VIN: the Brunei Royal Family Ferrari Testarossa Spider chassis EFG089
/ Ben Tyer
Between the late 1980s and early 2000s, the Brunei Royal Family purchased over 200 cars from Ferrari, many of which were dispatched to Pininfarina where they were converted into all manner of special commissions.
The seemingly unlimited funds available for such expenditure came from Brunei’s vast oil and natural gas reserves controlled by the Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah. Although already a dyed-in-the-wool motor car aficionado having acquired a Lamborghini Miura and Maserati Ghibli during his formative years spent in England, the Sultan’s expenditure rose dramatically once his brother, Prince Jefri, became Brunei’s Finance Minister in 1986.
Of the myriad Pininfarina specials created for the Brunei Royals, among the most interesting were a set of beautifully executed Testarossa Spiders. Evidently, the family were delighted with said machines as the total number eventually ordered stretched to double figures.
One such car was chassis EFG089, a right-hand drive 1990 example completed as part of the first half dozen-strong batch destined for Brunei.
Tastefully configured in rarely seen Azzuro Metallizzato with Nero upholstery, like all these Pininfarina specials, this car was numbered outside Ferrari’s normal chassis numbering sequence.
Upon completion, chassis EFG089 was flown out to Asia and registered BP8898. It has resided in the Brunei Royal Family collection ever since.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
