What: 1999 Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG Station Wagon Color: Unknown Green or Blue VIN: N/A Mileage: 199,999 km (24,273 miles) Price at Time of this Writing: € 19,900 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Rüsselsheim-Königstädten, Germany Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
Hear us out. Yes, we know the E 55 AMG Station Wagon was sold in the United States. They’re exceedingly rare, especially in solid survivor condition, but they were sold here. Still, anyone who loves these cars or is seeking a unique long roof may find this one worth going through the extra effort of importation. That it’s old enough for easy import is one obvious reason, but more so is the unique build specification this car got from the factory. This sort of specification would have been extremely difficult if not impossible for anyone in North America to order, so it’s worth noting… even if it does have a dash of turn-of-the-century Y2K kitsch in the color choices.
Regarding the color, it’s a bit of a puzzle. It’s listed as “green” and 027 Designo-LCP paintwork, then later in the thorough option code listing we see Z98 PAINT FINISHES OUTSIDE THE SAMPLE CARD. So, we know it’s special paint, but we don’t know what color as “027” is effectively ambulance white in the lexicon of Mercedes-Benz color codes.
Looking over the photos, the color almost appears to be a predominantly blue metallic that fades to green from certain angles or in certain lighting conditions. So, we’re not even sure if it’s blue or green. Maybe it’s both.
Inside, the car has a period “Avantgarde” interior package, which is typically two-tone leather with segments of the seats in some more bold color. In this case, that color is green that would have been popular in the late 1990s when this car was produced. It’s not a timeless shade of green, but it definitely puts you in the period and plays on the theme.
We’re going to go ahead and list the listing description and options (translated to English with Google Translate) for reference here. We found them all in the car’s listing over on AutoScout24.
LISTING TRANSLATION BELOW:
Beautiful E55T AMG in LCP from 2nd hand with no maintenance backlog Vehicle from 2nd hand 23 years in one hand Service booklet available AMG rims in several parts in 18″ Inspection with engine mount recently new Summer tires in 5/2024 new Non-smoker Very well-maintained vehicle Sale on behalf of customer Original equipment codes according to MB query Sales name E 55 T AMG AMG order number 0822300604 Delivery date14.12.1998 Paint number027 (Invalid designo-LCP paint) Interior 581 (Exclusive leather – black/anthracite) Engine 11398060006397 Transmission 72263601237265 213 PARAMETER STEERING / VARIO STEERING 214 ADAPTIVE DAMPING SYSTEM 220 REAR PARKING ASSIST 231 GARAGE DOOR OPENER 242 RIGHT DRIVER’S SEAT ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE WITH MEMORY 249 INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR MIRROR AUTOMATICALLY DIMMING 260 TYPE PLATE ON REAR LID REMOVED 275 MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER’S SEAT, STEERING COLUMN AND MIRROR) 312 SUN BLIND IN THE CARGO AREA (PARTITION GRID) 345 RAIN SENSOR 351 ECALL EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM 363 ECALL CONVERSION TO NATIONAL EMERGENCY CALL 414 ELECTRIC GLASS SUNROOF 423 AUTOMATIC 5-SPEED GEARBOX 472 PETROL PARTICULATE FILTER (OPF) WITHOUT SENSORS 500 ELECTRICALLY FOLDABLE EXTERIOR MIRROR 543 SUN VISOR WITH ADDITIONAL FUNCTION 551 BASIC BURGLAR AND THEFT ALARM SYSTEM (EDW) 570 ARMREST WITH COMPARTMENT AND REAR COMPARTMENT VENTILATION 581 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING 581 EXCLUSIVE LEATHER – BLACK/ANTHRACITE 600 HEADLIGHT CLEANING SYSTEM 611 SURROUND LIGHTING 612 XENON HEADLIGHT LIGHT UNIT 673 BATTERY WITH LARGER CAPACITY 682 FIRE EXTINGUISHER 772 AMG STYLING – FRONT SPOILER, SIDE SKIRTS 774 AMG 5-SPOKE WHEELS 18″ ALL AROUND 810 SOUND SYSTEM PREMIUM 815 SINGLE DVD DRIVE 819 SOUND2LIGHT 873 HEATED SEATS FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER 882 SENSORS AND SIREN BURGLAR AND THEFT ALARM SYSTEM 910 ALTERNATOR WITH LARGER CAPACITY 954 EQUIPMENT LINE/PACKAGE – AVANTGARDE 988 INVALID (VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND COC PAPER AND TYPE PLATE) Z51 BUSINESS CONSOLE WITH SOCKET Z98 PAINT FINISHES OUTSIDE THE SAMPLE CARD
What: 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Color: Ferrari Nero Daytona (nerodaytona; metallic; 231F1C; Ferrari) VIN: SCFAE62373K800076 Mileage: 3,200 miles Price at Time of this Writing: Est. $275,000 to $325,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Broad Arrow Amelia Auction 2025, Amelia Island, FL Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
Aston Martin and Zagato have a long history of collaborations – a series of offerings over the years applying Italian flair in Zagato’s iconic formula to the often very sensible British supercar nature of Aston Martin.
