The Largest Private Car Collection In The World
Car collecting is an expensive hobby that only the richest people can partake in. And while people like Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld come to mind, there is one man who makes these stars look like amateurs.
Who Is Hassanal Bolkiah?
Hassanal Bolkiah is the Sultan of Brunei—a small and wealthy country in the heart of southeast Asia. He is one of the last remaining absolute monarchs in the world and has a net worth of $30 billion. He currently holds a few records when it comes to his reign—but there’s more to this man than power.
Bolkiah’s car collection is the largest private collection in the world, consisting of about 7,000 cars—with an estimated combined value of over $5 billion.
Let’s take a look in his garage.
Australian Embassy Jakarta, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Collection
The Sultan’s vast car collection includes a number of Ferrari F40s, McLaren F1s, and Rolls-Royce vehicles that are particularly notable due to the rarity of the vehicles and their value. He also holds a Guinness World Record for the largest private Rolls-Royce collection, with around 150 cars.
But a collection like this needs some serious security.
MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Securing The Warehouse
Bolkiah’s collection includes at least 2,000 luxury vehicles, including a vast number of customized models that would be difficult to put a price tag on. So, it’s no wonder his security system is as rigid as it is.
This impressive vehicle collection is held within a sizable property that is guarded by a tall razor-wire-topped wall and a front gate that is said to be able withstand explosives. Visitors are required to give up their passports and photos upon arrival, and they have to stay with a guide.
And of course, armed guards and specially trained German Shepherds patrol the property at all times.
Chin Yu Chu, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Property
The property is made up of 8 two-story buildings, with roughly 120 automobiles on each level. The first structure is completely devoted to Porsches from the 959 to the late 1990s models, and each floor has a different theme.
There are black-on-black 1996–1997 Mercedes-Benz 500 automobiles on another floor. And in other buildings, you’ll find Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and 1990s Ferraris, among which are many 456s and 550s, as well as experimental XTRAC automatic transmissions.
A small number of 550s have been fitted with infrared cameras for night driving and coated in matte black finishes that reflect radar.
Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
VIP Only
The Sultan’s car collection is reportedly the largest in the world—but few people have actually been allowed to see it. Rumor has it, only a select few of his family members have had the pleasure, along with a trusted journalist or two.
Because of this intense secrecy, some speculate that he may have hidden vehicles no one knows about—making his collection possibly larger than we assume it to be.
But how did he amass such a collection to begin with?
Maurizio Cefariello, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Family Affair
The vast automobile collection is often credited to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, but it’s believed to have originally belonged to Prince Jefri Bolkiah—the Sultan’s brother. Prince Jefri had once overseen Brunei’s oil and gas earnings, and while he made good money, he was also caught for embezzling about $14.8 billion of it.
As a result, the prince had to relinquish thousands of cars from his collection—but no one knew he had a secret stash. Likely to avoid further trouble, the Sultan took credit for the secret stash—which numbered over 3,500—and then continued to add to it himself.
Chin Yu Chu, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ferrari Favorites
On another floor of their highly-secure, top-secret warehouse, you’ll find rows of right-hand drive Ferrari Testarossas (TR), 512 TRs, and 512 Ms.
Coachbuilt Ferraris are housed in a different building and include five F90s, five FXs, three Mythos, four 456 four-doors, four 456 Venice Cabriolets, and four 456 Venice station wagons.
Oh, and don’t forget his unique Ferrari from the Enzo period, the right-hand drive 275 GTS—one of his favorites.
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Money Was No Object
As the king of his nation, Bolkiah was obviously swimming in money, and according to many sources, he loved to spend it. His lavish lifestyle had no boundaries, so when Bolkiah favored something, say, a particular model, he wouldn’t buy just one.
In fact, journalist Richard Bayer, who reported on the collection, went on record to say that if the Bolkiah family liked a particular suit, they’d buy hundreds of the same color—and the same was said for their vehicles.
Government of Thailand, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Ferrari F40
One of the Sultan’s many favorites was the Ferrari F40—in which only 1,300 models were ever produced. The initial price was about $400,000, but that number easily increased to $1 million once collections got on board.
And Bolkiah made it difficult for anyone else to get one, as he purchased several.
Will ainsworth, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Showcase Built For A King
Between the eight enormous buildings, Bolkiah built a showcase with tall glass walls that held three McLaren F1s, a Ferrari 288 GTO Evo, an F50, and an F40 LM. The F40 LM included power windows, air conditioning, red piping, black leather interior, and black exterior trim.
