Latest news with #MatArmstrong
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Hot Wheels Legends Tour: Car builders to compete to get their creation turned into scale model
The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is set to return to the UK in 2025, which provides an opportunity for global car builders to achieve recognition and the extraordinary chance to see their custom creations immortalised as a 1:64 scale die-cast model. This exciting competition welcomes a diverse range of vehicles, from meticulously crafted home-built racers and stunning resto-mods to rugged off-roaders and unique custom trucks. The judges are seeking entries that not only boast exceptional design but also exude a distinctive attitude. The esteemed panel, comprising Hot Wheels designer Craig Callum, popular YouTuber Mat Armstrong, and acclaimed broadcaster Nicola Hume, will be evaluating builds based on their authenticity, creativity, and what the brand affectionately terms 'garage spirit'. Aspiring entrants need to submit three photos and a concise description through the UK tour website by the deadline of July 4th. Following this, three outstanding finalists will be selected to display their vehicles at Birmingham's NEC during the Gravity Show, held on August 23rd–24th. It is there that the judges will proudly announce the UK winner. Related: Mattel Announces 'Ultimate' Hot Wheels Ferrari Collection The triumphant vehicle will then advance to the European final, with the ultimate European champion securing a coveted spot at the Global Grand Finale. From this elite group, one exceptional car will be chosen to join the prestigious Hot Wheels Garage of Legends – an exclusive collection of past winners that have all been transformed into globally distributed die-cast models. A new addition for 2025 is that the UK winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to El Segundo, California, to attend the final US stop of the tour. The UK has a strong history in this competition after a 1969 Volvo P1800 Gasser made history as the first non-US entry to claim the global title in 2021. More recently, last year's UK winner was 'Mentley', a Mini ingeniously inspired by a Bentley. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Hot Wheels plan on turning someone's car into a scale model with Legends Tour appeared first on Car Magazine.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
I bought Marcus Rashford's wrecked £700,000 Rolls-Royce after footie star's crash – you won't believe the transformation
REBUILDING a Rolls-Royce might seem impossible to most - for Mat Armstrong, it's just another day at the office. But when a written-off Rolls, pranged by football ace Marcus Rashford, came along at a bargain price, it proved a bit more tricky to bring back to life. 8 8 8 The 31-year-old YouTube star from Leicester has built a devoted following by restoring and modifying luxury cars, with his projects often involving challenges that even seasoned mechanics might shy away from. His boldest challenge yet? Breathing new life into Rashford's Mansory-customised Rolls-Royce Wraith, declared a write-off after a collision in September 2023. The £700,000 luxury car was badly damaged in a crash shortly after Rashford left United's Carrington training base following a match against Burnley. Footage showed the Rolls-Royce dented at the roadside near a toppled traffic island pole - with details later revealing the accident involved another car being driven by a 74-year-old grandmother. Thankfully, Rashford - and the grandmother - were left completely unharmed, but the Roller was a wreck and was promptly sold at an almighty loss. For Mat and his channel, MatArmstrongbmx, the wrecked Wraith was the perfect challenge. With over 4.5 million subscribers, fans eagerly watch as Mat transforms wrecks into works of art, all while managing the demands of his growing channel. ROLLING THE DICE One of Mat's most ambitious challenges began last year when he stumbled across Rashford's Mansory-built Rolls-Royce on an auction website. Despite its extensive damage, Mat splashed out £185,000 on the trashed motor, which had just 1,135 miles on the clock. 'At the time, it was a massive risk,' Mat said. 'It was the most expensive car I'd ever bought, but something just told me it was the right move.' To bring the Rolls-Royce back to life, Mat spent £90,000 on a second Wraith for parts, £50,000 on Mansory components, and £35,000 on an interior overhaul – including extensive rewiring and adjustments. 'The crazy thing is, if you buy a Rolls-Royce today, it's almost the exact same car as the 2015 model,' Mat said. 'But the cost of parts hasn't changed – you're still paying today's prices even for parts on a 2015 car. 'So, weirdly, it actually made more sense to buy an entire car rather than source the parts individually. It was cheaper that way, basically.' Additional expenses included £9,500 for side skirting and carbon fibre, £7,100 for the exhaust system, and £20,000 for the rear, including £700 for black paint. By the end, the total cost of the project reached £324,000. THE FINAL TEST The six-month rebuild wasn't without its challenges – both emotional and technical. 'The hardest part was having to chop up a Rolls-Royce just to use it for panels to fix Rashford's Rolls-Royce,' Mat said. 'Not only was that tough emotionally, because you're cutting up such a high-end car – but it was also incredibly technical. 'Making sure everything fit perfectly and matched factory standards was a huge challenge.' Even after completing the rebuild, Mat faced unexpected scrutiny from Kourosh Mansory, the founder of the famed Mansory tuning house that originally customised Rashford's Rolls-Royce. Having caught wind of Mat's work, Mansory invited him to their headquarters in Germany – but the reception was less than welcoming. "Everything is wrong with you fixing the car!" Mansory told him, pointing out flaws like the grille not lining up with the bonnet, a popped-off side skirt, and damage to the front bumper. Over the next day, Mansory's team meticulously addressed these issues, adding their signature wheels and fine-tuning every detail. 'We were massively surprised by Mr. Mansory's reaction to the car,' Mat said. 'He wasn't happy with the job we did at first, which caught us off guard – but to his credit, he was kind enough to help make it right. 'Now, the car is perfect.' DRIVING AMBITION Since the wild ride surrounding Rashford's Roller, Mat's channel has only continued to soar. Known for his car DIY tutorials and transformations, he's built a reputation for tackling seemingly impossible projects and turning them into YouTube gold. Despite his success, Mat remains humble about his journey. He isn't a professionally trained mechanic and describes himself as 'just a regular guy winging it as I go along'. Having dropped out of school at 16 to pursue his dream of becoming a pro BMX rider, Mat made it as far as the sport's World Championships. 