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Bufori: One of the World’s Most Exclusive Coachbuilders | Capturing Car Culture
Hagerty · 24 topics indexed · uploaded 2026-09-26
Watch the full video on YouTube ↗
- 0:36–1:52Bufori history and company introductionWatch on YouTube ↗
Host introduces Bufori, a Malaysian coachbuilder founded in Australia in the 1980s by three brothers, covering its models and hand-built carbon-Kevlar construction.
- 1:53–4:42Carbon-Kevlar dry fabric resin infusion processWatch on YouTube ↗
Explains why Bufori mixes carbon fiber with Kevlar, why dry fabric beats pre-preg for complex shapes, and the layup, peel ply, bleeder, vacuum bag and resin infusion process producing a razor-light door.
- 4:42–5:18In-house molds and color swatch bodiesWatch on YouTube ↗
Bufori makes all molds in house for itself and other companies, and produces small carbon-Kevlar model bodies as paint swatches for each customer.
- 5:21–5:36Hagerty insurance sponsor messageWatch on YouTube ↗
Host delivers a sponsor read for Hagerty classic car insurance.
- 5:40–6:44Body shop and two-door Geneva prototypeWatch on YouTube ↗
Tour of the body shop showing a two-door Geneva prototype that abandoned gullwing doors for homologation reasons, with precise tail light apertures molded in.
- 6:55–8:06Casting vintage lights and lenses in houseWatch on YouTube ↗
Bufori avoids reproduction parts by casting aluminium light housings in molds on a turntable and making their own lenses for any vintage car.
- 8:06–8:50Molded seat foam and armrestsWatch on YouTube ↗
Seat foam and door armrests are molded in metal molds with expanding chemical and optional in-mold texture rather than glued foam blocks.
- 8:53–10:08One-piece carbon monocoque moldWatch on YouTube ↗
The CS monocoque comes out of a single full-body mold with consistent resin-infused weight, unlike other manufacturers who mold in sections.
- 10:25–11:00Steel inner structure and adhesive bondingWatch on YouTube ↗
To avoid stress cracks around hinges, components mount to a lightweight steel chassis inside the body which is bonded with engineering adhesives.
- 11:07–13:00CS on jig, subframe and clamshell crumple zonesWatch on YouTube ↗
A Bufori CS on its jig shows the 12-layer carbon-Kevlar monocoque, in-house subframes and suspension, Brembo brakes, and the hollow one-piece repairable clamshell front with overlapping crumple zones.
- 13:12–14:09Workforce, fuel tanks and hand weldingWatch on YouTube ↗
Bufori employs about 130 people and fabricates its own exhausts, radiators and hand-welded rollover-tested capless fuel tanks.
- 14:09–16:11Wiring harness and circuit board manufacturingWatch on YouTube ↗
Harnesses are built in house from Sumitomo wire for new cars and restorations, with corrected designs, 3D-printed replacements for brittle Bakelite connectors, insulation against moisture and custom PCBs replacing relays.
- 16:18–19:36Interior trim, tuck and roll leather, starry nightWatch on YouTube ↗
The upholstery shop demonstrates true tuck-and-roll leather, hand-stitched piping on a Mercedes 190 SL seat, hand-embroidered mango interior and a customizable starry night headliner.
- 19:44–20:40Engine rebuilds and hidden fuel injectionWatch on YouTube ↗
Engine shop rebuilds and remanufactures complex V12s, resleeves old engines, and converts classics to fuel injection with injectors hidden inside gutted carburetors.
- 20:52–21:18MK2 values and 100-car production capWatch on YouTube ↗
The original MK2 roadster cost around $40,000 new and still trades for $30-40k, with production capped at 100 units per model.
- 21:30–21:58Restoring Bufori's own early carsWatch on YouTube ↗
After 40 years, early Buforis have been returning for full restorations that are guaranteed better than new.
- 22:08–24:04Why Bufori moved to MalaysiaWatch on YouTube ↗
Founder explains the invitation from Malaysian leaders, a failed initial partnership, regaining control of the company, and the loneliness and passion of building cars there.
- 24:17–25:19Geneva pricing and retro luxury philosophyWatch on YouTube ↗
The Geneva retails from $500,000, does not depreciate, and the founder discusses why few boutique builders make luxury cars and hints at an SUV.
- 25:21–26:53CS8 supercharged supercar specsWatch on YouTube ↗
The CS8 makes 900hp detuned to 810 from a forged supercharged 6.4 handmade engine, with prop shaft vibration being resolved, and earlier prototypes now serve as F1 circuit safety cars.
- 27:03–28:44CS8 carbon interior, Snap-on tool kit and frunkWatch on YouTube ↗
Tour of the CS8's exposed carbon interior, included Snap-on tool kit, cleaning products and first aid kit, and a front trunk that fooled the host into thinking it was the engine bay.
- 28:55–30:01One-of-one manual car and hidden weldsWatch on YouTube ↗
A unique six-speed manual Bufori showcases craftsmanship with welds done on the inside of complex shapes and a body strong enough to walk on.
- 30:09–31:19Founder's origin storyWatch on YouTube ↗
Founder recounts buying, restoring and flipping old cars as a young man before deciding to build his own like Henry Ford with modern technology.
- 31:28–32:30La Joya rarity and 9,000 man hoursWatch on YouTube ↗
One of the last La Joya coupes; production was stopped to limit numbers, secondhand values exceed new price, colors are named after customers, and each car takes 9,000 man hours.
- 32:31–34:31Restoration shop: strip-down, finishes and backlogWatch on YouTube ↗
Bufori restores everything from Minis to Rolls-Royces, stripping cars to bare bolts, using base coat with impact-resistant matte lacquer instead of powder coat, concealing air conditioning in a restored car, with a Mercedes on a rotisserie and a 24-month order backlog.