A YouTube mechanic, Mat Armstrong, has successfully disassembled a Bugatti Chiron that was deemed irreparable by the manufacturer, Bugatti Rimac, according to reports from PiataAuto.md on February 9, 2026.
The project began after Armstrong acquired the damaged Chiron at auction, following an unspecified incident. An initial assessment revealed a cracked gearbox casing. Bugatti Rimac initially offered a factory repair for $1.6 million, later reduced to $600,000, but refused to sell the necessary parts for an independent repair, citing concerns about safety and the complexity of the function. Mate Rimac, head of Bugatti Rimac, publicly stated that repairing the vehicle outside of a certified facility was unlikely to succeed, specifically highlighting the require to separate the car’s chassis – a process requiring specialized equipment.
Armstrong, assisted by his father, undertook the challenging task of disassembling the vehicle, including the separation of the chassis, despite Rimac’s skepticism. The disassembly was completed approximately one month after the initial assessment, according to PiataAuto.md’s reporting on March 10, 2026.
The dispute also involved commentary from Mate Rimac regarding the cost of Chiron components. A LinkedIn post from Valentin Aurelian Coca, Director National de Vanzari at Autonom, referenced a statement from Rimac clarifying that Chiron headlights cost $50,000 per pair, not $150,000 as previously reported. Still, the core issue remained the manufacturer’s unwillingness to support an independent repair.
As of March 10, 2026, Bugatti Rimac has not commented on Armstrong’s successful disassembly of the vehicle, nor has any information been released regarding the potential for reassembly or the sourcing of replacement parts. The official Bugatti YouTube channel remains active, but does not currently address the situation.
