The Spyker C8 Presents Design and Engineering in Near Perfect Balance
In 2000, Spyker Cars launched its first sports car, the C8 Spyder, leveraging the historic association with the automaker’s Dutch namesake. Founded in 1880 by brothers Jacobus and Hendrik Spijker, Spyker was the industrial pride of the Netherlands by the early 20th century, advancing automobile and aircraft manufacture until shutting down in 1925. The 21st-century company’s design philosophy was inspired by the motto coined in Latin by the creators of the original Spyker race car in 1903: Nulla tenaci invia est via (For the tenacious, no road is impassable).
This 2009 Spyker C8 Spyder sold for $401,000 through RM Sotheby’s in 2024.
Karissa Hosek, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The C8 Spyder, originally priced at about $275,000, was born from the ambitious vision of a limited-production, mid-engined sports car with race-winning potential. Almost 300 examples of about a dozen C8 variants have been made from 2000 to the present, with some turbulent starts, stops, and re-starts of the marque along the way. While the Spyder is the most usually encountered version of the C8, other variants include the Laviolette, followed by the Aileron, and most recently the Preliator.
The Spyker C8 is equally alluring on both a macro and micro level, evoking the artistry of coachbuilt cars from bygone eras, such as the Bugatti Type 57 Atalante. Instead of composites, the Spyker C8 is all about aluminum. Its chassis is built from extruded box sections and folded sheet; the body is hand-formed and reveals some delightful details, like gun-turret air intakes on the sides and roof, as well as polished side mirrors.
The aeronautics-themed cockpit features an engine-turned dashboard and, for this example, quilted leather presented in Magnolia.
Karissa Hosek, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
For those who appreciate the artisans who hammered aluminum during the golden age of European coachbuilding, the Spyker represents the culmination of a dying art. Upward-swinging swan-style doors reveal a diamond-quilted leather interior that recalls a giant Chanel handbag. Inspired by vintage aviation, the engine-turned aluminum dash, elaborate exposed shift linkage, and pedal box are works of art, rivaling the bridge of a Swiss watch as components that combine function with artistic embellishment.
A glimpse at the car’s 400 hp, 4.2-liter Audi V-8 engine.
Karissa Hosek, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The aluminum theme continues under the engine cover, with Audi’s naturally aspirated, transversely mounted V-8 positioned amidships, mated to a manual six-speed Getrag gearbox that drives the rear wheels. The Audi V-8 has been a constant in all Spyker road cars, with turbocharging and supercharging used on a few models. The original C8 Spyder makes a respectable 400 hp—adequate at the time—with handling and braking like a Lotus Elise or the little-known Noble. And at just 2,750 pounds, the model can run with bigger dogs.
The Spyker C8 evokes the artistry of coachbuilt cars from bygone eras.
Karissa Hosek, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The Spyker C8 Spyder is further proof that not all the beautiful sports cars hail from south of the Alps. Finding one is not easy, but they do turn up at auction. Depending on the model and mood in the room (or online), values range from $250,000 to more than $500,000.
Click here for more photos of this 2009 Spyker C8 Spyder.
A 2009 Spyker C8 Spyder that sold through RM Sotheby’s just last year.
Karissa Hosek, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Authors
-
Robert Ross
