The Rarest - Back to the 1990s when the automotive world known to spill a lot of exotic four-wheeled vehicle models. And among the many exclusive car models produced at that time, there was a special commissioning vehicles for the Sultan of Brunei. Today, despites many years have passed by, the Sultan of Brunei's car collection still remains an interesting legend to talk about.
This is one-of-a-kind Ferrari FX outside Brunei (in pictured the car no. 4) was purchased by Dick Marconi, and now sat on display at his automotive museum in Southern California. (Picture from: Supercars)
And reportedly the Sultan of Brunei has more than 5,000 (some says 7,000) custom-made cars under various well-known brands like Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Aston Martin, etc. And it could be said that no luxury brand was absence in the garages of the Royal Family of Brunei garages, all hidden in the luxuriant South-East Asian forest.
The Ferrari FX is a limited car model specially built by Pininfarina based of Ferrari Testarossa as many as 7 units for the Sultan of Brunei in the 1995. (Picture from: WikiCars)
Especially for exclusive vehicles that wore the Prancing Horse badge that was built commissioned for the Sultan of Brunei, we're noticed, there are several models that not widely known by the public to date, such as the Ferrari F50 Bolide, Ferrari Mythos, and Ferrari F90 Speciale.
The Ferrari FX (in pictured the car no. 4) has the new body made of aluminum and, where possible, carbon fibre was used for panels such as the hood, doors and wheel wells. (Picture from: Supercars)
Another Ferrari car model which is also not widely known by world automotive enthusiasts specially made for the Sultan of Brunei back in the 1995. At the time, the Sultan of Brunei commissioned the well-known legendary Italian coachbuilder company Pininfarina to design seven one-of-a-kind Ferrari models called the Ferrari FX.
The Ferrari FX (in pictured the car no. 4) is lushly appointed with a sweeping two-tone interior and focuses on the red and green paddles that sit behind the Momo steering wheel. (Picture from: Supercars)
Like most Ferrari car models that were built commissioned for the Royal Family of Brunei at that time, the exclusive car built by Pininfarina in the 1995 also based on the foundations of the production cars of the date to support newer and sometimes better bodies, interiors and drive trains.
The Ferrari FX (in pictured the car no. 4) had a tuned engine coupled with seven speed, electro-hydraulic gearbox complete with manual clutch adjustments located on the center console developed by the Williams F1 team. (Picture from: Supercars)
As quoted of Supercars, the Ferrari FX is a limited series of cars based on the Ferrari Testarossa. The project (and the cars as well) once had shown by Sergio Pininfarina to Gianni Agnelli(CEO of Fiat) who commented; lucky to have such clients.
The Ferrari FX (in pictured the car no. 4) has specifically converging unusual lines at the back, but look more flowing and balanced compared to the chunky F512. (Picture from: Supercars)
The car had a tuned engine coupled with seven speed, electro-hydraulic gearbox complete with manual clutch adjustments located on the center console developed by the Williams F1 team, it's said able to make the car run up to top speed of 300 kph. Wow!
Each car started life at the Pininfarina's assembling lines has the new body was fitted to the Ferrari Testarossa 512 superstructure. It was fabricated out of aluminum and, where possible, carbon fibre was used for panels such as the hood, doors and wheel wells. To accommodate the revised rear end, a new exhaust was manufactured which now leads us to believe the engine itself may have been upgraded. Even if the engine is stock, the lighter body and transmission have to offer much better performance.
To accommodate the revised rear end of the Ferrari FX (in pictured the car no. 4), a new exhaust was manufactured which now leads us to believe the engine itself may have been upgraded. (Picture from: Supercars)
Although at the time, the Pininfarina's styling isn't the most photogenic from the front, but good proportions and a particularly pleasing rear end save the design. Specifically, converging lines at the back are unusual ones, but look more flowing and balanced compared to the chunky F512. A distinct rear hood with Plexiglass rear window is unlike any Pininfarina-made car ever, having small port holes that reveal its flat-12 drive train below. Curiously, there is a unique engine crown that has the only the FX script ever found on this car.
A distinct rear hood of the Ferrari FX (in pictured the car no. 4) with Plexiglass rear window is unlike any Pininfarina-made car ever, having small port holes that reveal its flat-12 drive train below. (Picture from: Supercars)
Inside, the FX is lushly appointed with a sweeping two-tone interior and focuses on the red and green paddles that sit behind the Momo steering wheel. Other interesting details include an emergency shut-off button, aluminum door handles, a transmission control panel between the two seats and a plaque which calls out the 'unique pininfarina design for the Royal Family of Brunei'. The FX's feature is left untouched, and still includes its classic Sony tape player, one fit for a billionaire.
