Stillen

Stillen, stylized as STILLEN and associated with the corporate name Steve Millen Sportparts, Inc., is an automotive aftermarket company created by former racing driver Steve Millen. Millen was particularly associated with Nissan competition programs and racing the Nissan 300ZX, and that motorsport background shaped the company's emphasis on performance-oriented components for production vehicles. The company began selling ground-effect components for mini-trucks in 1986. Its early business expanded beyond that initial niche as Stillen supplied parts for vans and full-size trucks. Over time, the brand became especially identified with performance products for Nissan vehicles, reflecting Millen's racing history and the company's technical familiarity with Nissan platforms. Its catalog has also extended to vehicles from other manufacturers, including the Ford GT, Toyota 86, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford F-150, and Ford Raptor. Stillen's product scope has included exhaust systems, superchargers, cold-air intake systems, suspension components, brake upgrades, carbon brakes, body kits, and other performance or appearance parts. Exhaust products helped establish the company’s visibility in the aftermarket, while forced-induction and intake products broadened its role from styling supplier to performance-upgrade developer. Body and aerodynamic components have likewise connected the brand to both street-performance builds and competition-oriented vehicle projects. A notable engineering project was the Stillen R35 GT-R, a modified Nissan GT-R developed primarily for the Targa Newfoundland. The project combined weight reduction, electronic and computer tuning, a stiffer suspension system, and carbon brakes. The resulting vehicle was reported as capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, compared with the factory-rated 3.6 seconds. The GT-R project illustrates Stillen’s practice of combining catalog components with integrated vehicle development rather than limiting its activities to isolated replacement parts. In 1996, Stillen purchased a machining shop from Frank Shuter, a former New Zealand speedway champion. The acquisition gave the company an additional in-house machining capability and marked an expansion of its manufacturing base. Stillen has continued to develop and sell performance parts for sports cars, American performance cars, and trucks. Public reference material does not establish a separate parent company, public listing, headquarters, or current executive roster beyond the brand’s association with Steve Millen.

Stillen was established by Steve Millen, a former racing driver known for competing with the Nissan 300ZX. The company entered the automotive aftermarket in 1986 by selling ground-effect products for mini-trucks. Its early operations subsequently expanded to fulfill orders for vans and full-size trucks, broadening the business beyond its initial mini-truck focus. As the company developed, Stillen became particularly associated with performance parts for Nissan automobiles. This connection reflected Millen’s racing background and the company’s technical orientation toward Nissan platforms. Stillen nevertheless maintained a wider product and application range, developing or supplying components for vehicles from other manufacturers, including the Ford GT, Toyota 86, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford F-150, and Ford Raptor. The company’s exhaust products became an important part of its market identity. Stillen later expanded its range to include superchargers, cold-air intake systems, body kits, suspension components, brake upgrades, and other performance equipment. These products positioned the company across several segments of the enthusiast aftermarket, combining engine performance, sound, braking, handling, and exterior aerodynamics. In 1996, Stillen acquired a machining shop from Frank Shuter, who had been a New Zealand speedway champion. The purchase represented an investment in machining and manufacturing capability and supported the company’s continued development of specialized performance components. Stillen also undertook complete or substantially integrated vehicle projects. Its R35 GT-R project was prepared mainly for the Targa Newfoundland and incorporated weight reduction, computer and chip tuning, a stiffer suspension, and carbon brakes. The modified car was reported to reach 100 km/h from rest in 2.9 seconds, compared with the factory-rated 3.6 seconds. This project demonstrated the brand’s ability to combine multiple systems into a competition-oriented performance package. Reference material describes Stillen as continuing to offer performance products for sports cars, American performance cars, and trucks. The available sources do not provide a reliable current corporate ownership structure, headquarters, public-market status, or detailed present-day leadership list.

• 1996

  Machining-shop acquisition

  [1]Stillenen.wikipedia.org

  Stillen purchases a machining shop from Frank Shuter, adding manufacturing capability to its performance-parts operations.

• 1986

  Stillen begins selling mini-truck ground effects

  [1]Stillenen.wikipedia.org

  The company enters the automotive aftermarket with ground-effect components for mini-trucks and later expands fulfillment to vans and full-size trucks.

• R35 GT-R performance project

  [1]Stillenen.wikipedia.org

  Stillen develops a modified Nissan GT-R for the Targa Newfoundland, using weight reduction, tuning, stiffer suspension, and carbon brakes.

A motorsport-informed automotive aftermarket brand focused on performance, handling, braking, exhaust, forced induction, intake, and aerodynamic upgrades for Nissan vehicles and selected sports cars, performance cars, and trucks.

• Performance exhaust

  Exhaust systems

  Stillen’s exhaust systems became one of the products most associated with the brand. They form part of its broader approach to aftermarket performance, addressing exhaust flow, vehicle sound, and the character of sports cars and other performance-oriented vehicles.

• Forced induction

  Supercharger systems

  Stillen develops supercharger products for selected performance vehicles. These systems extend the brand beyond cosmetic customization by targeting engine output and providing a forced-induction option within an integrated aftermarket upgrade program.

• Engine performance

  Cold-air intake systems

  Cold-air intake products are part of Stillen’s engine-performance range. They are intended for selected vehicle applications and complement the company’s exhaust and forced-induction offerings.

• Exterior performance and styling

  Body kits and aerodynamic parts

  Stillen produces body kits and related aerodynamic components for sports cars, performance vehicles, and trucks. These products connect visual customization with the company’s wider performance-oriented aftermarket identity.

• Complete vehicle performance development

  R35 GT-R performance package

  The Stillen R35 GT-R was an integrated project prepared primarily for the Targa Newfoundland. It combined weight reduction, electronic tuning, a stiffer suspension, and carbon brakes, and was reported to improve the car’s 0–100 km/h acceleration from the factory-rated 3.6 seconds to 2.9 seconds.

• 1996

  Acquire a machining shopStrategy

  Background

  Stillen had expanded from early ground-effect products into a broader performance-parts business serving cars and trucks.

  Action taken

  The company purchased a machining shop from Frank Shuter, a former New Zealand speedway champion.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition added machining capability as Stillen continued expanding its performance-parts range.

  Source

• Develop the Stillen R35 GT-RProduct launch

  Background

  Stillen pursued a competition-oriented vehicle project for the Targa Newfoundland based on the Nissan GT-R.

  Action taken

  The company modified the vehicle with weight reduction, computer and chip tuning, stiffer suspension, and carbon brakes.

  Aftermath

  The completed car was reported to achieve 0–100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, compared with the factory-rated 3.6 seconds.

  Source

1. 1Stillenen.wikipedia.org