This one, set to go across the block as part of Broad Arrow’s upcoming 2025 Amelia Island Auction is the 76th of 99 Zagato DB AR1s built. Even for one of 99, this AR1 was a special order example with factory paint specification of Ferrari Nero Daytona over Light Tan leather. It’s a metallic black beginning around the F50 era that’s become a go-to at Ferrari over the years.
As for the AR1, it featured Aston’s V12 engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox from ZF. This one also comes well documented with original window sticker, owner’s manuals, service receipts, accessories, and paraphernalia including a scale model of this specific car.
What: 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupé Color: Ocean Jade Green Metallic (ozeanjademetallic; metallic uni; L25K; Porsche) VIN: WP0AA2993VS323033 Mileage: 69,000 miles Bid Price at Time of this Writing: $150,000 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Reno, NV Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
We’re always fans of Paint to Sample Porsche 911s of every ilk, but the older you go then the rarer it is to find Paint to Sample (PTS) and that makes them extra special. PTS wasn’t unheard of in the 993 era by any stretch, but it’s not like today when it seems like every other GT car allotment turns into a commissioned build by a rich client. That’s the context that we share with you this 1997 911 Carrera S in Ocean Jade Green Metallic (ozeanjademetallic; metallic uni; L25K; Porsche) over on Bring a Trailer.
If you’re a fan of light metallic greens, this is a great specification 993 coupe. That era’s Carrera S and Carrera 4S got all of the bodywork of the Turbo less the whale tail, which made for an excellent appearance. Now throw on a host of optional equipment and you have a spectacular build.
L25k — Ocean Jade Metallic paint
C02 — Version for USA
XSA — Painted sports seat backrest
X54 — Stainless steel tailpipes, oval
X70 — Stainless steel door entry guards with model logo
X71 — Alu-look instrument dials with chromed rings
X97 — Aluminium shift knob
X98 — Aluminium parking brake lever
235 — N2 tires made for Porsche
373 — Newer type sports seat, left, height electrically adjustable
374 — Newer type sports seat, right, height electrically adjustable
This car was formerly owned by the late Rudy Mancinas, a notable 993 enthusiast and collector whose cars were sold off after his passing. It was acquired by Rudy in 2014 where it’s presumed many of the upgrades such as the OEM chin spoiler, Turbo S front brake ducts with driving lights, three-spoke 996 airbag steering wheel, Porsche Classic radio, colored seatbelts, brake calipers finished in Speed Yellow and wheel centers painted in body color were applied.
We’ve found a new set of photos posted by All-Star RADwood Facebook Group member Dave Skulman depicting photos of Ferraris from Brunei royal family collection and notably F40s with a few F50s thrown in. Skulman shared the shots along with some itemization, and we saw that as a good reason to make a post documenting them as best we can through some research and a very informative video from Car Throttle. So, with this post we’re going to focus on the F40s and link all the sources. We’ll also update this as further information is collected or shared with us. If you have a tip, drop it below in the comments.
First is the Skulman post from earlier today. It appears embedding isn’t available for it, so we’ll link it HERE. The associated shots seem to be from one of the many holding buildings that has housed the Brunei collection over the years. We’ve heard rumors of these buildings not being HVAC controlled, and further that this tends to see the cars degrade in condition where they sit. Based on some of the mold seen on the interiors, it suggests these rumors are correct and that the damp air isn’t helping these cars any.
Even still, by piecing together these photos and the details outlined in the post and in the CarThrottle video posted above, we’ve done our best to identify each car.
So, let’s begin with a brief history. The Ferrari F40 (type F120) was a mid-engined rear-wheel-drive sportscar built from 1987-1992, with LM race versions built until 1994 and GTE specification race cars extending to 1996.
The car was named F40 to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th Anniversary, and only 400 units planned to be sold at a price of approximately $400,000 U.S.. In the end, 1,311 to 1,315 were built with 213 going to the USA. Power came from a high-revving 2.9-liter version of the turbocharged V8 from evolved from the 288 GTO. The Pininfarina-designed body was made of kevlar, carbon fiber and aluminum, and each one was painted Rosso Corsa, with red fabric interior and left-hand drive steering configuration. Ferrari didn’t deviate. While some of these cars have been repainted over the years, all of the cars were produced in identical spec when new.
