Quick Links
The world’s longest-reigning monarch, Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III, is the Sultan of Brunei with a $30 billion fortune. He succeeded the throne as its ruler after his father’s abdication, leading him to a monarchy that would last for decades. The Sultan is known as a man with expensive taste as his luxuries extended from real estate and private aviation to expensive clothing and lifestyle. Sultan Bolkiah is also the proud owner of the world’s most extensive car collection, reportedly worth billions. Each member of his family has a passion for cars, and the Sultan does not hesitate to commission expensive custom-made automobiles for the influential leader.
With his purchases of hundreds of Rolls-Royce in the 1990s, the Sultan was responsible for 50% of the sales and keeping the business afloat. The most notable brands in his collection include McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, and Bentley. A collection worth billions, let’s take a look inside the crazy collection of the Sultan of Brunei.
BMW Nazca M12
Introduced at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show, the BMW Nazca M12 is a forgotten classic from the 90s. According to the BMW Group, the M12 has a 5-liter 12-cylinder engine that gives an output of 500 HP. Featherweight but sharp as a bullet, BMW expects the car to perform well on the race car and a road in the city.
Aston Martin Vantage ‘Special Series’
The Special Projects Group in Newport Pagnell was commissioned to create a Special Series Vantage from Aston Martin, which is the most expensive car created in the history of the brand. DB4 Zagato inspired the Special Series with the addition of a ZF 5-speed transmission. The car was built in 1997-98, and only 19 iterations were made of the Special Series.
1996 Bentley Buccaneer
French company Heuliez was brought on board in 1996 to create a custom Bentley Buccaneer for the Sultan. With him spending millions, Bentley went all out when it created its most expensive car at the time. It featured a 6.75-liter V8 engine, and he purchased six similar vehicle models. The Buccaneer had a built-in ZH chassis, often seen in all of the Sultan's cars.
Jaguar XJ220
Jaguar believed that while the cars in the racing circuit were thriving, there needed to be more street cars for the automaker. Jim Randle created the Jaguar XJ220 in 1987 with a 6.2-liter V12, as noted by Motor Trend. During the 1990s, the XJ220 was the fastest car in the world before the release of the McLaren F1, which is also an addition to the Sultan’s garage.
Bentley Phoenix
Along with Bentley Phoenix, Sultan Bolkiah has also commissioned four additional custom, one-of-a-kind Bentleys to be produced. Called the ZH Bentley collection, the other models in the Bentley garage include Camelot, Imperial, Spectre, and Rapier. The images and prices of the custom cars still need to be discovered.
1995 Ferrari FX
The Sultan went to great lengths to keep the custom creation of the Ferrari FX private in 1995 and commissioned the top names in the industry to build the masterpiece. He got Pininfarina for the body redesign, and once the model was complete, it was sent to the F1 team Williams to fit a gearbox. The FX was painted in a dark blue shade and is currently displayed at the Marconi Museum.
Ferrari 456 GT Venice
While there are over 300 Ferraris in his collection, the 456 GT Venice is a special model as the one-of-a-kind model was specifically made for the Sultan. As mentioned by Motor Biscuit, with the base of a 456 GT coupe, it has a 5.5-liter V12 that cranks out 436 HP. It was not an easy feat to have a luxury brand like Ferrari build a station wagon, but the Sultan had also commissioned Pininfarina to create six examples.
McLaren F1
There is no doubt that the Sultan is a fan of McLaren, as the Prime Minister owns 11 iterations of the same vehicle. He had commissioned 10 F1s at once, three with F1 LM specification and five with the standard version. The eleventh car was a special F1 with 004 chassis with a dark gray interior and Grand Prix red exterior. In March 2022, the car was shipped to the UK for restoration.
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Released in 1968, the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI has been a long-standing official vehicle for many diplomats and Prime Ministers, including the Royal Family. The car's production lasted until 1990, with only limited numbers being produced. The Sultan of Brunei uses the Phantom VI as his official Head of State transport.
Gold Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce is a luxurious brand many cannot afford, and Sultan Bolkiah created the ultimate luxury car that cost him a few million. Often seen on the streets of Brunei during important celebrations, he owns a gold Rolls Royce with an open roof, as stated by GQ. It has an open roof to accommodate an umbrella for the Prime Minister. Even the tires and grille are made from gold.
Other notable cars in the Sultan’s collection include the Rolls-Royce Majesty, Rolls-Royce Royale, Lamborghini Urraco, the Ferrari 250 GTO, and many more. Over the years, the Sultan is often seen driven around in his official transport while his automobiles make pit stops in the UK for upgrades and maintenance.
Sources: BMW Group, Motor Trend. Motor Biscuit, GQ