Under the structure is a windowless theater crammed with rows of exotic cars, including more 288 GTOs and more of his right-hand drive F40s.
GTHO, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The BMW Nazca M12
Another one of Bolkiah’s prized possessions includes the BMW Nazca M12—a concept car that was made in 1991. It has a V12 engine, 295 horsepower, and a top speed of 180 mph. Because this vehicle was a concept car, there weren’t any on the market. But the Sultan commissioned one from BMW—and it’s estimated to be worth close to $3 million.
Bolkiah may have hundreds of the same models, but he also enjoys a bit of rarity as well.
Thomas doerfer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Lamborghini Urraco
The Sultan’s Lamborghini Urraco is one of only 700 in the world—making it pretty rare. Many of them boast a yellow hue, but it’s reported that the Sultan’s model was custom painted in grey, so that it would stand out from the others.
Unlike this next rare vehicle, the Sultan only owns one Urraco.
TKOIII, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Ferrari Mythos
Another concept car Bolkiah owns is his Ferrari Mythos, which is another magnificent sports car with a top speed of 180 mph. It’s powered by a 4.9-liter Tipo F113 B Ferrari flat-12 engine and boasts a five-speed manual transmission.
It was never officially produced, and never sold to the public, yet Bolkiah managed to scoop up not one, but three of them.
And his love for Ferraris doesn’t stop there.
The Ferrari F50
Only 349 Ferrari F50s were ever made—and the Sultan got his hands on the first three of them when manufacture of the vehicle began in 1995.
The F50 is powered by a 4.7-liter V12 engine that was actually developed from the 3.5-liter V12 used in the 1990 Ferrari 641 Formula One car—and it has an incredible top speed of 201 mph.
Not only that, the Sultan also funded the development for the Ferrari F50 GT, with three cars intended just for him—however, the program was canceled due to internal conflicts.
Love Has No Limits
Bolkiah’s collection has no limits. When he loves something, he buys it in every color. If it’s rare, he loves it even more. But he’s also into customization. In fact, a number of his collection includes customized models of already incredible vehicles.
Take for instance a Ferrari FX that the Sultan commissioned for his nephew, in which extensive modifications made it into a remarkably unique vehicle.
Pat Durkin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Ferrari FX
Bolkiah had a Ferrari FX commissioned for his nephew, Pengiran Muda Abdul Hakeem. It was originally a Ferrari F512M that was extensively modified into a unique vehicle with a body designed by Pininfarina and outfitted with a sequential paddle-shift gearbox by Williams.
The FX, built in a series of seven, featured an aluminum and carbon fiber body, upgraded cooling system, and a distinctive two-tone interior.
Originally, the Sultan intended to keep the FX hidden as part of his vast collection, but details about the car were leaked, causing an intense excitement among enthusiasts and journalists who begged to get a look.
ilikewaffles11, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Reshaping Luxury Cars
Possibly one of the coolest things found in this royal car collection is the cutting-edge technology that is rarely found in mass-produced automobiles.
Two of his three Ferrari 456 cars, for example, have been equipped with infrared cameras to enhance night vision. And a number of 550s boast this feature as well.
But there’s one particular car in the warehouse that truly stands out among the rest.
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione
One of the Ferraris in Bolkiah’s collection is the incredibly rare Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione. Only six were ever made, and only three were available for sale. This extremely fast car was apparently supposed to be Ferrari’s entry into Group B rallying before the series was canceled because it was “too fast, too lethal, and too uncontrollable”.
This sportscar boasts a 2.9-liter F114 B 000 twin turbo V8 engine and can reach a high speed of 179 mph. It’s among one of the rarest Ferraris ever built and is valued at a whopping $4 million.
MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The McLaren F1
While that’s not even close to the end of the Sultan’s Ferrari collection, we’re going to move along to his love for McLarens. The McLaren F1 was an extremely rare mid-engine sports car, in which only 106 have ever been produced.
Powered by a 6.1-liter BMW S70/2 V12 engine, the F1 remains one of the fastest production cars ever made, reaching a top speed of 240 mph.
Because of its rarity, the McLaren F1 is valued between $8 million to $13.5 million—and the Sultan bought 10 of them. His 10 include five road cars, three F1 LMs, one F1 GT, and one F1 GTR.
Chelsea Jay, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
As mentioned before, Bolkiah currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest private Rolls-Royce collection, with more than 500 Rolls-Royce vehicles. And it's as impressive as it sounds.
Included in his collection are four custom ordered Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds, and they all underwent engine modifications and transmission upgrades.
