Pictures of the Brunei car collection, famous for its remarkable array of vehicles, were recently leaked online. It has given enthusiasts a closer look at the rarely seen cars in this collection.
The Brunei car collection is often associated with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, however, it was primarily amassed by his brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, during the 1980s and 1990s.
The collection includes a vast range of cars, not just limited to Ferrari. Renowned design firm Pininfarina played a significant role, contributing to a variety of models, including a redesigned Jaguar XJ220, Fiat Cinquecento, and several Bentleys. During this period, Pininfarina was notably expanding its facilities, adding a wind tunnel to its capabilities.
Most of the cars in the Brunei car collection were specially commissioned, making them unique to the royal family. This customization ranged from interior finishes to complete body redesigns.
Ferrari 275 GTS
The Ferrari 275 GTS in the Brunei car collection is one of only 19 right-hand drive configurations, equipped with a radio system and air conditioning.
Ferrari 250 LM
Photo: My Car Heaven
In 1996, Prince Jefri acquired the Ferrari 250 LM chassis 6313 (1965). This car was the second-to-last Ferrari 250 LM built and sold new to Ecurie Francorchamps in 1965. There are no photos of this car in the Brunei car collection, but Christie’s sold the car in 1999 for US$2.1 million.
Ferrari 365 GTS/4
Photo: Brunei Car Collection (Instagram)
Purchased in 1989 from renowned Ferrari dealer Talacrest and then modified by Pininfarina to include an automatic power soft top and fuel injection, the Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider chassis 14371 is notable for being the first right-hand drive Daytona Spider to leave the factory.
Ferrari 512 BB Koenig Special
Photo: Brunei Car Collection (Instagram)
This Ferrari 512 BB Koenig Special (1980) was reportedly part of the Brunei car collection, although we could not find any photos of the car in Brunei. This picture was taken by an airport employee in period and recently shared by the unofficial Brunei Car Collection Instagram page. Judging by the Brunei insignia on the side of the car, it was indeed part of the collection.
Ferrari 288 GTO
The Ferrari 288 GTO (1984) was Ferrari’s entry in supercar territory. With only 272 units produced, it’s a rare car to get your hands on. That was not the case for the Brunei family, as they acquired various cars. It is reported they 5 cars: black, white, blue, charcoal and red.
All of these were fitted with a leather interior, just like so many of the special cars that were part of this collection.
Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione
Ferrari produced only six units of the 288 GTO Evoluzione (1986), which were intended for Group B racing. However, the series was cancelled, and the cars were never raced. It is said that one of these six cars was used in the development of the Ferrari F40, while another became part of the Brunei car collection.
Ferrari 328
Several Ferrari 328s (1986) also made their way into the Brunei car collection: two coupes and two GTS models. Additionally, a fifth car was modified by the German company Koenig Specials.
Ferrari F40
At one point, the Brunei car collection included eight Ferrari F40s (1987), with only one in the traditional Rosso Corsa color. There were two F40s in charcoal, including one left-hand drive (LHD) model. The collection also featured a green F40, a matte black one, a silver one, a white one, and a black LHD F40 LM.
The most fascinating aspect of the Ferrari F40s in this collection is that they all featured leather interiors, including the Ferrari F40 LM, and some were converted to a left-hand drive (LHD) configuration.
It is well-known that all Ferrari F40 cars originally left the factory in a right-hand drive (RHD) configuration and with the Rosso Corsa exterior color. However, some of these F40s were sent directly to Pininfarina, who then converted them according to the customer's specifications.
Ferrari Testarossa Spider
The Brunei car collection once included at least eight Ferrari Testarossa Spiders (1987), featuring a variety of colors. These ranged from different shades of silver to green, blue, purple, and red.
Ferrari produced only one official Testarossa Spider, which was made for Gianni Agnelli, the then-chairman of Fiat, to commemorate his 20 years of leadership at Fiat. Despite numerous customer requests for a Testarossa Spider in regular production, Ferrari consistently refused, citing the challenges of maintaining structural integrity as too difficult. However, several companies, including Pininfarina, undertook conversions to meet customer demands.
Ferrari F90
The Ferrari F90, which is based on the Ferrari Testarossa and was delivered to the Brunei Collection in 1988, was not acknowledged by Ferrari for 17 years. Ferrari first spoke about this car in 2005. While the engines were stock units, the radiators were moved to the front of the car.
Enrico Fumia, who was the head of the R&D department at Pininfarina at the time, described the Ferrari F90 as the most complicated and sophisticated prototype ever built by Pininfarina. Part of its complexity included a unique Targa-style roof with a sliding panel that moves over the rear window. Six units of this model were produced, all of which were delivered to the Brunei car collection.
Ferrari Mythos
The Ferrari Mythos (1989) is a concept car based on the Ferrari Testarossa and designed by the Italian design house Pininfarina. It was not intended for sale to the public. However, the Brunei car collection is known to possess three of these cars, in red, purplish-blue, and black.
Ferrari 512 TR
The Brunei car collection included at least two Ferrari 512 TR (1991) cars: one in yellow and one in black.
