2005 Spyker C8 Spyder

• Early classic black/cognac with factory hardtop
• Recently upgraded audio option
• 19" wheels and propeller steering wheel
• Recently serviced and upgraded by marque specialists Jasper den Dopper
• Registered in The Netherlands


The Spijker company started out as coachbuilders in Amsterdam before constructing its first automobile in 1898. Spijker was technologically adventurous, introducing the first six-cylinder car with four-wheel drive and all-round brakes in 1903, by which time the name had changed to the more internationally acceptable 'Spyker'. Faced with a downturn in demand for its large luxury cars the firm merged with the Dutch aircraft manufacturer, N.V. and in 1915 adopted the Latin moto 'Nulla tenaci invia est via' ('For the tenacious no road is impassable'). A horizontal, two-bladed propeller was chosen as the company emblem and both it and the motto were used by the modern-day Spyker company.

Despite a reputation for quality and the achievement of some notable competition successes, the original Spyker company disappeared in 1925. Its name and reputation for producing well-engineered, high-performance motor cars had not been forgotten though, and an entirely new Spyker possessing the same goals emerged in 1999. Founded by Maarten de Bruijn, the reconstituted company was set up to manufacture exclusive sports cars commencing with the Spyker C8, which debuted at the Birmingham International Motor Show in October 2000.

An advanced, mid-engined, two-seat barchetta, the C8 was powered by a 4.2-litre Audi V8 engine producing approximately 400bhp and had a top speed of around 300km/h (186mph). The C8's ultra-stiff spaceframe chassis was constructed using a combination of aluminium sheet and extrusions, while the aluminium body panels were supplied by Coventry Prototype Panels in the UK and later Karmann in Germany. Variations on the theme were not long in coming: in February 2001 the C8 Laviolette coupé appeared at the Amsterdam Motor Show to be followed by the more powerful twin-turbocharged C8 Spyder T.

Despite its 'new kid on the block' status, Spyker succeeded in establishing a strong presence in the supercar market. Indeed, the C8 won instant acclaim, receiving the Institute of Vehicle Engineers Design Award soon after its introduction. In 2002 the first competition version, the C8 Double12R endurance racer, was entered by the Spyker Squadron factory racing team at Le Mans. On 14th July 2005, it was announced that the C8 was approved for sale on the United States market.

The C8 offered here, chassis number '031', left the factory in 2005 and, according to the registers, is the 22nd Spyker Spyder built. After chassis number '70' Spyker started making their bodywork on serial tools at Karmann, bringing to a close the era of hand crafted panels for the C8 Spyders and Laviolette. On the early Spyker, customers could choose between a hardtop or a soft-top, though only 18 were ever optioned with the factory hardtop like this car.

Originally '031' was delivered to the USA, remaining there until 2015 when it was exported to Belgium and subsequently registered in 2017. According to the registers, the current vendor is the second private owner. In 2021 the car visited marque specialists Spyker Enthusiast (Jasper den Dopper) for maintenance and upgrades (four-point harness with cognac shoulder pads) while later in 2022 the car was upgraded with the factory audio system and the original Spyker key fob was added again.

The black/cognac is one of the signature Spyker colour combinations and this example is very well maintained car. All servicing and maintenance has been carried out by Jasper den Dopper according to the factory specifications, while the upgrades were done using original parts. The current odometer reading is only 6,578 miles and this rare and exclusive Dutch supercar is presented in immaculate 'like new' condition.