The Story of Lady Z and Her Keeper

Some cars you chase. Others find you.

I’m Binh, the parts curator at Lonely Driver Company in Calgary, Alberta, and this is The Lady Z, my 1973 Datsun 240Z. It all began when my good friend, Jim stumbled upon her and immediately sent me the details.

Something about this car; the lines, the soul, the story, just felt right. I trusted that feeling and bought her sight unseen. The seller later told me he had another buyer offering more, but he felt this car was meant to be mine. He was right, obviously…

Fast forward a few years. After a handful of magazine features, an episode with Larry Chen, a SEMA ARMO debut and countless late nights in the garage, The Lady Z has grown into more than just a car. She has become part of the Lonely Driver Company story.

When I started the build, my vision was simple; to keep it timeless. I combined parts from legendary shops such as Marugen Shoukai, RS Watanabe, Star Road, Number7, and Kameari Engine Works, tying it all together with our own Lonely Driver Company creations. Every part reflects what I love about Japanese engineering: simplicity, purpose, and soul.

Back then, finding parts was like a treasure hunt. There was no Instagram or YouTube, only Japanese car magazines and late-night word of mouth. After years of searching and coming up empty, I decided to make my own parts. I wanted something unique that reflected my passion, not a copy of someone else’s dream.

That decision became the foundation of Lonely Driver Company. What started as a personal project turned into a community-driven brand that designs parts for vintage Japanese cars and the people who love them.

The Lady Z is never finished. She is constantly evolving, sometimes missing parts, sometimes in pieces as we test, tweak, and prototype new ideas. She is my test mule, and my reminder that cars, like people, are always a work in progress.

This car is not just for me. It’s for anyone who has ever fallen in love with the smell of fuel, the sound of carburetors, or the joy of driving something built by hand. In a world full of mass-produced everything, I wanted to create something personal and authentic. Every part tells a story, one that other enthusiasts can imagine fitting into their own builds.

From a chance find to the global stage, The Lady Z continues to evolve, just like the community that surrounds her. If you are building your own dream car, I hope this story reminds you that there is beauty in every step, even when the car is still in pieces.

So come along for the ride, because my journey with The Lady Z is far from over.