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.

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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, , 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.

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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 recently collaborated with smart food brand yfood to launch a limited-edition ‘Happy Banana’ flavour , said: “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.

“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 so it can be pretty demanding, but that’s where I’ve found yfood’s ready-to-drink meals to be game-changing.

"When I’m deep in a project and don’t have time for a proper meal, they keep me fuelled without slowing me down, which is key when you're constantly on the move.

"Between this and staying physically active, it helps me stay focused and keep pushing through, no matter how long the hours get

"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.

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