Mat Armstrong has purchased a repossessed Bugatti Veyron, committing to a restoration project despite limited history and known faults.
The car was sourced via a repossession company while Armstrong was in Florida working on a Bugatti Chiron project.
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“I have just bought a Bugatti Veyron with a small wishet.” Armstrong explains that the Veyron was never a planned ownership goal, despite recognising its significance.
“I’ll be honest, a Bugatti was never on my dream car list.” He describes the model as “Very possibly the best car we’ll see in our lifetime.”
Production was limited, with Armstrong noting “There was only ever 450 ever made.” Current values are referenced as exceeding £1.5 million, with availability also highlighted as restricted.
“And this is all if you can even find one for sale.” The purchase decision was made quickly after a short viewing window.
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“And here it arrives. About 8 hours ago, we saw it for about 20 minutes and had to make the decision there and then.”
Armstrong describes the acquisition as an opportunity that required immediate commitment. “But sometimes the best decisions are impulse decisions and this certainly was one.”
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The Veyron is presented as a non-standard example, acquired below typical market value due to its condition.
“I had just committed to buying one for a lot cheaper than the usual price, but with hopes I was going to be able to fix it.”
On arrival, the car is confirmed as complete and not accident damaged. “It’s not crashed.”
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Initial inspection shows the car in generally presentable condition, including the interior. “And to be honest, everything looked in decent condition.”
The vehicle is identified as a Dubai-market car. “And the car was built for Dubai. And the country of destination was Dubai.”
Mechanically, the engine is confirmed to run. “Believe it or not, it does actually run.” However, a key issue remains with drivability.
“And although it runs, it fails to drive.” Armstrong highlights the lack of documentation typical of repossessed vehicles.
“Now, when you buy a car from a repossession company, all you get is the keys. That’s it. No idea of the history of this car, no idea why it got repossessed or the issues with it.”
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