For the reason we did not know, the Sultan stopped his influx of cars and anything else expensive when the fourth car from the seven cars built was still being in the finishing process at the Williams. The dark blue colored car with the chassis no. 103396, was then purchased by an American supercar enthusiasts Dick Marconi to be one of his car colections on display at his automotive museum in Southern California.
And this is one-of-a-kind Ferrari FX outside Brunei, as well as become an evidence of its existence in the world (since the beginning of the FX model is the secret project and not included in the recognized model ever made by Ferrari and even Pininfarina). *** [EKA [12012022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MARCONI MUSEUM | SUPERCARS.NET ]
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Killer Orca Have you ever heard of a supercar that carries the unique name of Orca? The car name unique isn't? Although it actually has nothing to do in terms of shape or anything with the toothed whale from the dolphin family that lives in the ocean or known as the Killer Whale with the Latin name of Orcinus Orca.
The Orca C113 is the first variant of the Orca 113 platform and made by the Liechtenstein-based automaker called Orca Engineering. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
Its intentions are clearly apparent wanna be a merciless monster in term of performance. Those unique-named supercar produced by the Liechtenstein-based automaker called Orca Engineering. The company founded in the 2003 by René Beck and his son Ralph in Zurich of Switzerland, then the company moved to Ebenholz, Liechtenstein.
The Orca C113's body consists of ten large pieces screwed into the structure. (Picture from: TopSpeed)
It seems the company wanna shared the aspirations or even taken inspirations of those gigantic ocean creatures namesake, ie uncompromising performance in its own environment when it building the first supercar platform which has the full name of the Orca 113 that's consisted of three variants. As the first variant, the Orca C113 also features with Lamborghini-like scissor doors was launched for the first time at one of the world's leading automotive exhibitions, Geneva Motor Show 2003.
The Orca C113 also features with Lamborghini-like scissor doors was launched for the first time at one of the world's leading automotive exhibitions, Geneva Motor Show 2003. (Picture from: Mad4Wheels)
As qouted of Classicdriver, the
car's nomenclature is derived from "C" for coupé, "1" designating that
it’s the first model, and "13" for good luck, it being Beck’s personal
lucky number. The next variant is the Orca R113 or a roadster-styled car, the last one being the highest variant is the Orca SC7, as we could be guessed from the car's nomenclature is derived from "SC" for supercar, and "7" designating of it made only 7 units.
The Orca C113 is powered by a MTM-optimised twin turbo 4.2 V8 Audi engine capable spew out power of 650 horsepower, and 664 lb-ft of torque. (Picture from: SeriousWheels)
The Orca's supercar platform is constructed from lightweight materials including aluminium, magnesium and titanium, and has carbon-kevlar body panels with total weight is around 850 kg. And for its suspention is handled by double wishbones at front and the rear with coil springs and alloy uprights.
The Orca SC7 variant while sat on display at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show. (Picture from: UltimateCarPage)
All suspension parts are made of aluminum by CNC machining and are covered with a layer of carbon fiber. Ventilated and cross-drilled carbon composite brakes on all four corners are grabbed by eight-piston brake calipers.
The Orca SC7 known as the highest variant of the Orca 113 platform and is made only 2 units of the initially company's plan 7 units. (Picture from: UltimateCarPage)
As for the drivetrain, the Orca C113 is powered by a MTM-optimised twin turbo 4.2 V8 Audi engine capable spew out power of 650 horsepower, and 664 lb-ft of torque, and claimed to be made the car run to top speed of 224 mph (360.5 kph).
Initially, the company intends to produce around 10-15 hand-build cars a year with a total production of 198 units in all three variants. Unfortunately, the car project shut down in 2007, due to lack of investors and buyer, with only 7 units were ever produced, 3 units of the C113, 2 R113s, and 2 SC7s.
The Beck LM800 is designed to be extremely light with a weight of 1,984 lbs and incredibly aerodynamic. (Picture from: Supercars)
After all the projects on the Orca 113 car platform stopped, it turned out that the company owner still had not given up on continuing to build supercars, it then continued by launching another model named Beck LM 800 in 2007. The car is designed to be extremely light with a weight of 1,984 lbs and incredibly aerodynamic.
