Car Culture and More With Ryan Zummallen
About this episode
Author Ryan Zummallen joins the show to discuss the legendary Nissan Skyline GT-R and its rise to JDM royalty. Zummallen, who penned Cult of GTR, explores how video games, movies, and strict import laws transformed the car into a forbidden fruit for American enthusiasts. The conversation covers the evolution of the R32, R33, and R34 generations, skyrocketing auction prices nearing the million-dollar mark, and the painstaking restoration process. Zummallen also shares insights into automotive photographer Larry Chen's immaculate R34 build and the meticulous Japanese craftsmanship behind it.
Ryan Zummallen is the author of "Cult of GTR", "Slow Car Fast" and other books, and is the founder of Carrara Media, an independent book publisher dedicated to car culture.
Ryan's approach to publishing is all about the convergence of machines, art, people and places and his books capture the current automotive scene in unconventional ways.
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Nissan Gtr
"Ryan what is it about the GTR that's so incredible? Is it the ultimate JDM machine? I mean you wrote the book on it right? Cult of GTR. I think a lot of people would say yes. Is it the most, I mean Skyline GTR specifically."
This is a highly famous Japanese sports car that was never originally sold in North America. It is beloved by car enthusiasts and gamers for its incredible speed, high-tech all-wheel-drive system, and starring roles in movies like the Fast & Furious franchise.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R is legendary for its advanced ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system and the twin-turbocharged RB26DETT inline-six engine. This combination made it a dominant force in Group A touring car racing, earning it the nickname "Godzilla."
JDM
"Is it the ultimate JDM machine? I mean you wrote the book on it right? Cult of GTR."
JDM is a term used to describe cars that were built to be sold only in Japan. Enthusiasts love these cars because they often have cooler styling, unique features, and higher performance than the versions sold in other countries.
JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, referring to vehicles and parts designed and sold specifically for the Japanese home market. These vehicles often differ significantly from their export counterparts due to unique Japanese regulations and consumer preferences.
Nissan Skyline Gtr
"...t of people would say yes. Is it the most, I mean Skyline GTR specifically. Is it the most incredible performan..."
The Nissan Skyline is a line of cars made by the Japanese company Nissan. The special 'GT-R' versions are highly famous, high-performance sports cars known for their advanced technology and speed.
The Nissan Skyline, particularly the high-performance GT-R variants produced from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, is an iconic Japanese sports car celebrated for its dominant racetrack performance. Equipped with advanced all-wheel-drive systems and highly tunable twin-turbo engines, it became a global automotive legend.
25-year import rule
"And of course the other factor is that you could not get them in North America for the longest time. Until they were 25 years older or more."
In the United States, you cannot easily import and drive a car that was made for another country unless it is at least 25 years old. Once a car turns 25, it is legally allowed to enter the country without having to meet modern safety and emissions rules.
The 25-year import rule is a US federal regulation (under the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988) that prohibits the importation of foreign vehicles unless they are at least 25 years old, exempting them from strict NHTSA safety and EPA emissions standards.
twin-turbo inline-six
"The engines stayed the same, right? The inline six turbocharged twin turbo, right? Twin turbo."
This is a type of engine where all six cylinders are lined up in a single straight row, and it uses two air-pumping devices called turbochargers to give the engine a massive boost in power.
A twin-turbocharged inline-six engine features six cylinders arranged in a straight line, assisted by two turbochargers to force more air into the combustion chamber. This configuration is highly praised for its inherent primary and secondary mechanical balance, resulting in exceptionally smooth power delivery.
Japanese gentlemen's agreement
"Yeah. And not just them. Toyota and Honda too had a handshake agreement between the three of them in order to appease the Japanese government that things weren't going to get out of control and they weren't going to unleash Godzilla."
For about 15 years, Japanese car companies had a secret handshake agreement to never advertise their cars as having more than 276 horsepower to keep the government happy. In reality, cars like the Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra had way more power than the companies officially claimed.
The Japanese gentlemen's agreement was an informal pact between Japanese automakers from 1989 to 2004 to limit advertised horsepower to 276 hp (280 PS) and top speed to 180 km/h. This was done in an effort to reduce traffic fatalities, though manufacturers routinely built engines that produced far more power in reality.
Toyota Supra
"And same with the Supra and lots of other Japanese cars is they were overbuilt and underpowered from the factory."
