Custom made cars aren't just for millionaires
Specially made luxury cars are not just for millionaires, they are also for 'people who dare to be different'
What do you get for a man who has already achieved everything and owned everything? The family of Yeoh Tiong Lay, the chairman of Malaysian conglomerate YTL, faced this dilemma when the man - considered one of the richest individuals in Malaysia - turned 80. The answer? A custom-made Bufori luxury saloon.
"Our car is more a lifestyle product than a means of transport," says Gerry Khouri, the founder of one of the world's premier boutique luxury carmakers. Bufori cars are for the elite and Khouri's customers include high-profile tycoons, celebrities, company executives and collectors from Malaysia and around the world. Last year, the company opened a showroom in Shanghai, hoping to tap into China's growing luxury car market. "[Our customers] come from all walks of life, and what they have in common is their passion for fine cars and the necessary pocket money, although you would be surprised that not all of them are millionaires," he says. "These are people who dare to be different, who are not afraid of showing what they have, and who appreciate the finer things in life."
Customers purr over the Bufori's sleek lines and excellent performance, and Khouri has certainly turned carmaking into an art form. The Khouri signature is apparent as the distinctive "B" symbol of the Bufori, which represents B - Beautiful, U - Unique, F - Funtastic, O - Original, R - Romantic and I - Irresistible. The handcrafted Bufori cars can be worth as much as US$350,000, and Khouri is involved in every stage of the production process.
The Lebanese-Australian built his first car by hand at the age of 21 in Sydney, and then used his skills to launch a business with his two brothers.
In 1998, Bufori operations moved to Kepong, an industrial area of Kuala Lumpur. The move was largely inspired by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed's enthusiasm for a red Bufori V61, which was displayed at the Langkawi Air Show, and because Khouri felt strongly that the Asian market was booming at just the right time for luxury cars, and Kuala Lumpur would provide an ideal base. Khouri is proud to describe his cars as "Made in Malaysia".
Indeed, Khouri has a personal involvement in all cars built at the Kepong facility, and his devotion to perfection remains as strong as it was when he handcrafted his first car, back in 1986.
Inspired by the classic coupes of the past, the vehicles are made of modern materials using state-of-the-art engineering techniques, yet with a 1930s vintage appearance that exudes style and opulence.
Bufori cars are built to order, which means Khouri and his team of about 100 specially trained craftsmen and engineers do not start on a vehicle unless a customer has asked for it. Once the go-ahead is given, there is a 25-stage process. In an ideal scenario, the car would move from one stage to the next every day.
"Our factory has an installed capacity of 300 vehicles per annum. However, we don't have the manpower to produce these volumes. Our current target is just 60 vehicles per annum," Khouri says. In the case of Yeoh's Luxury Saloon, he and his team had to scramble. Yeoh's family needed the specially built car in three months. "We had our guys working on it around the clock to get it ready in [that time]," says Khouri, who adds that he is "flat out" every day, ensuring orders are fulfilled.
The Bufori factory seems dark and haphazard, very much the oversized workshop it was meant to be. Moulds, frames, and benches are manned by workers poring over minute details.