The Beck LM800 is powered by a 4.2-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine with 650
horsepower and estimated has an acceleration from zero to 60 mph in
only 3-seconds. (Picture from: VistaPointe)
THE ONE & ONLY - When you think of cars with W16 engines, names like Bugatti Veyron or Chiron often come to mind. However, before these Bugatti legends, there was another remarkable car with a W16 engine—an Audi concept known as the Audi Rosemeyer. Unveiled to the public at the Autostadt Building in Wolfsburg, Germany, on June 1, 2000, the Audi Rosemeyer was a significant creation.
The Audi Rosemeyer concept car was created to pay tribute to the Auto Union Silver Arrows (German: Silberpfeil), driven by the legendary German racer, Bernd Rosemeyer. (Picture from: Audi)
The Audi Rosemeyer wasn't a prototype ready for production. Audi made it clear that this concept car was not intended for mass production but as a tribute to the Auto Union Silver Arrows, driven by the famous German racer Bernd Rosemeyer.
Besides the grille of the Rosemeyer resembles that of the Silver Arrows, a nod to its historical inspiration, the car's name, Rosemeyer, honors the legendary racer Bernd Rosemeyer, showcasing Audi's respect and admiration.
The 2000 Audi Rosemeyer concept was showcased alongside its ancestor, the Auto Union 'Silberpfeil' racing car.(Picture from: GridOto)
At first glance, the Rosemeyer concept might remind you of the Bugatti Veyron. This is due to its similar grille design, which closely mirrors the iconic Bugatti grille.
The 2000 Audi Rosemeyer is powered by a large displacement, mid-mounted W16 engine, which develops 700 hp and featuring Audi's quattro permanent four-wheel drive system. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
The design lines of the Audi Rosemeyer also bear some resemblance to the Veyron. However, the Rosemeyer stands out with its unique rims and five rounded headlights. Observers might notice that the front of the Audi Rosemeyer appears to have an anxious and sad expression, despite its powerful nature.
The Audi Rosemeyer Concept was presented exclusively in a typical aluminum color, without any other colors on the body, to pay tribute to its ancestor, the Auto Union 'Silberpfeil' racing car.(Picture from: Wikipedia)
Under the hood, the Audi Rosemeyer boasts an 8-liter naturally aspirated W16 engine, producing a staggering 710 horsepower and 760 Nm of torque. This engine, which later found its way into the Bugatti Chiron after several modifications, channels its immense power to all four wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The interior of the Audi Rosemeyer harmoniously blends retro and modern design elements, featuring materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum, which are hallmarks of the 1930s racing car style.(Picture from: Supercars)
The Audi Rosemeyer concept car could reach a top speed of 350 kph. Despite its impressive performance, the Rosemeyer was never meant for production. Audi built this concept car to commemorate the legendary Silver Arrows rather than to create a new supercar.
There is something unique about the Audi Rosemeyer: it has no rearview mirrors. Instead, it features two cameras located on the roof, which provide a view of the surroundings through a monitor screen inside the cabin.(Picture from: Carthrottle)
The Audi Rosemeyer concept car, with its design and incredible performance, serves as a reminder of the ingenuity and bravery of an era that pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering. This remarkable tribute car continues to inspire car enthusiasts and engineers, reminding us of a time when the pursuit of speed knew no bounds.
Design similarities between the Audi Rosemeyer concept (above) and the Bugatti Veyron (below). (Picture from: GridOto)
For those curious about its appearance, a video showcasing the Audi Rosemeyer offers a closer look.
The car's design and engineering continue to captivate automotive enthusiasts, reflecting a blend of historical homage and futuristic vision. The Audi Rosemeyer remains a fascinating chapter in the history of automotive innovation, celebrated for its unique blend of design and power.. *** [EKA [100122] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUDI | IDMOTOR1 | THEGOLDENERA | CARTHROTTLE | SUPERCARS.NET | WIKIPEDIA ]
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Unrealized Fury - Sometimes in the world of speed, it’s not just about how fast you can go, but whether you ever get the chance to go at all. Motorsports is full of stories about machines that were built for glory, only to have fate rewrite their destinies. One of the most legendary examples of this is a car that was born with fire in its veins but never saw the checkered flag—Ferrari’s astonishing 288 GTO Evoluzione.