Enter the Sultan of Brunei. Known for perhaps the most lavish car collection the world has ever seen, the infamous dictator loaded with oil wealth amassed over 2,500 vehicles many of which were the embodiment of an appetite for the most extreme funded by unlimited resources. The Brunei royal family’s collection was said to include cars like Zonda-powered Mercedes-Benz S-Class station wagons, four-door and long roof Ferraris, Jaguar XJ220s, one-off Bentley Java road cars, Bentley SUVs built long before any Bentayga ever existed, McLaren F1s and of course many, many other Ferraris including a large mix of F40s (source: WhichCar.com.au)
Relevant to this story, the Ferrari F40 LM was produced as a series of racing cars by Michelotto, the same Paduan firm that had produced the Ferrari GTO Evolution and had produced parts for the road cars. 19 cars were produced.
Worth noting, much of the information about the Brunei royal family’s F40s comes from Paulo Garella. Garella was Pinifarina’s Prototype Manager in the 1990s and was in charge of tailoring most of the F40s they had. His account is critical to this mix. So, let’s dig into what we know.
Following their procurement, most of these cars were sent to Pininfarina where Garella and his team set about their customization. Seven were road cars, each fitted with leather interiors and comfort seats sourced from the Ferrari 512 TR parts bin. Each were also fitted with air conditioning, radio, electric windows and adjustable tilt steering wheel. Several were also said to be fitted with freer flowing exhaust and ECU flash to augment power from a peak 428 lb-ft. to 480 lb-ft, though which cars received the performance upgrades is unclear.
Most were converted to right-hand drive. These included a gloss black over black leather, emerald green over green leather, forest green over black leather, Rosso Corsa over black leather and gloss white over black leather. Two of these seven cars reportedly remained left hand drive as they came from the factory, but received similar tailoring and interior changes. These were said to include a matt black over black leather and grey over black leather, however photos from today’s post confirm the matt black car is right hand drive.
Beyond these seven, there were two F40 LMs. One was left in its original Rosso Corsa and remained largely original. The other was resprayed in black with distinctive red stripe around the beltline. The latter is also believed to have been in an accident while on a test drive during its time at Pininfarina, but it was reportedly repaired before being delivered.
Built before Paolo’s time in his position at Pininfarina were two other earlier F40s. Both were converted to right-hand drive. The first was yellow with black leather interior and the second was painted matte grey with grey leather interior and fitted with comfort seats from the Testarossa rather than the 512TR like the later cars. This car also featured a red stripe around the beltline.
Here’s a breakdown of what we know of each car. Given there’s no conclusive list that we’ve yet found, we’re piecing this together largely based on the original Facebook post we found this morning and comparing that to the previous CarThrottle video that contained all but one of the cars. If you have a source for further information, drop us a note below in the comments and we’ll update this list.
F40 #1 – F40, Gloss Black / Black, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: Color: Gloss Black (Resprayed by Pininfarina, Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive, Full leather interior with 512TR comfort seats, power windows, and radio. We have no photo of this car at this time.
F40 #2 – F40, Green / Green, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: BP77 Color: Emerald Green (Resprayed by Pininfarina, Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive, Full leather interior with 512TR comfort seats, power windows, and radio (radio missing in photo). Car is listed as “emerald green” by CarThrottle but appears to be darker in these photos shot in admittedly dark lighting.
F40 #3 – F40, Green / Black, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: Color: Forest Green (Resprayed by Pininfarina, Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive, Full leather interior with 512TR comfort seats, power windows, and radio. We have no photo of this car at this time.
F40 #4 – F40, Rosso Corsa / Black, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: Unknown Color: Rosso Corsa (Possibly Original from Factory, Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive, Full leather interior with Testarossa (listed as 512TR by Car Throttle) comfort seats, power windows, and radio. Photos also show hole in front bumper.
F40 #5 – F40, Gloss White / Black, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: BP8883 Color: Gloss White (Resprayed by Pininfarina, Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive, Full leather interior with 512TR comfort seats, power windows, and radio.
F40 #6 – F40, Silver / Black, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: BM7878 Color: Silver (Resprayed, likely by Pininfarina) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive, Full leather interior with 512TR comfort seats. This car is not in the CarThrottle video inventory but shows up in this photo set and with specification similar to other Paolo Garella Era RHD cars.