The Supra is a famous Japanese sports car known for having an incredibly strong engine that can be modified to produce crazy amounts of horsepower, making it a favorite in drag racing and car movies.
The Toyota Supra, particularly the fourth-generation (A80), is famous for its legendary 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged 2JZ-GTE inline-six engine. This engine is highly celebrated in car culture for its incredible overbuilt nature, allowing tuners to reliably extract massive horsepower.
Ferrari F40
"We're talking F40 territory easily. So this car has, like you said earlier, you know, it's the mechanical fascination,"
The F40 is one of the most famous supercars ever built. It was a raw, lightweight race car for the street with a twin-turbo engine and no driver aids like traction control, making it incredibly exciting and dangerous to drive.
The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive supercar powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, built to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary. It is legendary for being the last car personally approved by Enzo Ferrari and for its raw, lightweight, carbon-fiber construction with no electronic driver aids.
Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo 400R
"Like it was probably a 400R that you're talking about that was close to a million dollars. Yes, that's exactly what it was."
This is an incredibly rare, special edition of the Skyline GT-R built by Nissan's racing division. Only 44 were ever made, and they are so highly sought after by collectors that they sell for nearly a million dollars today.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo 400R is an ultra-rare, high-performance variant built by Nissan's motorsports division, Nismo, featuring a bored-out 2.8-liter RBX-GT2 twin-turbo inline-six engine. Producing 400 horsepower from the factory, only 44 units of this highly coveted, widebody JDM icon were ever produced.
Toyota 2000 Gt
"I know I never thought I would see the day that Toyota 2000 GT kind of broke the seal on that. I think that was the first Japanese car to sell for over a million."
This is a beautiful, rare sports car from the 1960s that proved Japan could build a world-class exotic car. It even starred in a James Bond movie and is now worth well over a million dollars.
The Toyota 2000GT is a limited-production, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer powered by a Yamaha-designed 2.0-liter inline-six engine. It is widely regarded as Japan's first true supercar, revolutionizing global perceptions of Japanese automotive design and engineering in the late 1960s.
Larry Chen
"The other thing I think recently that has really helped the GTR is Larry Chen. And we're going to talk about Larry because you have published a fantastic book called Life at Shutter Speed."
Larry Chen is a highly famous car photographer and YouTuber who travels the world taking incredible pictures of unique cars, race tracks, and car culture events.
Larry Chen is a world-renowned automotive photojournalist and video producer based in Los Angeles. He is best known for documenting drifting, car culture, and off-road racing, and has become one of the most influential media figures in the modern enthusiast community.
Concours d'Elegance
"Yeah, and it's important to highlight like what you just said, the level of painstaking methodical work required to bring an average car up to 100 points in any Conqueror event or any judging format."
This is a very fancy, high-end car show where classic cars are judged by experts. The cars are inspected so closely that even a tiny speck of dust or a non-original screw can cause them to lose points.
A Concours d'Elegance (French for 'competition of elegance') is an elite car show where classic vehicles are judged on their historical accuracy, mechanical condition, and aesthetic perfection. Unlike typical car shows, vehicles are scrutinized down to the correct factory overspray and original fasteners.
Gridlife
"Specifically like the rise of grid life as like a motorsports festival that's open to amateurs, like such a cool concept and really novel at the time."
Gridlife is a big weekend festival that combines car racing, drifting, and music concerts. It is designed to be a fun, welcoming place for younger people to get into racing their own cars.
Gridlife is a popular American motorsports festival series that blends grassroots track racing, drifting, and car shows with live music performances. It has been highly influential in making track-day culture accessible and appealing to younger generations of automotive enthusiasts.
Radwood
"The rise of Radwood at the time, which was celebrating 80s and 90s cars, which was, I mean, people couldn't believe that at the time."
Radwood is a themed car show dedicated entirely to cars, fashion, and music from the 1980s and 1990s. People dress up in retro clothes to match their vintage cars from that era.
Radwood is a highly popular car show franchise that celebrates the automotive lifestyle and culture of the 1980s and 1990s. Participants are encouraged to dress in period-correct attire, highlighting cars that were once considered ordinary but are now nostalgic icons.
Peter Brock
"Another guy though that really helped put Japanese cars on the map in the States was Peter Brock, Brock Racing Enterprises, the Dotson 510, the Giant Killer, right?"
