silver,
The brembo brake calipers were also painted Reflex Silver at this time, new 'JAGUAR R' decals were applied,
I've recently polished the wheels too!
EBC RED brake pads and brakeperformance.com rotors,
Mina Gallery lowering springs,
Mafioso Intake Tube, Ceramic Coated
K&N drop-in air filter,
WOT flap delete in airbox,
Mina Gallery Axle-Back Exhaust,
Custom downpipes, cats, 2.5" piping to and from factory resonator,
Powerhouse 3lb stainless supercharger pulley,
Eurocharged ECU Tune
Previous Photos:
Paint is glass smooth and wet-looking...
Initially, when searching for an STR, I strongly preferred the black interiors. Tan interiors I'm never a fan of, and thought black is the best option. Well after spending a lot of time in some all-black interior STR's, I found them to be a bit dark, drab and plain. I actually started to like my ivory seats, and set in motion a plan to swap everything but the seats over to black. The result? The black interior I always wanted, without being TOO black. The ivory seats are a great contrast to the black interior and the perfect compromise to going all-black interior.
'Cleaned up and painted nearly everything under hood, the SUPERCHARGED script on the intercoolers has been polished,
Some more pics...
Great direct-sunlight shot of Aspen Green poppin'
Last edited by GT42R; Jul 31, 2014 at 09:48 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 252
From: Canada
Thanks to ghalibZK photography for these two, gives you another great look at how it looks under the sun,
Shout outs to Jurrian @ ModBargains for helping make the Forgestar's possible, make sure you contact Jurrian @ modbargains for STR fitment custom wheels!!!
ENJOY!!!
Shout outs to Jurrian @ ModBargains for helping make the Forgestar's possible, make sure you contact Jurrian @ modbargains for STR fitment custom wheels!!!
ENJOY!!!
Last edited by GT42R; Sep 24, 2013 at 06:50 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 880
Likes: 182
From: BC Canada
Truly a gorgeous car, GT42R. Love the color, headlights, exhaust pipes and wheels. Love everything else too.
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Veteran Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 27,473
Likes: 4,891
From: Yorkshire, England
I've hardly ever seen a green STR (I have the JRG/HGZ kind) but am sure I've never seen the Aspen kind.
I've seen a few BRG X-Types and an occasional JRG one.
Over here TVR cars have some interesting paints... (but don't ask about reliability)
I've seen a few BRG X-Types and an occasional JRG one.
Over here TVR cars have some interesting paints... (but don't ask about reliability)
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 547
Likes: 101
From: USA USA
Car looks amazing, wheels look amazing, paint looks like its dripping wet. You have a lot to be proud of and thanks for showing me the first Alpine STR I have ever seen. I am just another "Black" STR owner 
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Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 252
From: Canada
here's a pic of me representing at last weekends British Car Day, an annual show that draws 1,000+ british cars to the Bronte Creek Provincial Park...
The STR's shnozz is starting to grow on me... no front plate helps...
The STR's shnozz is starting to grow on me... no front plate helps...