Matthew Armstrong

Matthew Armstrong has been a member of the Surrey Classic Vehicle Club for a number of years and could be seen at club events and the Fairmile club nights in his immaculate BMW M3 Evolution.  He has owned the car for close on twenty years and during that time has brought the car to almost concours standard.  And, like all of us classic car owners, he is incredibly proud of  his car. At shows, his car would draw many admirers and plenty of comments.  The last show he attended with the club was CAPEL on 16th August.

The day after, Sunday 17th, he took the car out and returned home in the early evening, leaving the car on his drive. A very short time later he heard what he though was a door slamming.  This noise happened again and he got up to see what it was and upon opening his front door he was horrified to see his car totally engulfed in flames.  After a very brief period of shock and disbelief, he shut his front door - as the heat was intense - and dialled the emergency services.  Within minutes a fire tender arrived and proceeded to put out the fire.  Once the fire was extingushed the Fire Services said to him that it looked like fluid had leaked onto the hot exhaust, caught fire and once the flames took hold melted the fuel line and with almost a full tank of fuel the car virtually exploded.  Upon looking at his 'Ring' doorbell footage later it seems that fluid from either the brake servo or clutch servo leaked onto the hot exhaust, caught alight and dripped onto the drivers side front tyre, whereupon the tyre caught fire.  Once this happened the flames went underneath the car to the passenger side, melted the fuel line and the car went up.  It could have been worse: he could have been in the car at the time.  This does not bear thinking about.

He was in shock for two days after the event and he has my total sympathy as I know how I would feel if that had been my car.

Our sympathies, as classic car owners, go out to Matthew.

Since this tragic incident he has found and bought another BMW M3 Evolution which he intends to bring up to the standard of the other one, using the insurance.  And, knowing Matthew and his passion for detail, this car will be every bit as good.

I am sure we all wish him the best.