Peter Brock is a legendary car designer and racing team boss. He designed famous race cars for Carroll Shelby and later ran a racing team that proved Japanese Datsun cars could beat famous European sports cars.
Peter Brock is an iconic American automotive designer and racing team owner, famous for designing the Shelby Daytona Coupe and founding Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE). His BRE Datsun teams dominated American road racing in the early 1970s, establishing Japanese cars as serious performance contenders.
Brock Racing Enterprises
"Another guy though that really helped put Japanese cars on the map in the States was Peter Brock, Brock Racing Enterprises, the Dotson 510, the Giant Killer, right?"
This was a famous racing team that used Japanese Datsun cars painted in iconic red, white, and blue stripes to win major American championships in the 1970s.
Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) was the highly successful racing team founded by Peter Brock. Best known for their distinctive red, white, and blue liveried Datsun 510s and 240Zs, BRE won multiple SCCA championships and helped legitimize Datsun (Nissan) in the North American market.
Datsun 510
"Another guy though that really helped put Japanese cars on the map in the States was Peter Brock, Brock Racing Enterprises, the Dotson 510, the Giant Killer, right?"
This was a small, affordable Japanese sedan from the late 60s and early 70s that handled so well on race tracks it became known as a giant killer, beating much more expensive sports cars.
The Datsun 510 is a compact sedan famous for its independent rear suspension and SOHC inline-four engine, which offered exceptional handling at an affordable price. It earned the nickname "the poor man's BMW" and achieved legendary status by winning the Trans-Am 2.5-liter championship in 1971 and 1972.
Datsun 240Z
"John Morton driving 510s and 240s and, and yeah, taking down not just American cars, but the best sports cars from Europe too."
This is a classic, beautiful Japanese sports car from the 1970s. It was fast, reliable, and affordable, which made it a massive sales success and a legend in car history.
The Datsun 240Z is a sleek, front-engine sports coupe powered by a smooth 2.4-liter inline-six engine. It is celebrated for offering European sports car performance and styling at a fraction of the price, single-handedly establishing Japanese sports cars as formidable global competitors.
John Morton
"John Morton driving 510s and 240s and, and yeah, taking down not just American cars, but the best sports cars from Europe too."
John Morton is a famous American race car driver who drove the iconic red, white, and blue Datsun race cars to victory in the 1970s, proving that Japanese cars were incredibly fast.
John Morton is an American racing driver who achieved legendary status driving for Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) in the SCCA Trans-Am series. His championship wins in the Datsun 510 and 240Z cemented his place in motorsport history and helped popularize Japanese performance cars in the US.
620 Dotsons
"...y now to think, but like people looked at the BRE Dotsons and thought, oh, Japanese cars can actually beat,..."
The Datsun 620 is a small, vintage pickup truck made by the Japanese company Datsun in the 1970s. It was designed to be a simple, reliable, and fuel-efficient vehicle for carrying light cargo.
The Datsun 620 is a compact pickup truck produced during the 1970s, known for its distinct 'wing line' styling on the cabin sides. It played a significant role in popularizing small, fuel-efficient Japanese pickup trucks in the North American market.
EV
"You throw EVs into the mix and not to say that like everybody loves EVs. But I'm just saying like so many changes and so much more to learn and appreciate and have fun with and enjoy."
An EV is an electric car that runs entirely on battery power instead of gasoline.
An EV (Electric Vehicle) is a car propelled by one or more electric motors powered by rechargeable battery packs, rather than an internal combustion engine. EVs offer instant torque and zero tailpipe emissions, representing a major shift in global automotive manufacturing.
ECU flashing
"And maybe that's just because I'm not motivated to, but like flashing ECUs and all of the computer stuff that goes into a car. Now, I like I don't I don't get it."
This is like updating the software on your smartphone, but for your car's engine computer. By changing the computer's code, tuners can make the engine produce more power and run faster.
ECU flashing refers to the process of reprogramming a vehicle's Engine Control Unit (the computer that manages engine performance) with modified software. This is done to optimize parameters like ignition timing, fuel-to-air ratios, and boost pressure to extract more horsepower and torque.
Kei car
"And there might be million dollar Ferraris and there might be a $20,000 JDM little K car that gets more attention than those exotics."
This is a category of tiny, boxy cars from Japan built to fit in tight city spaces. They have very small engines but are loved by enthusiasts for their quirky designs and fun driving dynamics.
