FIA President Owns 160 American V8 Cars, Says European Cars Are ‘Like Matchboxes’

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.

Rubina A. Khan via Getty and Screenshot via Shmee150’s YouTube

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.

Rabih Moghrabi and Rubina A. Khan via Getty

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.

Rabih Moghrabi and Jorge Ferrari via Getty

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

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