There is no doubt that the Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione were outrageous
wheeled monsters, with sublimely ridiculous quantities of power in
ultra-light bodies. (Picture from: Supercars)
To understand where this beast came from, we have to look back to the 1980s, a time when rally racing was wild, dangerous, and downright exhilarating. Ferrari, best known for its track dominance, had its eyes set on a new frontier: the World Rally Championship’s infamous Group B category. This was no ordinary series. It was a battleground of power-hungry machines with minimal restrictions, and to qualify, manufacturers needed to produce at least 200 street-legal versions of their cars. That’s where the story of the Ferrari 288 GTO begins.
The Prancing Horse manufacturer prepared 6 units of the Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione racing car to race in the Group-B of the World Rally Championship series. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
The name itself tells a story. "GTO" stands for Gran Turismo Omologata, highlighting the car’s road-legal homologation purpose. Built between 1984 and 1987, only 272 units of the Ferrari 288 GTO were ever made. But this wasn’t the end of the journey—rather, it was the beginning of something far more intense. Ferrari wanted to push things further, beyond the boundaries of the street, into the raw chaos of racing. That pursuit led to the birth of the 288 GTO Evoluzione.
Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione built based on the tubular steel frame construction, aluminum floor and carbon fiber body panels keep the dry weight down to around 940 kg. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
Only six examples of the Evoluzione were created, and they looked every bit like something out of a motorsport dream—or nightmare, depending on your point of view. From the front, the car seemed understated, even modest. But take a few steps to the back, and everything changes. The rear end of the car was a visual punch to the senses.
Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione built based on the tubular steel frame construction, aluminum floor and carbon fiber body panels keep the dry weight down to around 940 kg. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
Lift the entire back body—hinged dramatically along the roof—and you’re face to face with a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V8 engine churning out over 659 horsepower at a screaming 7,800 rpm. All that fury was packed into a chassis built from tubular steel with carbon fiber and aluminum body panels, tipping the scales at just 940 kilograms dry. That’s the kind of weight-to-power ratio that would make even today’s hypercars nervous.
Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione is powered by the 2,855 cc V8 engine, force-fed by twin IHI turbochargers said to put out over 659 HP at 7,800 rpm. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
The result? A car that could have rewritten the rules of racing. The 288 GTO Evoluzione was insanely fast, almost violently so, with an aerodynamic body featuring a shovel-nose front, aggressive canards, multiple air vents, and a massive rear wing. It was brutal, beautiful, and ahead of its time—a machine made to dominate.
Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione was one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time, featuring a shovel nose, air vents, front canards and a massive rear wing. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
But sometimes, reality hits harder than any lap time. In 1986, tragedy struck the Group B rally scene. The category’s extreme power and minimal safety led to several fatal crashes, culminating in the heartbreaking loss of driver Henri Toivonen and his co-driver during the Tour de Corse. The backlash was immediate. Group B was cancelled, and just like that, Ferrari’s racing dream for the 288 GTO Evoluzione vanished into the shadows.😲
Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione was one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time, featuring a shovel nose, air vents, front canards and a massive rear wing. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
The six Evoluzione cars never got the chance to prove themselves on the rally stages. Instead, they were quietly retired to the Maranello test track and scattered across private collections. One now rests at the Ferrari Museum, frozen in time like a monument to what could have been. Another lived on in spirit—becoming the very foundation for Ferrari’s next icon, the F40, launched in 1987.
Even though it never saw competition, the 288 GTO Evoluzione wasn’t a failure. It was a necessary evolution, a fiery stepping stone to one of Ferrari’s most celebrated supercars. Its legacy is a reminder that greatness isn’t always defined by trophies or lap times, but sometimes by the untamed spirit of what might have been.
Thanks to the Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione, we got to see the legendary Ferrari F40. (Picture from: DriveTribe)
And so, the Evoluzione still lives—not on the podium, but in the hearts of those who admire what it stood for: passion without compromise, speed without apology, and the kind of bold ambition that only Ferrari dares to chase.*** [EKA [09012022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLASSICDRIVER | DRIVETRIBE ]
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Bellissima When you see the unique shaped classic car below, might be one those of you will wonder what car is this? Well, this is the Lancia B52 Aurelia PF200 Spider, such an Italian beautiful classic car that deserves the title of 'Bellissima'. This beauty car was made by the Italian coachbuilder company Pinin Farina back in 1952 based on one of the Lancia car models of 1950s.
