Chow Yun Fat reveals he bought Rolls-Royce V8 out of passion for engines

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat. Photo from Chow Yun Fat's super topic Weibo

According to The Star, during an appearance on Hong Kong host Carol Cheng’s YouTube program "The Do Show," Chow recounted the experience of buying the vehicle during the production of the 1979 TVB drama "Man in the Net." He said he would drive it to the set daily and even shared photos with the film crew. However, he emphasized that his motive was not to show off.

"I wanted to understand how a V8 engine could power such a heavy car while still providing such a smooth ride," he said. "At the time, second-hand cars were very cheap, so after buying one, I’d open the hood with a mechanic and study the engine together. I didn’t buy the car to show off—I just love engines and machines."

Chow added that at the peak of his career, he owned between five and six vintage luxury cars, including models from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. His wedding car for his 1983 marriage to actress Candice Yu was a rare Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn. However, he has since transitioned to driving "an environmentally friendly electric car," citing the high maintenance demands of his former collection.

"More time was spent on repairs than actually driving the cars," he said. "And I didn’t have time to take care of so many of them, so I ended up selling them all."

Chow, now 70, comes from humble beginnings. Before his 1974 break with Hong Kong broadcaster TVB, he worked as a shoeshine boy, office assistant, parcel delivery worker, hotel staff, and taxi driver.

He gained fame through TVB dramas such as "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" and "The Bund." Over his career, he has received numerous accolades, including three Hong Kong Film Awards and two Golden Horse Awards for Best Actor.

In 2023, he was named Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the 28th Busan International Film Awards, making him the second Hong Kong actor, after Tony Leung, to receive this honor.