A Kei car (keijidōsha) is a Japanese vehicle category defined by strict legal limits on physical size, engine displacement (maximum 660cc), and power output (maximum 64 hp). Created to provide affordable, compact transportation, they enjoy lower tax and insurance rates in Japan.
Kevin McCauley
"Your book Waiting for the Sun to come down by Kevin McCauley photographer who plays with light and shadow in very dramatic ways how they play off different cars."
Kevin McCauley is a talented car photographer who is famous for taking highly artistic pictures of cars, focusing on how sunlight and shadows play off their shapes.
Kevin McCauley is an acclaimed automotive photographer and designer known for his highly artistic, graphic style that emphasizes light, shadow, and minimalist compositions. He is the photographer behind the book 'Waiting for the Sun to Go Down.'
Sam Mitani
"So you've got also a series of novels. The author is Sam Mitani. And these are like sort of automotive influenced. What's an automotive influenced saga?"
Sam Mitani is a well-known car writer who worked for a major car magazine for many years, testing rare Japanese sports cars before writing action-packed spy novels that feature cool cars.
Sam Mitani is a veteran automotive journalist who served as a prominent editor for Road & Track magazine for over two decades. He was famous for his international assignments, particularly in Japan, and has since transitioned into writing automotive-themed fiction novels.
Volkswagen Beetle
"He lived in Mexico for six years and essentially every day did nothing but shoot VW Beetles all over the country."
This is the classic, round 'Bug' car. It has its engine in the back and was designed to be cheap and easy to fix, eventually becoming one of the most famous and best-selling cars in history.
The Volkswagen Beetle is an iconic, rear-engine, air-cooled economy car designed by Ferdinand Porsche to provide affordable transportation for the masses. It became the best-selling single-design vehicle in automotive history, celebrated globally for its simplicity, reliability, and cultural impact.
Vocho
"And there's an incredible Volkswagen culture in Mexico. He was in Mexico City, but he also traveled around to other towns. And what you get from his photos, I think, is through the beetle or vocho, as they're known down there."
This is the popular nickname for the Volkswagen Beetle in Mexico, where the car is a beloved cultural icon and was used as a taxi for decades.
'Vocho' is the affectionate slang term used in Mexico for the Volkswagen Beetle. The car holds a legendary status in Mexican culture, having been manufactured in Puebla for decades and serving as the ubiquitous green-and-white taxi of Mexico City for generations.
RTR Vehicles
"And how about the latest title, Ready to Rock? Ready to Rock is an unbelievable opportunity that I immediately said yes to. It's the story of RTR vehicles, which was founded by Vaughn Gittin Jr.,"
This is a specialty car company started by a professional drift racer that designs and builds high-performance, aggressive-looking versions of Ford Mustangs and Broncos.
RTR Vehicles (Ready to Rock) is an automotive performance company founded in 2009 by professional drift driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. The brand designs and builds turn-key performance packages, styling upgrades, and complete vehicles, primarily based on Ford models like the Mustang and Bronco.
Vaughn Gittin Jr.
"It's the story of RTR vehicles, which was founded by Vaughn Gittin Jr., two-time Formula Drift champion, a real pioneer of building drifting as a legitimate sport in the United States."
Vaughn Gittin Jr. is a famous professional race car driver who specializes in drifting (sliding cars sideways around corners). He is known for racing high-powered Ford Mustangs and starting his own custom car company.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. is a highly successful American professional drift driver, two-time Formula Drift champion, and founder of RTR Vehicles. Known for his aggressive driving style in Ford Mustangs, he has been a key figure in popularizing drifting in the United States.
Formula Drift
"Vaughn Gittin Jr., two-time Formula Drift champion, a real pioneer of building drifting as a legitimate sport in the United States."
This is the top professional racing series for drifting, where drivers slide high-powered cars sideways through corners at high speeds, and are judged on how stylish and precise their slides are.
Formula Drift (often abbreviated as FD) is the premier professional drifting championship series in North America. Drivers compete in high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive cars, judged on line, angle, and style rather than outright speed.
Ford Mustang
"And once he did that, had this incredible drive to take Mustangs to another level, build a culture around them that didn't exist at the time,"
The Mustang is a highly famous American sports car known for its aggressive styling, loud V8 engine, and affordable performance.
