VIN: the Brunei Royal Family Bugatti EB110 SS chassis 39003
History of chassis SS39003
After Bugatti had unveiled the EB110 SS at Geneva in March 1992, the Brunei Royal Family placed an order for the first three production cars: chassis SS39001, SS39002 and SS39003. A fourth example was also commissioned on chassis SS39013 which, unlike the first trio, the Brunei royals configured with a special multi-coloured exterior and interior.
These Bugattis joined a huge fleet of high end cars ordered by the Brunei Royal Family during the 1990s, their seemingly unlimited funds came as a result of Brunei’s vast natural gas and oil reserves.
As head of state, absolute monarch and head of government, the Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, was in total control of the funds raised from Brunei’s gas and oil fields. In late 1986 the Sultan’s younger brother, Prince Jefri, became Brunei’s Minister of Finance and, by the early-to-mid 1990s, the two men were spending nearly £200m per year on high end automobiles.
Chassis ‘01’, ‘02’ and ‘03’ were the only EB110 SS variants completed by Bugatti in 1993.
SS39002 was configured in Nero Metallic with matching Nero upholstery. It was one of two cars completed as such, the other having been chassis SS39014 which Bugatti delivered to a Japanese customer in 1994.
Upon arrival in Brunei, chassis SS39003 was registered KF6780. It has resided in the royal collection ever since.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
