A Trip Down Malaysia’s History With The Ferrari Owners’ Club Malaysia Unearthed Some Fascinating Gems

A slice of Italian automotive heritage was enmeshed in the celebration of Malaysia’s history when the Ferrari Owners’ Club Malaysia undertook their fourth edition of their annual classic Ferrari drive on this year’s Malaysia Day: September 16. Starting out at Bangsar Village II, the fleet of approximately 20 classic Ferraris motored leisurely on clear roads into the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

At Dataran Merdeka, the convoy paused for a breather, allowing the drivers to marvel at carefully maintained and restored gems, such as the F355 Spider, which was the first Ferrari to boast a fully automated electronic soft-top roof; the cult hit 328 made iconic by the television shows Miami Vice and Magnum PI; the grand tourer Ferrari 456 (the last of the V12 Ferraris with pop-up headlights); and the iconic Dino 246 GT, named in honour of Enzo Ferrari’s late son and produced under the standalone Dino brand due to its V6 engine.

A quick stop at the Royal Selangor Gallery and cafe at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad offered refreshment and an eye-opening experience for the many drivers, who enjoyed the traffic-free roads and glorious view of the restored building. It was first constructed in 1894 as a colonial government office complex, encompassing an area of over one hectare. Along the way, the participants of the classic Ferrari drive shared humorous exchanges with JP Chin, among the country’s most renowned car collectors, commenting that the best way to identify a good vintage car is in the fact that: “it starts. And it moves.”

The convoy then made a short beeline for Seri Negara, lining the hillside estate with a striking display of Rosso Corsa red and Giallo Modena yellow. The edifice, once the official guest house of the Governor of the Straits Settlement, has since served various roles, from diplomatic residence and hotel to museum. Following an extensive restoration, which was completed in December 2025, Seri Negara has entered a new chapter as a gallery dedicated to Malaysia’s colonial history and its journey towards independence.

FOCM members were invited to explore the gallery, watch a moving film on Malaysia’s march towards independence, before finally landing in Ruang Merdeka, which currently hosts Galeri Khazanah’s exhibition, Nature’s Pattern: Shapes of the Living World. Bringing together works by Malaysian artists, the exhibition examines how nature, the environment, and everyday life inform artistic expression.

The gathering continued at Serai House, where refined Malaysian cuisine offered a fitting conclusion to the Malaysia Day drive. Participants and members—including a group of modern Ferrari owners who joined up with the convoy at Seri Negara—enjoyed local culinary highlights such as fried ikan merah with sambal taucu, beef rendang, and a perennial Malaysian favourite: fried chicken.

Photography: Muhammad Faiz Izzuddin / Bymfiah

Ferrari Malaysia