A well-known Illinois supercar collector suffered a costly mishap when he scraped the underside of his $3 million Bugatti Chiron on a fellow YouTuber’s driveway—twice.
The incident, which was caught on video and later shared online, involved Steve Hamilton of The Hamilton Collection, a prominent figure in the automotive content creation space. Hamilton was attempting to navigate his ultra-low, high-performance hypercar up the steep driveway of YouTube personality David Dobrik when the front of the Bugatti Chiron made a painful grinding sound against a metal gate track embedded in the pavement.
Dobrik, who had been inside his home at the time, could be seen sprinting outside upon hearing the scrape. “I ran as soon as I heard it,” he captioned the now-viral Instagram reel.
Despite the initial damage, Hamilton made matters worse by reversing back over the same obstacle, causing a second round of scraping to the car’s underbody and aerodynamic components.
Bugatti Chirons are known for their engineering precision and aerodynamic elements, meaning even a seemingly minor scrape can result in costly repairs. Owners often pay six-figure sums for replacement parts or specialized carbon fiber repairs. While the exact cost of Hamilton’s mistake remains unknown, Bugatti maintenance and repairs can easily rival the price of an average sports car.
Adding another twist, reports suggest the Chiron was already up for sale at the time of the incident. If that’s the case, the misstep could significantly impact its resale value or at least lead to a frustrating round of negotiations with potential buyers.
The internet, as expected, had little sympathy. Commenters on social media were quick to mock the situation, with one user writing, “Meanwhile, I’m getting mad because I spilled sauce on my favorite shirt.” Another added, “Imagine having issues like this.”
While some dismissed the damage as cosmetic, others pointed out that Bugatti’s underbody aerodynamics are crucial to handling and performance, making the scrape more than just an aesthetic issue.
Dobrik, in response to the chaos, jokingly reminded Hamilton’s passenger, “I don’t have a Bugatti.”
Shawn Henry