The Lancia B52 Aurelia PF200 (in pictured the spider model) is designed and built by Pinin Farina back in the 1952 based of the Lancia B52 sporty coupe. (Picture from: Maxim)
As we all know, Lancia, a less known brand of the Italian automotive company was founded by Vincenzo Lancia back in 1906, actually the company has produced many incredible road and race cars.
In the front, a large oval grille opening, ringed with a wide chromed bezel, resembled the yawning air intake of fighter jet plus tiny bumperettes and a discrete hood scoop were additional complementary features. (Picture from: Otoblitz)
Since the beginning, the Italian automaker has offered many models that are technically advanced, with pioneering features or even could be said also the Lancias is a sporty and high-performance cars, with the perfect chassis dimensions to attract custom coachwork.
The Lancia B52 Aurelia PF200 (in pictured the coupe model) is one of a stunning series of just three open cars and three (possibly four) coupes made by Pinin Farina. (Picture from: Otoblitz)
In the 1950s, after the Pinin Farina's successful efforts in dressing the Casitalia 202, so many wealthy automotive enthusiasts were interested and requested the carrozzeria's design works on other marques. And coincidentally Lancia also launched the Aurelia sporty coupe model in 1951.
Pinin Farina succeeded in realizing the figure of a beautiful imaginative Lancia B52 Aurelia PF200 (in pictured the spider model) concept car and presented the creation at the Turin Auto Show 1952. (Picture from: FriStartMuseum)
Although the original Aurelia design was rather plain, this Lancia car has a sophisticated unit body and has quite interesting specifications such as being powered by a two-liter twin-cam V6 engine, dual-carburetors, independent front and rear suspensions, and race-inspired inboard drum brakes. It was the perfect sportscar platform, and it just had to made an attractive body design.
The Lancia B52 Aurelia PF200 (in pictured the spider model) is said to be inspired by the excitement of the world's aviation and space especially jet and rocket technology happened in that time. (Picture from: FriStartMuseum)
And Pinin Farina succeeded in realizing the figure of a beautiful imaginative concept car based on the Lancia Aurelia B52 chassis and presented the creation at the Turin Auto Show 1952. And when it was first exhibited at the event, many orders for the car came to the Italian coachbuilder. This beautiful car is said to be inspired by the excitement of the world's aviation and space especially jet and rocket technology happened in that time.
The Lancia B52 Aurelia PF200 (in pictured the coupe model) is powered by a 2.0-liter V6 engine capable of producing between 75 and 90 bhp, and is equipped with hemispherical heads and a single Solex carburetor. (Picture from: Otoblitz)
Of the only fifty-two Lancia B52 units ever produced, and all of them carried bespoke or limited-production coachwork. The Lancia PF200, one of a stunning series of just three open cars and three (possibly four) coupes made by Pinin Farina. In the front, a large oval grille opening, ringed with a wide chromed bezel, resembled the yawning air intake of fighter jet (such North American Aviation F-84 Sabre) plus tiny bumperettes and a discrete hood scoop were additional complementary features.
The almost similar to the Lancia B52 Aurelia PF200 is the Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction) 1 roadster while on display at the Exposition Le Monde de Franquin 2007 held in Brussels. (Picture from: Deviantart)
Or those car's rounded grill might be remind You to the Turbot Rhino 1 of the famous comic strips of 'Spirou et Fantasio' from 1947 to 1969 by the famous Belgian cartoonist, André Franquin.
Although with all the simplicity and purity of the lines were always to
be the Pinin Farina hallmarks, the fighter jet-inspired coachbuilder
work on the spider was not taken to the production versions of Lancia
Aurelia.
And when the Aurelia production version becomes one of most sought after and the very desirable car by the collector today, and the special PF200 has become one of the star on the sky by its blinking price tag of seven digits (when one of the PF200 Spider models sold at the price of $1,100,000 at the RM auction event in Monterey, CA back in 2014). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MAXIM | FRISTARTMUSEUM ]
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And this is one-of-a-kind Ferrari FX outside Brunei, as well as become an evidence of its existence in the world (since the beginning of the FX model is the secret project and not included in the recognized model ever made by Ferrari and even Pininfarina). *** [EKA [12012022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MARCONI MUSEUM | SUPERCARS.NET ]
