MANY of us use a car as our daily means of transportation to work without really thinking about the story behind the vehicle, especially in terms of its production.
Then there are people who choose a car based on its comfort, brand identity, or even as a status symbol.
There was a Malaysian brand that attracted many at a car show mere months ago. The thousands that crowded around this beautiful and luxurious model with a pearl-like surface drew our attention.
Sarawakian Alex Stmrock Wong, an ex-jet skier and singer, author, globetrotter, café and club owner, as well as car and bike collector, was also there in conversation with the general manager of Bufori, Felix Haller. Was he ordering one to add to the collection?
A brief introduction was made by him to Bufori’s GM, and in no time, I was invited to sit inside the Bufori Geneva. Its founder and managing director then proceeded to show me the exclusive components of its luxurious interior.
Gerry Khouri, an Australian Lebanese, is the founder of this local-based boutique manufacturer of handmade vehicles. His passion for building cars is very evident, as he explained enthusiastically how one can add personal touches to their own Bufori.
As Khouri explains, “Every car is made to order and is customised to fit a customer’s whims and fancies”.
The rear lounge of the Bufori Geneva on display was equipped with a hot and cold water dispenser as well as an electric drawer featuring a Chinese tea pot and utensils.
We were careful with handling the expensive ceramic cups, but even while experiencing the soft leather seats and plush carpeting. A lady owner, for instance, may want a pop-out counter for make-up, while others might prefer to install a safe with its wide variety of function switches. There are no limits in terms of add-ons to the jarringly modern interiors and up-to-date electronics.
Khouri can tell you best, as he knows the Bufori inside out. In his early days in Australia, he always had a knack for building things and produced his own classic roadster combined with modern technology at just 20 years old. His handmade car caught the attention of his older brothers and other enthusiasts.
From a small garage to a factory, his business grew and became his livelihood.
Khouri told the story of how, in the late 1980s, he was courting well-to-do communities and eventually exporting to various markets in Asia. The first sales to Malaysia started in 1991, and the following year, the Prime Minister at the time invited him to relocate. Bufori took up the invitation and uprooted its factory to Malaysia.
Khouri even recalls meeting some top-level Kuchingites during Bufori’s early days in Malaysia.
Was it challenging with this move?
It was not a rosy beginning, and to cut a long story short, Khouri explained that after a brief partnership with a local partner, he and his brothers bought over the partnership.
Bufori moved from its Klang factory to a new site in Kepong, where it remains today, known as the House of Bufori.
A recent visit to the House of Bufori gave some insight into the process of crafting a Bufori. The general manager, Felix Haller, who has been living in Kuala Lumpur for many years, gave a guided tour of its neat and clean production.
Bufori has a small fit for an automobile factory but has specialists spanning metal fabrication, bodywork, painting, electrical engineering, interior trimming, and others.
“It is not easy to find people with good skills,” said Haller, so they are always seeking to find talents and staff.
Starting from scratch and with every car hand-built for customers, it takes thousands of hours to produce, so one must be patient in order to own his/her very own Bufori.
GM Haller showed us a piece of fibre. Apparently, Bufori is the only company worldwide that uses this expensive and high-tech carbon fibre and Kevlar hybrid composite material for their cars’ bodies.
We later said hello to Bufori’s electrical engineers, who were deeply engrossed in checking all electronic components and parts used in the car, before moving on to the sewing section, where some fine stitching and embroidery work is skillfully done by a young lady.
We visited various sections of the neat and clean factory, but photography was restricted in some.
One can be assured that only premium grade Italian leather is used in Bufori interiors, and customers can choose the type of leather for texture and colour preferences.
We took a picture of a Bufori MKIII La Joya centre console wrapped in exquisite Italian leather.
If you ever see a Bufori in person, you will notice that there is a small Malaysian flag on the body. Indeed, our flag proudly adorns every single Bufori that leaves the factory.
Its Malaysian-ness is certainly obvious, as the entire process, from research and design to production, is all done in suburban Kuala Lumpur.
We noted that there were some classic cars being restored, and apparently restoration is a service that the company also provides. Plenty of research is done to ensure that restorations are as close to their original state as possible.
Orders for Bufori have been growing steadily, with the bulk of its cars exported to China and other regions, including the Middle East.
Malaysia is not an “automotive country” and Khouri added that if the right incentives were put in place, the country could do a lot better with growing the automotive industry.For more information, check its website at www.bufori.com.