Oh, and it gets better.
Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II
The Sultan also custom ordered a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II stretch limousine for his wedding day, but had the car customized so that the whole vehicle was plated with 24-carat gold—costing him about $14 million.
As of 2024, the Silver Spur I and II are still common vehicles for royal families all around the world.
The Bentley Collection
By the end of the 1990s, the royal family had accumulated more than 650 Bentleys. Because the orders were so rare and distinctive, Rolls-Royce established a dedicated "Blackpool team" to create, develop, and test the customized vehicles.
Known by names like Dominator, Phoenix, and Camelot, these Bentleys featured production copies of the Java concept vehicle, four-wheel-drive cars, and customized versions of the Continental R coupe.
The majority of them are kept in air-conditioned warehouses that are heavily guarded 24/7, and are never seen in the open—especially the Dominator.
Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Bentley Dominator
The Dominator was Bentley’s first attempt at an SUV. It resembled a 1990s Range Rover—except with a price tag of $4 million. At first, this vehicle was so secretive that the world didn’t even know it existed until two years after it was actually produced.
Only six of them were ever made—and the Sultan bought three (though some sources claim all six were made just for him). Seeing one today is said to be an extremely rare occurrence.
But the Sultan also had a need for speed, and with this next model, Bentley did not disappoint.
NRMA Motoring and Services, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Bentley Continental R
The Bentley Continental R was once the fastest, most expensive, and most powerful Bentleys of its day—and at one point, the most expensive vehicle in the world. So of course, the Sultan couldn’t wait to get his hands on it. In fact, he bought the first bright red show model while it was still on display.
Then, he took it a step further and had 17 of the B2 models built exclusively for him, along with a dozen B3 special models, each featuring a 6.75-liter V8 with a Garrett turbocharger.
And he didn’t stop there.
Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Bentley Buccaneer
The Sultan also had a vintage two-door, 2+2 sports coupe known as the Buccaneer, powered by a 6.75-liter turbocharged V8, developed specifically for him (of course).
And not long after that, he and his brother commissioned the Grand Prix, a modified V8-powered Bentley with an aluminum body and a top speed of 190 mph. It was apparently developed specifically for the car collection of the royal family.
While these two cars were not as fast as some of the others, this next car gave the Sultan all the speed he would need.
nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Bugatti EB 110
The Bugatti EB 110 is a rear mid-engine sports car that was manufactured between 1991 and 1995. It must have been another favorite because the royal family ordered a few of them. The collection included four EB 110 SS models.
The Bugatti EB 110 SS boasts a 3.5-liter Bugatti quad-turbocharged V12 engine, and can go from 0-100 mph in 3.26 seconds reaching a whopping top speed of 220.6 mph.
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Risky Reputation
With an estimated 7,000 cars to his name, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is believed to have the most sought-after and awe-inspiring car collection in the world—but a reputation like that is not without controversy.
Because so few people are actually allowed to see this magnificent collection, some people speculate the collection actually numbers closer to 2,500 (which is still massive), far less than they claim.
But that’s not the worst part.
Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Royal Spendthrift
According to some sources, this royal family’s car collection cost billions of dollars (about $5 billion if you’re counting). And while they may be royally rich, their car obsession may have gone a little too far—and landed them in a financial crisis.
Now, while that may just be a fitting consequence, what is happening to the cars is anything but.
Chin Yu Chu, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Heartbreaking Truth
A true car enthusiast is going to find this next part heartbreaking. Apparently, much of the Sultan’s car collection has been abandoned, with many of the non-garaged cars rotting beyond repair, and many others auctioned off.
At one point, air conditioners in the warehouse were turned off, which basically turned the buildings into sweltering greenhouses. And one of the areas on the property was only partially protected by a tin roof, leaving about 300 black 1995–1997 Mercedes-Benz 500 SELs and SLs parked in the shade, many with their windows down, to rot in the severe tropical climate.
nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Left To The Elements
Sadly, a large number of vehicles were left to the elements and ended up deteriorating over time, to the point where they could not be saved. In 1998, technicians abandoned the collection, leaving none of the cars in operable condition.
Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Final Thoughts
Once the biggest collection of coachbuilt and luxury exotic cars in the world, the Sultan of Brunei’s car collection may now be nothing but a car cemetery watched over solely by a few dog-wielding Gurkhas.
While it’s hard to determine truth from rumor, especially considering this luxurious collection has only been verified by a few sources, it is likely that Bolkiah, similar to his brother, has a secret stash somewhere else—one that is well-taken care of.
We can hope, anyway.
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