List: Sultan of Brunei's complete car collection, no M5 but an Alpina - Page 10 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

SilverstoneDM · 27th April 2007, 21:57

I have close personal experience of the project that created the Bentley Java "fleet" for Prince Jefri.

These cars are actually BMW 540i's heavily modified by Bentley Mulliner Park Ward and Cosworth (where I worked). Interestingley, every BMW logo or name had to be removed from every part as it was said Prince J had a particular dislike of BMW (no idea why).

We did a twin turbo conversion for the 4.0l V8 with new rods, pistons, manifolds etc.etc. We had to send guys out to Brunei (over Christmas if I remember!) to comission the vehicles and do final "tweeking" as the Prince was not happy with the cars acceleration initially.

The project took about 18 months and several millions of Brunei $ to complete 5 or 6 cars. Prince J always wanted special cars that others could not buy, and was prepared to pay BIG bucks for the privilege.

His spending was curbed about 8 years ago, hence the dated nature of the collection.

pigapumbu · 27th April 2007, 23:59

Actually if you ask me, I think of the two brothers, Prince Jefri is more of a car lover than his sultan brother. I am sure he had/has the better collection. But like you mentioned, they preferred to own cars that no one else had. Bragging rights between royalties of the world perhaps?

I don't think he hated BMW cause he did own a few McLaren F1 cars and we all know what engine was in the back of them. The problem with BMW I suspect was, they consider them in the cheaper league. Merc would bend backwards to provide every single fancy of the royalty. I have seen pink stretched mercs with bright red interior. I seriously doubt BMW would have done any and for sure never seen a odd looking stretched 7-series in bright fluorescent with similar interior. But in a merc, I have seen ugly versions of it. Zero class to be seen in one. Yet there were many in the royal's household of cars.

And they did want the java Bentley. So like always, if Bentley was not going to build it, they just asked Bentley to make a few I guess, with a blank cheque. You guys must have been happy. Then again, if I was going to pay mega bucks for a few one off cars, the last thing I would want to see printed on any part would be a name of another brand.

Spending curb? Well if you stopped being the finance minister of the oil and gas rich country, then its what we expect to happen.

Pity because while he was the F.Minister, we got to hear of such extravagance, it brought a smile.

cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverstoneDM

I have close personal experience of the project that created the Bentley Java "fleet" for Prince Jefri.

These cars are actually BMW 540i's heavily modified by Bentley Mulliner Park Ward and Cosworth (where I worked). Interestingley, every BMW logo or name had to be removed from every part as it was said Prince J had a particular dislike of BMW (no idea why).

We did a twin turbo conversion for the 4.0l V8 with new rods, pistons, manifolds etc.etc. We had to send guys out to Brunei (over Christmas if I remember!) to comission the vehicles and do final "tweeking" as the Prince was not happy with the cars acceleration initially.

The project took about 18 months and several millions of Brunei $ to complete 5 or 6 cars. Prince J always wanted special cars that others could not buy, and was prepared to pay BIG bucks for the privilege.

His spending was curbed about 8 years ago, hence the dated nature of the collection.

Mtechnik540i · 28th April 2007, 06:25

Ah, so this is where all the E31 850s are!

Stephan735i · 29th April 2007, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandiego

Gee, I thought I owned a bunch of a cars. I've got 23 BMW's, 12 Audi's, 14 porsches, 13 Mercedes, and a couple of Ferraris. However, all of my cars are in 1/87 scale to go with my Marklin HO model trains!!!

Nice to find a fellow 1/87 fan

I have a just a little more, or about 2200-2300 vehicles

Stephan

NickyBlack · 29th August 2007, 18:21

My eyes were hurting from reading that list

ILoveMPower · 29th August 2007, 19:55

Thanks for all the "insider" information, made for a real interesting read.

And it's fine that he has a "grudge" against BMW, because that makes up for the one I have against Merc

Sebring NL · 29th August 2007, 20:53

Quote:

BMW NAZCA BL8999 003/ID

Pleh

Dick Fidd · 10th September 2007, 19:11

Stutz Bearcat FTW - funny to think of where this car ended up - and what the middle east was like in the roaring 20's when the wall street tycoons were sporting these cars.

Sebring NL · 10th September 2007, 20:16

He probably has someone polishing all those cars for him.. -arrogantly wondering if this person is any better than myself -

pigapumbu · 11th September 2007, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebring NL

He probably has someone polishing all those cars for him..

You are right. He does have people working to wash and polish the cars and the top ones gets extra special care. Just have to check the underground garage he has under his palace.

I have seen golf carts with a rolls and range rover front end. Was funny though.

cheers

PS: can't remember if this link has been posted before. Sorry if its a double link here.