Ferrari 456 Venice Wagon
During the early to mid-1990s, when most of the spending occurred, numerous Ferrari projects were commissioned using the underpinnings of the Ferrari 456. The specific sequence in which each body style was ordered and delivered remains unclear. However, we will begin with a personal favorite: the Ferrari 456 Venice Wagon, the very first Ferrari estate car.
In total, seven 5-door wagons were commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah for the Brunei car collection. Pininfarina designed and built these vehicles, of which the prince purchased six. Each car is rumored to have cost around US$1.5 million and was equipped with the 5.5-L V12 engine used in the standard Ferrari 456.
Ferrari 456 Venice Cabriolet
The next model that utilized the Ferrari 456 underpinnings is the 456 Venice Cabriolet. There are known to be four examples in the Brunei car collection, in colors green, red, silver, and yellow. A fifth example is housed at the Marconi Museum in California.
Pininfarina sourced components from Germany to make several adjustments to the 456 Venice Cabriolet: the soft-top construction was adapted from a Mercedes SL, and the factory gearbox was replaced with a Mercedes 4-speed automatic one due to size constraints. Additionally, the electrically-adjustable seats were taken from the BMW 8-series.
Ferrari 456 Venice Sedan
Next up in the series is the Ferrari 456 Venice Sedan, with at least three units specially built by Pininfarina for the Brunei car collection: two in green and one in red. Like its wagon counterpart, these sedans were fitted with the 5.5-L V12 engine used in the regular 456. Although similar to the wagon in having four doors, the sedan featured a distinct sedan body style.
Ferrari 456 GT ‘Visoin Nocturne’
Prince Jefri commissioned Pininfarina to customize two Ferrari 456 GTs with night vision capabilities for nighttime driving. One car was finished in grey and the other in black. Modifications to the interior included the installation of four screens, while the trunk space was eliminated to accommodate the necessary equipment.
Interestingly, despite the Brunei collection featuring several prominent automatic cars, these night vision-equipped Ferrari 456s were outfitted with manual transmissions, adding a unique touch to their custom specifications.
Ferrari 512 TR Spyder
Photo: RM Sotheby’s
Two Ferrari 512 TR Spyder (1992) cars were commissioned for the Brunei car collection.
Ferrari 348 Spider
This yellow Ferrari 348 Spider (1993) was also part of the Brunei car collection.
Ferrari F355
At one point, the Brunei car collection included three Ferrari F355 (1994) cars, encompassing all body styles: coupe, spider, and targa configurations.
Ferrari FX
The Ferrari FX (1995), designed by Pininfarina and based on the Ferrari Testarossa, is surrounded by rumors suggesting that one version may have utilized the underpinnings of the F512M. It maintained the flat-12 engine but was fitted with a 7-speed sequential transmission from the Williams BMW Formula One team. This installation marked the first time a Ferrari was equipped with a racing-style paddle shifter.
Seven Ferrari FX cars were ever made, with six being delivered to the Royal Family in Brunei. The seventh car was purchased by Dick Marconi and is currently on display at the Marconi Museum in California.
Ferrari F50
Reportedly, the Sultan of Brunei received the first three Ferrari F50 (1995) cars produced, with deliveries occurring in May of 1995. In total, the Brunei car collection is known to have included six different Ferrari F50s: two in black, one in Rosso Corsa, one in a darker red, one in silver, and one in yellow.
Among the collection, the most striking is probably the yellow Ferrari F50, which features a red and yellow interior. Additionally, the dark red F50 is notable for having a built-in stereo system.
Ferrari F50 Bolide
The F50 Bolide was a one-off project by Pininfarina, based on the Ferrari F50 and intended for the Brunei car collection. Instead of using an existing F50 chassis, Pininfarina constructed a mock-up using clay and a rolling chassis to present to the royal family of Brunei. Reportedly, the royal family ended up declining the project.
Ferrari 550 Maranello
The Brunei car collection featured an extraordinary assortment of Ferrari 550 Maranello (1996) models. It included nine cars in a stunning range of configurations, showcasing colors from black to blue, and yellow to grey.
Ferrari 550 Bahar
Photo: Brunei Car Collection (Instagram)
The Brunei car collection also features a rare Ferrari 550 Maranello Spider, named after the Prince’s son, Bahar. This unique car was crafted by Pininfarina and was produced prior to the official release of the 550 Barchetta or the 575 Superamerica. It featured a distinctive hard-top roof design.
Ferrari Enzo
Photo: RM Sotheby’s
The Brunei car collection included three Ferrari Enzo (2002) models: one in black, another in silver, and the only Enzo ever produced by the factory in Nero Opaco (matte black). This exceptional car was later sold by RM Sotheby’s in 2008.
Ferrari LaFerrari
Photo: Brunei Car Collection (Instagram)
The Brunei family received a black, white, and red Ferrari LaFerrari (2013) as part of their collection. More recently, the black LaFerrari was allegedly sold to a Dutch Ferrari collector.
Today
The current status of much of the collection remains unclear, though the family appears to still be acquiring new cars. Following financial difficulties, a substantial portion of the collection is reportedly believed to have been abandoned, leaving the fate of many vehicles uncertain.
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