Nissan Z- Returning Home

When this Nissan plant employee sold his beloved 280Z, he never expected to see it again; his wife had other plans

Thomas Lesieur is an Engineering Manager at the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant and is a self-proclaimed Z enthusiast. Both Thomas and his wife Tara work for Nissan, and live with their two children in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, outside of Nashville. Recently, Thomas sat down and shared his story about his beloved 1975 Nissan 280Z and the birthday gift that made his wife a legend!

The story as told by Thomas…

"I've been a fan, and owner, of classic Z cars since 1997. After searching all over my hometown of Tampa, FL, I found a well-worn 1980 280ZX that I bought and was so proud to own. Fast forward to later in my adult life and I was finally in a position to restore a classic Z the right way. I had attempted to restore too-far gone 1972 and 1973 models in the past, but those ended up only being good for parts.

"In 2011, shortly after starting my career with Nissan, I finally found the perfect candidate for a real restoration. I drove to Atlanta and picked up a 1975 280Z. It was not running, the interior was gross, the paint was well past its prime but it was almost 100% rust free! Over the next three years, I restored that car to the way I wanted it.

"I had the body and paint fixed by a professional and took on all mechanical and interior restoration myself. This was finally the car I had dreamed about for all those years.

“I showed my 280Z around town and frequented the local cars and coffee events. I even helped organize a tribute to Nissan Legend Mr. K (Yutaka Katayama, who many refer to as the father of the Z) in 2015. That event ended up getting a lot of attention in the greater Z community.

“In 2016, I made the tough decision to sell my car. I didn't regret it at the time, but in the years since I really missed that car. I never mentioned it to my wife, or anyone really.?

“I went to ZCON in 2020 and attended the Z Proto reveal event. Being around so many passionate Z fans, prominent owners and world-class restorers made me miss that car more than ever.

“Tara must have had some funky mind reading ability that I was not aware of because when I reached a milestone birthday in 2021, she hatched a plan to get my car back. She found old emails between me and the buyer from 2016, cold-called him, and began a process that led to her bringing the Z back home where it has been given a second life.

“When I saw that car again in the seller's driveway, it was like seeing a ghost. The gentleman who took care of the car those five years didn't touch a thing, except for some professional service. He only put 200 miles on it! It was my car, as I left it, coming right back home. This Z isn't going anywhere now."