The Ford Mustang is the quintessential American pony car, famous for introducing a sporty, affordable coupe layout with a long hood and short rear deck. It launched an entirely new class of sporty vehicles in 1964 and remains a cultural icon celebrated for its powerful V8 engine options and massive aftermarket support.
Mustang Rtr
"...in a couple of months here, Ford will release the Mustang RTR, which is a Mustang built in the Ford factory to ..."
The Mustang is a famous two-door sports car made by the American company Ford. It is known for its sporty look, loud engine options, and long history of being an affordable performance car.
The Ford Mustang is America's quintessential pony car, offering rear-wheel-drive performance and aggressive styling since 1964. The modern generation continues this legacy with advanced digital cockpits, powerful V8 engine options, and specialized performance packages like the RTR.
Ford Bronco
"And there's going to be an RTR version of the Bronco as well. I saw that."
The Bronco is a famous, boxy SUV designed for serious off-road driving, like crawling over rocks and driving through deserts.
The Ford Bronco is a rugged, body-on-frame sport utility vehicle designed to compete directly with Jeep's off-road offerings. It is legendary for its highly capable four-wheel-drive system and boxy, utilitarian styling, making it a cornerstone of American off-road culture across multiple generations.
Carroll Shelby
"And that makes Vaughn a one of two type of person in Ford history. And the other one is Carroll Shelby. Exactly. Very cool."
Carroll Shelby was a highly famous American race car driver and designer who created some of the fastest and most iconic sports cars of all time, including the Shelby Cobra and high-performance Ford Mustangs.
Carroll Shelby was a legendary American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur, best known for creating the AC Cobra and high-performance Shelby Mustangs. He played a pivotal role in Ford's historic victories over Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1960s.
Mike Spinelli
"And we had him write it alongside Mike Spinelli, who's been an automotive journalist for a very long time."
Mike Spinelli is a well-known car writer and video host who helped start some of the most popular car websites and online video shows in the world.
Mike Spinelli is a veteran American automotive journalist and media producer who co-founded the influential car blog Jalopnik and hosted popular web shows on the DRIVE YouTube channel. He has spent decades covering car culture and industry trends.
Ford F-150 Lightning
"...k out there, which is always the goal. Let's do a lightning round. The car you want most in the world, price ..."
The F-150 Lightning is a full-size pickup truck made by Ford that runs entirely on electricity instead of gasoline. It looks and works like a normal truck but is very quiet, accelerates quickly, and must be plugged in to charge.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is an all-electric version of America's best-selling pickup truck, combining traditional utility with modern EV technology. It features dual electric motors, standard all-wheel drive, and the ability to export power to run tools or even power a home during an outage.
Ferrari 550 Maranello
"The car you want most in the world, price no object. I'm a Ferrari 550 Marinello guy. Why?"
This is a classic Ferrari sports car from the late 90s. It has a powerful V12 engine in the front and a manual shifter with a metal gate that makes a satisfying 'clack' sound when you change gears.
The Ferrari 550 Maranello is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer powered by a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V12 engine mated to a gated 6-speed manual transmission. It marked Ferrari's return to a front-engine V12 layout for its flagship two-seater sports cars, combining brutal performance with elegant long-distance comfort.
Alpina
"One car for the rest of my life. I am really into older BMW Alpenas."
Alpina is a specialty company that takes standard BMW cars and completely re-engineers them to be incredibly fast, comfortable, and luxurious, featuring unique wheels and custom interiors.
Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG is a German boutique automotive manufacturer that builds high-performance luxury vehicles based on BMW models. Known for their signature multi-spoke wheels, subtle styling, and torque-rich engines, Alpina cars offer a more refined, high-speed touring alternative to BMW's track-focused M division.
Alpina B6
"Something like a B6 Alpena would just be chef's kiss. That's a well educated choice."
This is an ultra-exclusive, high-performance version of a BMW luxury coupe, built by the specialty manufacturer Alpina to be incredibly fast and comfortable for long-distance highway driving.
The Alpina B6 is a highly exclusive, high-performance luxury car based on the BMW 6 Series, featuring a bespoke twin-turbocharged V8 engine and custom suspension tuning. It is celebrated for delivering effortless, supercar-level speed alongside a level of handcrafted interior luxury and ride comfort that rivals Bentley.
Dodge Viper
"I was thinking Viper if I really wanted to punish myself, but I would love every second of it. But yeah, I think I would go for style."