8 8 8 But after a lack of funding, he found himself working two jobs – at a local car garage and an Indian restaurant – while teaching himself how to rebuild cars in his spare time. Even now, Mat credits his daily routine with helping him stay focused and productive amidst the chaos of running a successful YouTube channel. Mat, who works with food brand YFood, says: 'My day usually kicks off with a good cup of coffee to get me going, then it's straight to the gym for about an hour,' Mat said 'After that, I head to my unit around 11am, where I film non-stop until anywhere between 11pm and 1am depending on what's on the schedule. 'I stick to this routine about four to five days a week. The other two or three days are all about editing in my office, with gym sessions squeezed in between.' COMMUNITY IMPACT Mat is also known for occasionally running raffle competitions on his channel, giving fans the chance to win one of his customised or rebuilt cars – or even cash prizes. 'It's not about the money for me; it's about the impact I'm making in my community,' Mat said. 'One time, I surprised one of my subscribers, Molly, who was a student paramedic. 'Molly and her boyfriend were big fans of the channel, and she'd planned to buy him a hoodie before he sadly passed away. As a promise to him, she still bought it but faced some financial pressures. 'Fans of our channel are so important, so I surprised her with some MA merchandise and £1,500 spending money. It's the least I can do to help change lives.' DOWN THE ROAD With his channel continuing to grow, Mat is always on the lookout for his next big project or collaboration. 'We're always looking for the next big challenge – especially cars with a story,' Mat said. 'If you've got a crashed car with a bit of history behind it, hit us up. 'That's exactly the kind of thing we love to take on. 'We'd also love to work with people like Formula One drivers or anyone who shares a real passion for cars, because at the end of the day, we're all just car lovers!' Mat Armstrong's YFood limited-edition "Happy Banana" flavoured ready-to-drink meal features a unique label design inspired by Mat's personality, including his car, dog, and a cameo of himself. 8 8
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
YouTuber Buys A Thrashed Lamborghini Revuelto
Read the full story on Backfire News Like always, it didn't take long for someone to find the limits of the Lamborghini Revuelto, absolutely thrashing the Italian supercar is a horrific crash. Naturally, British car YouTuber Mat Armstrong bought the Lambo in its decrepit state. He even proudly claims it's the first Revuelto crashed in the the successor to the venerable Aventador, the Revuelto has some big shoes to fill. Not everyone is going to be a fan of the plug-in hybrid powertrain. In fact, Jeremy Clarkson chronicled a big problem he experienced with his own, making it clear he wasn't impressed. What Armstrong plans to do is rebuild the Italian monster, selling it for a tidy profit. Sure, it will have a branded title, but if it's put together properly, someone will be willing to shell out good money for it. While he undoubtedly still paid a tidy sum for the totaled supercar, Armstrong has some experience doing these sorts of things. The man has bought and repaired other crashed vehicles, including professional soccer player Marcus Rashford's Rolls-Royce Masonry. He learned a hard lesson about how expensive fixing a Rolls is, which probably helped him prepare for this insane project. But the man admits right up front he has zero experience with anything hybrid. Maybe this one wasn't such a great plan? The Lamborghini Revuelto sustained some pretty heavy front-end damage and got smashed up some in the rear. While the carbon-fiber hood and a lot of the front suspension is just plain done, not to mention the passenger-side front fender absolutely missing, the real question is was the carbon-fiber monocoque damaged? If so, the repair job absolutely soars in cost, probably making the Lambo too expensive to repair, dooming it to be scrapped for parts. But if that part is okay, Armstrong should be able to make some good money off this ride or keep it for his own enjoyment. Watch Armstrong's video to see how he tackles this project. Images via Mat Armstrong/YouTube
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
YouTuber Takes On Daunting Task of Restoring Notoriously Troubled 1989 BMW E24
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious In a remarkable display of determination and automotive expertise, Leicester-based YouTuber Mat Armstrong has embarked on a challenging journey to restore a 1989 BMW E24 635CSi, a vehicle notorious for stumping previous owners with its persistent and mysterious issues. Armstrong, known for tackling difficult car restoration projects on his YouTube channel, faced an uphill battle with the BMW E24. The car had a history of eluding repair efforts by several enthusiasts, who were unable to diagnose or fix its deep-rooted engine problems. Despite its condition and complex past, Armstrong was drawn to the car, seeing it as the ultimate challenge. 'When I saw the BMW, it was more rust than car,' Armstrong recounted. 'It had been off the road for years, and nobody really knew the full extent of what was wrong with it.' The car's saga began years ago when it was sidelined due to what seemed like straightforward engine issues. However, as Armstrong dove deeper into the restoration, he discovered that the problems were far more complex than initially anticipated. The previous attempts at repair had only scratched the surface, failing to address the underlying mechanical failures. Armstrong's journey with the BMW has been fraught with setbacks. His initial optimism was tested numerous times as each repair seemed to uncover further complications. 'There were moments I nearly gave up,' he admitted. But perseverance and a keen interest in solving automotive puzzles kept him going. Through his YouTube series, Armstrong shares the highs and lows of his restoration process, from diagnosing the elusive issues to the satisfaction of solving them, providing a captivating and educational experience for his viewers. This tale of automotive revival not only highlights Armstrong's resolve but also serves as an inspiration to car enthusiasts and DIY mechanics everywhere, demonstrating that with enough dedication, even the most daunting projects can be tackled.
