With a net worth of billions of dollars, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, spares no expense in indulging his passion for collecting rare, luxurious cars.
The collection of the Sultan of Brunei is currently recognized as the largest in the world, boasting a staggering 7,000 vintage cars. His fleet includes over 600 Rolls-Royces, 450 Ferraris, more than 380 Bentleys, and numerous other ultra-expensive and rare vehicles such as the Ferrari F40, McLaren F1, Bugatti EB 110, Bentley Java, and even gold-plated Rolls-Royces.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the Sultan predominantly collected rare Bentley Azure and Continental models. Some noteworthy Bentley models in his collection include the Continental R Superfast, Buccaneer GT coupe, Phoenix convertible, Camelot coupe, Highlander GT 4-door, and Bentley Java wagon.
In addition to Bentleys, the Sultan of Brunei also possesses several Bentley Dominators, a car model that brought Bentley significant acclaim in the 1990s.
The Sultan’s collection also encompasses a series of iconic Ferrari cars. Notable examples include the legendary F40, 250 GTO, F50, F50 Bolide (a unique version utilizing the chassis and V12 engine from a Ferrari F1 race car), as well as models like Mythos and FX.
Porsche also holds a special place in the Sultan of Brunei’s heart. His collection includes 32 Porsche 928 S4 models and a grand total of 55 Porsche 928s. Among them are 5 remarkable Dauer 962 Le Mans masterpieces, a racing car based on the Porsche 962 with only 13 units ever produced worldwide.
Interestingly, F1 driver Jenson Button later acquired a distinctive Horizon Blue Porsche 911 owned by the Sultan.
In 2011, the Sultan secured the title for the world’s largest private collection of Rolls-Royce cars. Although the exact count is unknown, experts estimate that he owns over 600 Rolls-Royces, roughly equivalent to half the number of Rolls-Royces sold by the British luxury carmaker in the 1990s.
For his wedding, the Sultan selected a 24-carat gold-plated Silver Spur II as his wedding car. At the time, the car’s value soared to no less than $14 million (equivalent to 339.8 billion VND).
The vehicle collection of the Sultan of Brunei also features Aston Martin cars. Notable examples include the AM3 (a grand tourer incorporating the Vantage core, but with a Pininfarina body) and the V8 Vantage Special Series II.
Furthermore, the Sultan also possesses 10 One-77 cars, a limited edition model with only 77 units produced worldwide.
Among the Sultan’s collection are 106 legendary McLaren F1 cars. This includes the racing-focused F1 LM model, with just 5 units in existence globally.
Bugatti cars also hold a special place in the Sultan’s heart. Some notable models in his possession are several EB 110s, as well as the Veyron Grand Sport.
The Sultan even splurged $1.3 million (equivalent to 31.5 billion VND) to acquire a Koenigsegg CCXR. This variant of the CCX utilizes a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 engine, capable of producing a whopping 1,018 horsepower. The car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in only 2.9 seconds and boasts a top speed of 402 km/h. Presently, the CCXR is nearly impossible to find on the used car market.
It is worth noting that the collection reached its pinnacle in the 1990s. In 1997, the Brunei Royal Family faced financial difficulties compounded by the general economic crisis in Asia and a decline in oil prices. Consequently, the Royal Family significantly curtailed their automobile collecting activities.
Currently, most of the cars have fallen into disrepair due to neglect. While a number of vehicles were sold in the 1990s, the majority languish in a state of decay within the garages.
In reality, these cars are practically unsellable due to their extensive production history, condition issues, and limited safety features. Additionally, the reverse driving position poses a significant challenge when attempting to sell these automobiles.
TH (Tuoitrethudo)
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