As for the LeCar, wasn't the R-5 turbo the faster car in the world for a couple of years?
As for meters and the speed of light, next time I'm at the hardware store and I need a given length of rope, I'll ask the clerk to go to the other end of the isle and turn on a flashlight while I stand by with a stopwatch.
Gimme Fathoms any day!
As for Japanese cars, my Hondas were made in Ohio but they're metric.