Despite its small size, Brunei boasts abundant oil reserves, making Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. At one point, his net worth reached nearly $30 billion, and his impressive car collection is no less remarkable.
Most of his vehicles were purchased during the 1990s and 2000s, featuring brands that the Sultan particularly cherishes: Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, BMW, and Aston Martin, with an estimated total value in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Rare Cars of the Sultan of Brunei
Many of these cars are special editions created exclusively for the Sultan. They were manufactured in secrecy, unknown to the media, and shipped directly to Brunei for his collection. Very few guests of the Sultan have ever had the opportunity to admire these one-of-a-kind vehicles, and sometimes the only evidence of their existence comes from hastily taken photos by journalists.
1. Bentley Dominator
For the average person, Bentley’s first SUV is the Bentayga, launched in 2015, but that is not the case for the Sultan of Brunei. Six Dominators were commissioned by the Brunei royal family over a decade ago for the Sultan and his family, priced at $4.6 million each. Since they were never made public, little is known about their engine specifications. It is known, however, that the Bentley Dominator was significantly influenced by contemporary Range Rovers, though enthusiasts have debated whether it features Bentley’s 6.7L V8 or Range Rover’s 3.9L V8 engine.
2. Ferrari F50 Bolide
Rarely mentioned by the media, the Ferrari F50 Bolide is so scarce that only a few photos confirm its existence. The F50 itself had a limited production run of only 349 units, and the Sultan desired a unique version based on Ferrari’s most powerful car of that era. Thus, instead of using a standard F50 chassis, Ferrari constructed the Bolide using a Formula 1 chassis. It possesses just enough features for street legality, encased in a carbon fiber body with a 12-cylinder engine. Beyond these details, almost nothing else is known about the F50 Bolide, even its very existence.
3. BMW Nazca M12
The Nazca M12 was originally a concept car designed by BMW and is considered a successor to the M1 supercar, equipped with a V12 engine similar to the 850i of the same era, generating 300 horsepower. Although the prototype Nazca remains owned and managed by BMW, there were reports that the Sultan of Brunei paid a significant sum to Italdesign to create an identical version for him.
4. Aston Martin AM3
A peculiar car from Aston Martin, the AM3 features a body designed by Pininfarina, creating a style distinctly different from its contemporaries. Developed from the Vantage model, it is equipped with a 5.3L V8 engine. No AM3 has ever been spotted on the road; the only photos are from Pininfarina’s factory in Turin, Italy. The Sultan’s own AM3 has never been seen outside either.
5. Bentley Buccaneer
This might be one of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s favorite cars, as it has been seen on the road a few times. Like many of the Sultan’s rare vehicles, little is known about its specifications; it is rumored to share the same engine as the contemporary Continental R model. Bentley produced six Buccaneers in black, silver, and red, all of which are owned by the Brunei royal family.
6. Leblanc Mirabeau
The Swiss car manufacturer Leblanc almost became a giant in the supercar industry until a failed launch in the U.S. drained their funds, leading to their gradual obscurity. This happened after Leblanc sold several Mirabeau supercars to the Sultan of Brunei. Recent reports confirm that the Mirabeau shares a V8 engine with the Koenigsegg CCR, a car that has achieved greater fame and financial success than the Mirabeau. However, the people of Brunei have never seen one of these on the roads.
7. Ferrari Testarossa F90 Speciale
Six Testarossa F90 Speciale cars were produced in 1988, based on one of the most iconic supercars of the 1980s. However, Ferrari only confirmed their existence 18 years later. The bodywork was once again crafted by Pininfarina, adhering to the Sultan’s specifications, and housed a 12-cylinder engine with a 180-degree layout, producing 390 horsepower.
8. Bentley Java
Similar to the Nazca M12, the Java was a concept model by Bentley as the company sought to develop design elements appealing to new customer demographics. Bentley initially intended to create a concept without mass production, but the Sultan had other ideas. Naturally, Bentley never turned down a king, producing 18 Java cars, one for each member of the royal family. There was an instance where car enthusiasts in Hong Kong spotted a Java in a private collection, but none have ever been seen on the road.
9. Mercedes-Benz S73 T AMG Wagon
Only the Sultan of Brunei could persuade Mercedes-Benz to create a car as outrageous as the S73 T AMG wagon. Inside this seemingly ordinary wagon lies a 7.3L V12 engine, which means it shares its powertrain with the renowned supercar, Pagani Zonda. Many sources claim that AMG still retains a prototype of the S73 T AMG Wagon at their headquarters, but AMG has consistently denied these reports. It is quite a stroke of luck for anyone to capture images of this extremely rare vehicle.
10. Ferrari FX
Before the introduction of track-only supercars like the FXX and FXX-K, the FX was one of the Sultan of Brunei’s most cherished supercars in his collection. The public was almost unaware of the FX’s existence, as the Sultan encountered financial constraints while placing his order. Initially, he ordered seven FX units, equipped with a Flat-12 engine similar to that of the Testarossa, but paired with a 7-speed transmission developed by the Williams BMW Formula 1 team. However, he could only afford to pay for four of them. The remaining three were later sold to private collectors, who have kept them so well hidden that no one has seen them.
