Inside Brunei's Royal Car Collection: A Quest to Document a $5 Billion Treasure

The Quest for Access

• 👑 Larry embarked on a journey to Brunei with the ambitious goal of documenting the legendary Brunei Royal Family Car Collection, estimated at around 7,000 vehicles.
• 🤝 Initial attempts to gain access involved reaching out to contacts and writing letters to Prince Abdul Mateen, who oversees the main collection.
• 🎂 A pivotal moment occurred during the Sultan's birthday celebration, providing a rare opportunity to directly approach members of the royal family.

Royal Encounters and Collection Insights

• 🗣️ Larry directly asked Prince Jefri about seeing his car collection, receiving a response to consult his secretary, while also engaging with Prince Abdul Mateen about future possibilities.
• 💰 The Brunei Royal Family Car Collection's origins are tied to Prince Jefri's significant spending in the '90s, with the collection later managed by entities like Band Tree.
• 📸 While direct access to the main collection remained elusive, Larry was eventually granted permission to document a specific collection known as the “Princess Collection.”

Documenting the Princess's Collection

• 🚗 The Princess's collection, untouched since her husband's passing in 2009, features a mix of vehicles with deep sentimental value, including a BMW E30 Koig special and a right-hand drive minivan.
• 🕰️ Many cars in this collection appear neglected, parked oddly and showing signs of age, with a goal to restore them one by one.
• 🛠️ A local restorer, Dean, is undertaking the monumental task of bringing these cherished vehicles back to life, starting with the BMW E30 Koig special.

Brunei's Unique Car Culture

• 🚗 The general population of Brunei exhibits a strong car culture, with a preference for tuning JDM cars and a unique environment where cars are relatively inexpensive and fuel is subsidized.
• 📉 Former royal cars often enter the market through auctions, sometimes sold for very low prices, leading to a trickle-down effect where enthusiasts can acquire unique vehicles.
• 🚧 Challenges exist in maintaining these exotic and one-off vehicles due to a lack of specialized services and parts in Brunei, leading some to be abandoned.

The Impact of Royal Auctions and Leaks

• 📢 Royal auctions, often silent, offer a way for locals and international buyers to acquire former royal vehicles, though maintaining them remains a significant hurdle.
• 🌐 Leaked photos from 2001, taken by an outside contractor, have provided glimpses into the vastness of the collection, though they were not intended for showcasing the cars' beauty.
• ✈️ Despite the difficulties in accessing the main collection, the video highlights the passion of Brunei's car enthusiasts and the unique car culture influenced by the royal family's legacy.