The Viper is a wild American sports car with a massive truck-sized V10 engine. It is famous for being extremely fast, loud, and difficult to drive because early versions didn't have safety features like traction control to help you keep it on the road.
The Dodge Viper is a raw, front-engine sports car powered by a massive, naturally aspirated V10 engine mated exclusively to a manual transmission. It is legendary for its complete lack of electronic driver aids like traction control in its early generations, earning a reputation as one of the most demanding and unforgiving driver's cars ever built.
Porsche 928
"I once interviewed a guy that drove his 928 from Paris throughout Iran and back. That's incredible."
This is a classic Porsche from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that looked very futuristic. Unlike the famous 911, it has its engine in the front and was designed to be a comfortable, fast highway cruiser rather than a tight sports car.
The Porsche 928 is a luxury grand tourer powered by a front-mounted, water-cooled V8 engine, featuring a unique passive rear-steering "Weissach axle." Originally intended to replace the 911, it combined futuristic styling with high-speed Autobahn cruising capabilities.
Mercedes-Benz Eclass
"I think that'd be killer. Maybe like E-Class AMG wagon. E63."
This is a mid-sized luxury station wagon made by the German company Mercedes-Benz. The special 'AMG' and 'E63' versions are modified to be extremely fast, essentially putting a sports car engine into a practical family vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, particularly in its high-performance AMG E63 wagon variant, is a legendary vehicle that blends supercar-level performance with the utility of a family station wagon. It is highly regarded by enthusiasts for its twin-turbocharged engine, advanced all-wheel-drive system, and top-tier luxury features.
Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Wagon
"Maybe like E-Class AMG wagon. E63. Yeah. Yeah."
This is a luxury station wagon that has been modified by Mercedes' racing division to have a massive, high-powered engine. It can accelerate as fast as a Ferrari while still having plenty of room in the back for groceries or camping gear.
The Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Wagon is a high-performance estate car powered by a hand-built, twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. It is legendary in the enthusiast community for combining supercar-slaying acceleration with the ultimate utility of a family station wagon.
BMW E63
"Maybe like E-Class AMG wagon. E63. Yeah."
The BMW 6 Series is a line of luxury cars made by the German company BMW. They are designed to be comfortable, stylish, and fast, making them ideal for long road trips.
The BMW 6 Series is a line of luxury grand touring cars designed to combine elegant styling, high-end cabin comfort, and powerful engine options. Spanning multiple generations, it has historically served as BMW's premier executive coupe, convertible, and fastback sedan.
Toyota Land Cruiser
"I mean, it's the experience, right? And I guess if I was going to say Australia, I guess the correct answer is always Land Cruiser, right? Yes. Absolutely."
This is Toyota's most famous off-road vehicle. It is legendary for being incredibly tough and reliable, often used in deserts and jungles where breaking down is not an option.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a legendary, heavy-duty four-wheel-drive vehicle renowned for its unmatched off-road capability and bulletproof reliability in the world's harshest environments. Spanning over seven decades, it has evolved from a rugged military utility vehicle into a premium, go-anywhere luxury SUV.
Anne-Charlotte Verney
"There's a woman named Anne-Charlotte Verne, who is French. And we did correspond for a long time over email because I really wanted to write a story about her,"
Anne-Charlotte Verney is a famous female race car driver from France who competed in the world's toughest 24-hour race ten times, as well as dangerous off-road races across deserts.
Anne-Charlotte Verney is a French racing driver who holds the record for the most participations by a woman at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competing 10 consecutive times between 1974 and 1983. She also competed in the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally.
Le Mans
"She grew up in the town of Le Mans. And so, you know, her, I think, believed grandfather was part of the organizing committee for the race."
This is a city in France that hosts the most famous 24-hour endurance car race in the world, where teams of drivers race non-stop through the day and night.
Le Mans is a city in northwestern France famous for hosting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active sports car endurance race. The race is held annually on the Circuit de la Sarthe, a mix of closed public roads and dedicated racing track.
Dakar Rally
"But she also drove the Dakar rally for many years. And you may remember at one point, Margaret Thatcher's son competed in that race."
This is an incredibly dangerous and long off-road race where drivers race trucks, cars, and motorcycles across deserts and rough terrain for days at a time.
The Dakar Rally (originally the Paris-Dakar Rally) is an annual off-road endurance race organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation. It is widely considered the most grueling motorsport event in the world, crossing extreme terrain like sand dunes, mud, and rocks.
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