In its history, Ferrari is one of the Italian premium car manufacturers known to be very fond of creating special products, which are found in the LaFerrari lineage. One of the most extreme cars ever produced by the prancing horse logoed manufacturer is the F50, which were also the last car to actually use a V12 engine taken from a Formula 1 race car as its power source.
This Ferrari F50 was made in limited number, ie as many as 349 units, and was deliberately created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari in 1995. But among the F50 models there was also a custom-made model made for special customers dubbed as Ferrari F50 Bolide.
As we all knew, Ferrari clientele is full of celebrities, engineers, oligarchs, pop culture faces and, of course, the government officials with an impeccable reputation. One of the Ferrari's special customer is the His Highness Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is a well-known person not only for his beliefs but also for his impressive car collection. Unofficial sources say that the Sultan's collection consists of 2,500 different vehicles and other says more than 7,000 units. So the exact amount no one knows.
Obviously, the Sultan of Brunei has a hobby to collecting scarce cars. Thus, it is not surprising that he is one of the oldest and most respected Ferrari clients. Some sources assure that he is the one for whom this unique F50 Bolide was created.
When Ferrari officials presented the limited-edition F50 models, company’s reps said that it is Formula 1 race car that can drive on public roads, with headlights that could lighten all the path and with specific amenities like CD player and windscreen wipers.
This expressive Ferrari model with Formula 1 bolides had just one similarity. Ferrari F50 chassis was made out of carbon fibre, and a twelve-cylinder engine had a few ingredients borrowed from Ferrari 641. That is the only way how you can link Ferrari F50 to Formula 1.
When Ferrari decided to stop the F50 model production in 1997 then a year after, the Ferrari F50 Bolide was born from the Maranello-based company. Next to nothing is known about the ultra-secretive Bolide project. However, based on the very few pictures that exist, it appears that the car was completely transformed. In fact, it seems clear that a completely different body shell was fitted to stock F50 internals.
Technically, it did not differ much from his predecessor and donor Ferrari F50. It still had a rear-wheel-drive, thunderous twelve-cylinder engine and 6-speed mechanical gearbox. The biggest changes were visible in the exterior and a little bit in the interior.
The biggest problem was that there is no clearly information from the prancing horse logoed manufacturer itself. Most claims are just speculations. But, looking at F50 Bolide appearance, you can firmly say that the Sultan of Brunei wanted to add his personal Ferrari collection cars with a figure would remind him to a F1 racing car. According to unofficial sources, the estimated cost of this project was around €2,000,000 in the time.
This car also said became one of the most mysterious cars ever made. Due to nobody ever saw the car running on the highways, or even on displayed on automotive expo. Only several photos on the internet that shown the car was existed. Alas, we'll probably never know. Might be, it will be kept forever in the Sultan of Brunei's garage. Who knows? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DYLER | COMPLEX]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
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| One of Sultan Brunei's rarest collection cars, known as 1998 Ferrari F50 Bolide. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2OT34AV) |
As we all knew, Ferrari clientele is full of celebrities, engineers, oligarchs, pop culture faces and, of course, the government officials with an impeccable reputation. One of the Ferrari's special customer is the His Highness Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is a well-known person not only for his beliefs but also for his impressive car collection. Unofficial sources say that the Sultan's collection consists of 2,500 different vehicles and other says more than 7,000 units. So the exact amount no one knows.
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| 1998 Ferrari F50 Bolide seems clear that a completely different body shell was fitted to stock F50 internals. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2TrGXjq) |
When Ferrari officials presented the limited-edition F50 models, company’s reps said that it is Formula 1 race car that can drive on public roads, with headlights that could lighten all the path and with specific amenities like CD player and windscreen wipers.
 |
| 1998 Ferrari F50 Bolide had a rear-wheel-drive, thunderous twelve-cylinder engine and 6-speed mechanical gearbox. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2YJ76jR) |
When Ferrari decided to stop the F50 model production in 1997 then a year after, the Ferrari F50 Bolide was born from the Maranello-based company. Next to nothing is known about the ultra-secretive Bolide project. However, based on the very few pictures that exist, it appears that the car was completely transformed. In fact, it seems clear that a completely different body shell was fitted to stock F50 internals.
Technically, it did not differ much from his predecessor and donor Ferrari F50. It still had a rear-wheel-drive, thunderous twelve-cylinder engine and 6-speed mechanical gearbox. The biggest changes were visible in the exterior and a little bit in the interior.
This car also said became one of the most mysterious cars ever made. Due to nobody ever saw the car running on the highways, or even on displayed on automotive expo. Only several photos on the internet that shown the car was existed. Alas, we'll probably never know. Might be, it will be kept forever in the Sultan of Brunei's garage. Who knows? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DYLER | COMPLEX]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