F40 #7 – F40, Charcoal Grey / Black, LHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: BM8686 Color: Charcoal Grey Matt (Resprayed by Pininfarina, Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Left-hand drive with red beltline stripe, Full leather interior with Testarossa comfort seats, power windows, and radio. This car is listed as
F40 #8 – F40, Matt Black, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: Unknown Color: Matt Black (Resprayed probably by Pininfarina) Modifications & History: Left-hand drive according to CarThrottle and right-hand drive according to RADwood post inventory and photos. Full leather interior with 512TR comfort seats, power windows, and radio.
F40 #9 – F40 LM, Gloss Black, RHD
Specification: F40 LM VIN: 88523 Registration Plate: KF7899 Color: Black (Resprayed by Pininfarina) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive with leather interior including Tesstarossa-style comfort seats, radio, and power windows.
F40 #10 – F40 LM, Rosso Corsa / Red Fabric, LHD
Specification: F40 LM VIN: 92237 Registration Plate: Color: Rosso Corsa (Original from Factory) Modifications & History: Largely remained original from factory. This car was reportedly acquired by UK Ferrari dealer John Collins who sourced it for the Brunei royal family but it never made it to Brunei and was resold. We have no photos of this car at this time.
F40 #11 – F40, Matt Grey, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: 91283 Registration Plate: BM8383, (Unknown in UK) Color: Matt Grey (Resprayed by Pininfarina, Prior to Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive with red beltline stripe, grey leather interior with Testarossa-style comfort seats. It has since been exported to the UK by Ferrari dealer John Collins. In the early 2000s it was painted back to Rosso Corsa and fitted with LM seats in red fabric, then in 2018 was painted back to matte grey by DK engineering and retained the red cloth interior.
F40 #12 – F40, Yellow / Black, RHD
Specification: F40 Road Car VIN: Unknown Registration Plate: Color: Yellow (Resprayed by Pininfarina, Prior to Paolo Garella Era) Modifications & History: Right-hand drive, Full leather interior with unconfirmed specification comfort seats, power windows, and radio. It was never shipped to Brunei and kept in the UK for the use of the Brunei royal family when in England. This car was also later resold by UK Ferrari dealer John Collins and was later changed back to Rosso Corsa and fitted with red cloth interior as it would have come from the factory. It remains right-hand drive. We have no photos of this car at this time.
What: 1981 BMW 735i Touring Color: Cypress Green Metallic (cypressgrün; metallic; 152; BMW) VIN: N/A Mileage: 15,400 km / 9,569 miles Price at Time of this Writing: CHF 64,900 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Zurich, Switzerland Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
Though it appears to be painted the standard 1981 E23 7-Series color of Cypress Green Metallic, this well-kept early 7er is anything but ordinary. You see, BMW never built a station wagon version of the E23 7er, but a small firm called Euler did and now one of these rare cars has hit the market.
Here’s what we know. Euler, a firm that had built a following personalizing the early 7 series and one of their creations was the station wagon you see here. The transformation required a complete reworking of the rear of a perfectly good E32 – no easy task.
Changes included a unique hatch design, rear doors redesigned to match the more upright rear roof architecture, and side windows that lost their trademark Hoffmeister Kink design in the process. Roof rails from the car’s period rival from Mercedes-Benz, while an Alpina front bumper makes for a more aggressive look at the front.
Though we’ve not found a final number of Euler 735i Touring builds, accounts suggest that only a few were built.
Given there aren’t many of these cars around, we’re fairly certain this is the same car listed on Facebook and subsequently shared by The Truth About Cars (TTAC). The spec is identical, and the mileage at the time was 11,000 km so suggests it may be. If so, TTAC shared that the car was previously imported to the USA and federalized (note the U.S. side markers in the most recent photos) where the car was reportedly put into storage and where its condition degraded. It would eventually sold at an estate sale in 2010, then exported at some point back to Europe where it landed in Switzerland. In 2016, AutoWeek Magazine drove the car and reported on the experience, and in those photos it still appears to wear American plates.
From the looks of the photos, it appears the car is now in very presentable condition.
If you’re a North American and interested in this car, we’d suggest checking out its importation history. If it’s the same car that came to the U.S.A. (and we believe it is given the U.S. side markers), then it likely doesn’t need import duties paid a second time. That would create some savings from the usual importation process.
What: 2024 Porsche Blue Cayenne Turbo GT Color:Porsche Paint to Sample Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi) VIN: WP1BK2AY2RDA72826 Mileage: 9,956 Price at Time of this Writing: $199,991 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Houston, TX Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
We’re suckers for Nogaro Blue, but this Tailored Driver in some ways brings it back to its roots. But rather than be an Audi massaged by Porsche like the RS 2 where Nogaro debuted, this is a Porsche with Audi’s 4.0TFSI slightly massaged by Stuttgart. Beyond the Nogaro Blue hue, this Cayenne Turbo GT tastefully restrained and incredibly well equipped. We struggle to think of a better, more capable runabout.
