The year was 2009, and images of a Bugatti Veyron submerged in a Texas lake were quickly going viral. Its owner, Andy House, claimed that he had tried to avoid a pelican in flight before losing control and falling into the water. However, the reality was very different. House’s story, captured on video by a witness, did not match his version. It turned out to be an attempted insurance fraud: House intentionally went into the water to collect on the car policy.
Subsequent investigations revealed his deception. House had acquired the Bugatti through a loan and had taken out lucrative insurance. His plan was to enjoy the Veyron and, later, collect a large sum from the insurance. However, his plan failed. In 2015, he was sentenced to a year in prison and had to repay the $600,000 he had received from insurance.
After serving his sentence, House still owned the damaged Veyron and chose to sell it. Despite several people’s attempts to repair it, the salt water had wreaked irreparable havoc on the supercar. In 2019, the car was listed for sale for $300,000. Ed Bolian of the YouTube channel VIN Wiki considered purchasing it, but another buyer beat him to the punch and sold the car to Houston Crosta for $400,000.
Crosta, 32, has undertaken the titanic task of restoring the Veyron. He posted a video in November 2020 showing the car’s new interior and announced that he had painted it purple. With an investment of more than $250,000, Crosta is determined to bring the famous sunken Bugatti back to life.
Although the Veyron went from a symbol of fraud to a project of resilience, its story highlights the passion and determination of automotive enthusiasts who are willing to overcome extraordinary challenges to revive a machine that was once on the brink of oblivion. The final result of this extraordinary restoration remains to be seen, but it will undoubtedly be a testament to perseverance and love for high-end automobiles.