Jan 04, 2021

Manhattan man wins his dream car

Posted Jan 04, 2021 8:00 AM
Zane Evans won a 1999 R34 Nissan Skyline through a sweepstakes from Tuner Cult.&nbsp;<b>Photo courtesy tunercult.com</b>
Zane Evans won a 1999 R34 Nissan Skyline through a sweepstakes from Tuner Cult. Photo courtesy tunercult.com

By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post

It was slightly delayed, but a Christmas present well worth the wait for a Great Bend native. Zane Evans found out last week that he won the car of his dreams through an online sweepstakes from Tuner Cult. Evans won an R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, one of only 300 produced. Generally, never buying into contests because the chances of winning are next to slim, changed when Evans saw the R34 being given away.

"The R34 is my dream car," said Evans. "I would rather have this car than 10 Lamborghinis."

With every $1 spent on tunercult.com during the sweepstakes, you received 10 entries into the giveaway.

"Initially, I planned to buy some stuff real quick and not tell the wife," joked Evans. "I called the wife to tell her 'Sorry, I spent some money,' and she told me to make another order to get these chances going."

The contest ended Dec. 20 and the following week Evans was notified he was randomly chosen to win the car and $60,000 in cash to help pay for the taxes and extra expenses of the vehicle.

"Tuner Cult sends all the entries to a sweepstakes company in Rochester, New York," said Evans. "I was at work Tuesday (Dec. 29) fixing my car and I got a call from Rochester. I told myself I would answer all unknown calls."

Evans, now living in Manhattan with his wife and three children, is still deciding on when and how to make the trip to Irvine, California to pick up his dream car.    

"My heart instantly started racing," added Evans. "I couldn't wear my watch for like four hours because it thought I was constantly trying to work out. It was ridiculous."

Made in 1999, the R34 still falls under the 25-year rule which means the vehicle is not generally certified or legal for street use in America. The import is legal in the United States as an "antique" or car show vehicle as long as the car is driven no more than 2,500 miles per year. After the 25 years are up, the owner can drive the car as much as he or she likes.