--- title: "FIA President Owns 160 American V8 Cars, Says European Cars Are ‘Like Matchboxes’" date: "2026-10-29" modified: "2026-10-29" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/fia-president-owns-160-american-v8-cars-says-european-cars-are-like-matchboxes" categories: - "Culture" - "F1" - "News" - "People" - "Racing" --- # FIA President Owns 160 American V8 Cars, Says European Cars Are ‘Like Matchboxes’ ![MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 11: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem drives a car during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Madring on September 11, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images)]() *\Jayce Illman via Getty\* FIA President [Mohammed Ben Sulayem]() is often seen at [Formula 1]() races worldwide interacting with drivers, mingling with dignitaries, huddling with federation officials to [improve the sport](), and, most recently, trying to bring back simpler, V8-powered F1 cars. In his personal time—which I can't imagine he has much of—he's a passionate racer and car collector. And despite owning some of the world's most outrageous hypercars, he recently told me his favorites all have [American V8s]() under the hood. During a recent chat at the F1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Ben Sulayem waxed poetic about American cars, their V8 engines, and restomods. He explained where his love for big, floaty cars came from, why he loves them so much, and why building or restoring a car is more satisfying than simply buying one that's already in pristine shape. ![]() **Screenshot via Shmee150's YouTube** "I love American V8s," Ben Sulayem told *The Drive*. "You gotta remember where I was brought up \[United Arab Emirates\]: open roads, low cost of fuel—same thing as in the United States—so the American cars fit very well there. Even today in America, it's all about the V8. The roar, the feeling of being free—you know, I come to the States, and you have big cars here—and they have presence. I go to Europe, and they have, like, Matchboxes. "Even with all the supercars I have in my collection, I actually enjoy my restomods most. Oh, I love them, because I do them myself. I'm not about, 'here's a company I'm paying a few hundred thousand to and they will give me the car.' No, it's about the journey. It's about testing the handling, cutting the frame in the front, putting in a different frame, moving the engine, and so on. The suspension has to be right when it comes to compression and rebound, the wheels, the brakes, the steering rack, the steering column, all of this," added Ben Sulayem. ![DUBAI, DUBAI - MARCH 24: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, at the opening ceremony of the 8th Emirates Classic Car Festival 2016 that has over 300 vintage vehicles from 1916 to 1986 on display at Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard on March 24, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Rubina A. Khan/Getty Images)]() ![]() From ultra-modern machinery like a Mercedes-AMG One (and its CLK-GTR Strassenversion predecessor), Ferrari Daytona SP3, Bugatti Bolide, Koenigsegg Agera RS, Lexus LFA, and GMA T.50 to old-school stuff like a Jaguar XJ220, Mercedes 300SL, and Ferrari F40, Ben Sulayem's collection is about quality *and* quantity. It even includes a one-off Studebaker pickup powered by a BMW F80 M3, as referenced in this [Shmee150 YouTube video](). Even in private conversation with the former rally racer, he didn't divulge the exact number of cars he owns (some argue he doesn't even know precisely, but I take him for the kind of guy who knows *every* tiny detail), much less how much it's worth. There's a reason why photos of the entire collection—or even of every car—are basically non-existent: A quick Google search shows some amounts around $100,000,000, but those are unofficial estimates. Still, judging by how carefully he's assembled his collection, I sense the monetary value matters little to him. He adores his cars. ![Wife of German soccer star Lothar Matthaeus, Maren Muller Wolfhart, checks out Emirati Middle East rally champion Mohammed Ben Sulayem's car, during a tour at Sulayem's house in Dubai 07 March 2001. Mattaus is in Dubai to participate in a friendly game with Emirati al-Nasr club against Iran's Istiklal club. AFP PHOTO/Rabih MOGHRABI (Photo by RABIH MOGHRABI / AFP)]() ![DUBAI, DUBAI - MARCH 24: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, at the opening ceremony of the 8th Emirates Classic Car Festival 2016 that has over 300 vintage vehicles from 1916 to 1986 on display at Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard on March 24, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Rubina A. Khan/Getty Images)]() However, when asked for the total number of V8-powered American cars he owned, Ben Sulayem quickly answered: "160." When asked the cliché but always entertaining question, "If you could only keep one, which one would it be?" He had this to say: "A Cadillac, for sure," he answered. "They're big, and they call them road boats for a reason, you know; they are huge. They have a nice feeling on the road. I like big cars because of my father, and I also love the Chrysler Imperial, and I like Lincolns. They are big cars, but they don't always drive well, you know? So I like improving the base, the handling of them. It's like, you have the power, but can you stop it? *No* \[laughs\]. So I like to make sure it turns and stops with modern technology and brakes, tires, and all of this. "It is a journey that I don't want to end, and then when you end it, and then you enjoy the car, there are always other areas where you can improve it—and then I do a second car and a third car. I don't want to pick favorites, but I'm just telling you that the cars I enjoy more, the ones I actually drive, are the American cars I modify myself," said Ben Sulayem with a smile. ![German soccer star Lothar Matthaeus (R) drives one of Emirati Middle East rally champion Mohammed Ben Sulayem's cars, during a tour at Sulayem's house in Dubai 07 March 2001. Mattaus is in Dubai to participate in a friendly game with Emirati al-Nasr club against Iran's Istiklal club. AFP PHOTO/Rabih MOGHRABI (Photo by RABIH MOGHRABI / AFP)]() ![United Arab Emirates rally driver Mohammed Bin Sulayem celebrates his victory at the finish ramp of Qatar International rally 09 October. Ben Sulyem, already the season's champion, took ten minutes off second placed Abdullah al-Qassimi of Sharjah. (Photo by JORGE FERRARI / AFP)]() With the end of the 2026 F1 season around the corner, hopefully Ben Sulayem will spend some time at home and get to drive his cars. That is, if he doesn't sign up to compete in a rally race somewhere, of course. *Email the author at jerry@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]() ## More - [F1 Steward’s McLaren Ties in Spotlight After Verstappen Penalty]() - [Lando Norris Rolls Up to US Grand Prix in a Custom 1973 Plymouth Barracuda]() - [American Logan Sargeant Officially Secures Williams F1 Seat for 2023]() - [Daniel Ricciardo Says He Won’t Race in F1 Next Year]() - [Verstappen Seals Record F1 Season With Mighty 19th Win in Abu Dhabi]() - [GM Plans to Supply Formula 1 Power Units Starting in 2028]() - [F1 Asked GM to Partner With Someone Other Than Andretti: Report]() - [Ford CEO Jim Farley Hits Back at Cadillac F1 CEO’s Criticism: ‘It’s Laughable’]()