Mat Armstrong says Bugatti are refusing to sell him final part for his new Veyron
Published on Sep 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Sep 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Mat Armstrong has bought yet another Bugatti Veyron he wants to fix by himself.
So far, so Mat Armstrong, but of course there’s a new (and yet old) problem.
Once again, he says Bugatti is refusing to help.
Or, more accurately, they did offer to help, but on one condition.
The difference between the form and the substance
Over the last few weeks and months, both the company and CEO Mate Rimac himself talked about what Mat Armstrong has been doing.
If you look at the form, they’ve been quite nice about it.
However, in reality, not much has changed.
In short, all three hypercars have been disowned and at least two have been blacklisted so that Armstrong can’t get parts independently.
Bugatti maintains that fixing these cars with DIY methods isn’t safe.
When Mate Rimac spoke with the owner of the Chiron that Armstrong fixed, he offered to rebuild it properly ‘at a reasonable price’.
But even though he said it with a smile and was joking about it, if you look at the substance of what he said, nothing’s changed.
“So, explain the physics of a spoiler being attached to another panel on the rear. The spoiler creates downforce. Downforce pushes down. [It] needs to go somewhere and… it just goes to the panel,” he said.
And then he went further.
“I mean, you were driving the car without water in the engine. You were sliding it without the rear frame. You have still a cracked monocoque [chassis]. Like, I mean it’s very ‘updated’,” he said with a laugh.
He used the word ‘updated’ because that’s one of the words Mat Armstrong and Alex, the owner of the car, used to described the ‘fixed’ Bugatti.
As for the new Bugatti Veyron Armstrong bought, apparently, that isn’t 100 percent blacklisted because this time the automaker has indeed offered to help.
But on one condition.
This Bugatti Veyron was ‘brakeless’
Mat Armstrong’s second Veyron needed new front and rear brake pads, but Bugatti refused to sell them directly.
According to the automaker, these parts require a specific bedding-in procedure that must be performed by the manufacturer.
Bugatti apparently told Armstrong it’d cost £50,000 – or $67,000.
“It’s made-up nonsense. That is utter rubbish,” Armstrong said, before eventually sourcing a new set independently for £1,500.
So, three Bugattis later, we’re back to square one.
Armstrong is determined to do everything by himself, and Bugatti keeps telling him that is either not possible or, at the very least, not fully safe.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