What: 2024 Bentley Continental GTC Speed Color: Bentley Mulliner Personal Red Violet Metallic (Code TBD) VIN: SCBDT4ZG8RC014369 Mileage: 508 Price at Time of this Writing: Auction CarFax:Link Window Sticker: Pictured below Location: Scottsdale, AZ Auction listing:Link
Why we love it:
This Tailored Driver is an incredibly big swing at individuality, and frankly we’re here for it. With a $462,680 original MSRP ($23,680 of it representing love it or hate it Red Violet Metallic paint by Mulliner), and enough Magenta inside and out to make Barbie blush, the original Tailor of this Continental GTC Speed certainly isn’t afraid to flaunt. They also seem to embody a “have fun, die smiling” mentality, frankly we’d love to shake their hand.
What: 1980 BMW 323i Color: Biscay Blue (biscayblaau; non-metallic; 140; BMW) VIN: Unknown Mileage: 115,000 km (71,457 mi) Price at Time of this Writing: € 29.999 CarFax: N/A MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: N/A Location: Palm Harbor, FL Private party seller listing:Link
Why we love it:
Though not as iconic as the 2002 that came before it, nor as loved by enthusiasts as the E30 that came after it, BMW’s E21 3-Series still captures that classic 80s BMW style and makes for an excellent driver… particularly in top-of-the-heap 323i form. Alas, we didn’t get the 323i in the States, which means you have to look in Europe for cars like this private party listed example from Haren, Germany.
Likely its color, Biscay Blue, wasn’t a BMW Individual specification but rather simply a color that is exceedingly rare today. In this case, it’s also a respray as perusal of the listing will show in both description and ample photography you don’t always find in a European mass market listing. That it also has Alpina kit like those wheels and wooden shift knob doesn’t hurt either.
Check out the full listing description below, and a mix of photos below that. For the full mix of photos and further details, check out the link above.
We offer here on behalf of the customer a fully restored BMW E21 323i in the rare and beautiful color Biscay blue with black leather interior for sale.
As usual with these European market finds, a car older than 25 years is easily importable into the United States (15 years for Canada). Our European Market Find listings take this into account, only focusing on cars old enough for easy import. Any number of companies out there cater to American buyers seeking to bring vehicles such as this one here to North America.
Details: • Engine REVISED incl. attachments, timing belt and water pump • Bilstein chassis with H&R lowering springs, HA height adjustable • Rims from OZ King 6 & 7×15 with 195/50R15 and 205/50R15 Hankook • Alcantara canopy • ESD BOSI • With TÜV, H license plate, accident-free, approved, restored and ready to drive immediately. • Extensively and expertly restored. • (German) vehicle documents, TÜV and service reports. • The restoration was documented with photos. • Expertly completely repainted. • New tires and brake system. • Hollow sealed and preserved underbody. • With sunroof and radio. • Very good overall condition.
What: 2017 Audi A4 Color: Audi exclusive Toucan Yellow (Tukangelb; LY1H; Audi) VIN: WAUENBF40HA067620 Mileage: 42,000 Price at Time of this Writing: Auction CarFax:Link MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: N/A Location: Palm Harbor, FL Auction listing:Link
Why we love it:
If Tailored Driver is about anything at all, it’s about the desire to be uncommon. By that metric, the initial owner of this 2017 Audi exclusive Toucan Yellow A4 can certainly be considered a kindred spirit. Beyond the fairly rare Toucan Yellow exterior, this Tailor opted for Nougat Brown sport seats with Dark Walnut high gloss trim. We like all of these thing independently. Together? Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What: 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 Color: Porsche Paint to Sample Birch Green (birkegrün; 253; Porsche) VIN: WP0AC2A88GK191175 Mileage: 17,253 Price at Time of this Writing: $139,900 CarFax: N/A MonroneyLabels.com Window Sticker: Link Location: Portland, Oregon Dealer listing:Gran Prix Motors
Why we love it:
We’ve long been fans of the Cayman GT4, and equally fans of the more ‘acidic’ greens like Lotus’s Krypton Green which was one of the less common colors applied to their Exige and Elise models. We’re also suckers for detail and theme. Here, Paint to Sample Birch Green flows from the exterior to the cabin of this Cayman GT4, with Birch applied to the cloth door pulls, seat belts, and key fob. Rounding out what we feel to be a top tier GT4 spec are Bucket seats, extended leather dash (with Race Tex on the lower half), and steel brakes.
