Bugatti Car Wash - Texas Style

[Paul_J]

http://www.khou.com/news/pelican-bug...-69851412.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/exoticca.../0/zcom8_ArYA8

by Chris Paschenko / The Daily News
Posted on November 12, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Updated today at 2:03 PM




LA MARQUE, Texas — The owner of one of the world’s fastest production automobiles accidentally drove his fine-tuned, French-built car into a saltwater lagoon Wednesday.

The man, who police said was from Lufkin, was uninjured after escaping the partially submerged Bugatti Veyron as it came to rest in about 2 feet of saltwater.

The two-seater, with 16 cylinders and four turbo chargers, can reach speeds of more than 250 mph. New models sell for about $2 million.

The man, who refused to give his name, was looking at real estate in Galveston.

About 3 p.m. a low-flying pelican distracted him as he traveled north on Interstate 45 just south of the hurricane levee near Omega Bay.



The man jerked the wheel, dropped his cell phone, and the car’s front tire left the frontage road and entered a muddy patch, which foiled his attempt to maneuver away from the lagoon.

The Veyron’s powerful engine gurgled like an outboard motor for about 15 minutes before it died.

Police and firefighters blocked the frontage road until MCH Towing employee Gilbert Harrison carefully wenched the car away from riprap and onto the soft, muddy bank.

It’s the rarest car in the world, not something you can just replace, the man said.

An Associated Press story in October mentioned a 2006 model Veyron for sale in Jonesboro, Ark., with an asking price of $1.25 million.

One of the prospective buyers was from Texas.

That Bugatti Veyron was one of only 200 made and one of only about 15 in the United States, the AP reported.
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com's partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.

[BRIAN]

I love the guy washing his hands off in the puddle before touching the steering wheel.

How do you get rid of a $1.5m car in a bad market?? But then who would do that?

[ProdigyCustoms]

The Veyron’s powerful engine gurgled like an outboard motor for about 15 minutes before it died.

What a idiot! Lets just leave it running til is sucks enough saltwater to die! ROFLMAO!

[kerryt1]

Rarest car in the world?

[moreHP]

Nice job!

[Yelcamino]

Rarest car in the world?

Well, I guess that one is now - it's the only $2 million car with saltwater damage throughout!

[Patrick]

Sounds like somebody needs the insurance money. And by letting it run in the water -- it will surely be totaled.

[jocko124]

I didn't know anybody in Lufkin had 2 million dollars. Damn I knew I shoulda stayed in TX!!!!

[jocko124]

I thought the wing on these things only came up at higher speeds!!??

[Rybar]

Too many people with more money then brains. Poor car, the owner should be slapped

[moreHP]

I thought the wing on these things only came up at higher speeds!!??

They have a competition mode that puts up the spoiler and stiffens the suspension.

[mc84_zz4]

In top-speed position, the aero-aids tuck in, and the car drops another 1-2" or so, some vents also close, decreasing the aero drag.
An amzing piece of machinery, trashed.
Requesting one minute of silence...

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/422697...n_on_top_gear/

[jocko124]

I'm still callin BS on the low flying Pelican.

[mc84_zz4]

I'm still callin BS on the low flying Pelican.

I agree, I think his financials were in the red, could not sell the car for market value, so trash it, and get a check from the insurance Co. (as mentioned previously) Ka-Ching!

[Restomod]

How do you get rid of a $1.5m car in a bad market?? But then who would do that?

Things that make you go HHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMM

[Restomod]

sorry double......

[WS6]

Any insurance company that would insure that car will look very hard at the situation before shelling out any money. His finances will be looked into as will the leaving the engine running deal. I would wonder about the wing also. Not sure on the speeds of the roads there though. Of course, this is only my opinion. If I was the insurance company, this is what I would be doing.

[John Wright]

Hmmm, videos are unavailable....must have run out of bandwidth or they pulled them for some reason.


found a video....http://www.khou.com/video/featured-v...-69886892.html

and a better version....http://www.khou.com/video/featured-v...-69961752.html


I was waiting for a big chunk of the rear quarter to bust off, when that chain was dragging that car up to the truck

[ProdigyCustoms]

If it was a insurance deal he would not have driven into 18" of water and told anyone he left it running 15 minutes. It would have been stolen and drove into 30 feet of water. I think some rich dude bobbled and went in the drink, and was more worried about his penny loafers and Rolex then the engine when he left it running.

Crazy thing is, I am almost certain that is the carbon fiber edition that was at Festival of Speed here a couple weeks ago.

[monza]

What a idiot! Lets just leave it running til is sucks enough saltwater to die! ROFLMAO!

Totally my same thinking... UNBELIEVABLE!!! Idiot. (although I wish I was such an idiot and had his bank roll)