The eccentric, hand-built Dutch exotic — 'nulla tenaci invia est via'.
The Spyker C8 is a hand-built Dutch sports car produced by Spyker Cars from 2000 to 2011. Its construction is a bonded aluminium spaceframe with aluminium body panels, its interior draws on early-aviation cues — machined-turned aluminium, exposed linkages, quilted leather — and power for the core Spyder and Laviolette variants comes from Audi's 4.2-litre V8 rated at 400 bhp / 406 PS, paired with a Getrag six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive at a kerb weight of approximately 1,275 kg.
Approximately 240 cars were built across the C8 family (production peaked at around 100 cars in 2006). Variants include the Spyder (open), Laviolette (fixed glass canopy), Spyder T (twin-turbo, 525 hp), Double 12 S (long-wheelbase, Stage I–V, 400–620 hp), Aileron (2009 evolution), Laviolette LM85 (24 units, Le Mans-inspired), and Preliator (2016 successor). Per-variant production splits vary between sources.
The C8 is the definitive hand-built exotic of its era from a marque with genuine pre-1926 aviation and automotive heritage. Its aluminium-and-machined-metal aesthetic, small production run and independent programme give it a permanent place in the modern-classic exotic canon.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| C8 Spyder | 2000– | — | Audi 4.2L V8, 400 bhp / 406 PS; Getrag 6-speed manual; RWD; approx. 1,275 kg. Open-cockpit launch variant of the C8 family. Verify per-year splits. |
| C8 Laviolette | 2001– | — | Fixed glass-canopy variant of the C8; Audi 4.2L V8, 400 bhp / 406 PS. Verify production split against Spyder. |
| C8 Spyder T | 2003– | — | Twin-turbocharged development, approximately 525 hp. Verify production. |
| C8 Double 12 S | 2001– | — | Long-wheelbase 'GT2-style' evolution, offered in Stage I–V variants producing between approximately 400 and 620 hp. Small production. Verify per-stage splits. |
| C8 Aileron | 2009– | — | Second-generation C8 evolution with revised bodywork and interior; Audi V8 continued. Verify production. |
| C8 Laviolette LM85 | — | — | 24-unit Le Mans-inspired special. Verify introduction year. |
| C8 Preliator (reference) | 2016– | — | Reference variant only — the Preliator is a post-C8-family successor programme and is not folded into the ~240 C8 total. Verify final specification and delivery. |
Confirm which C8 variant the car is, and match documentation accordingly. Spyder and Laviolette outnumber the turbo and Double 12 S derivatives; original specification, unmolested aluminium bodywork and complete build documentation move a car meaningfully up the market.
The Audi 4.2-litre V8 is a robust unit with well-understood service requirements. A specialist familiar with hand-built exotics and Audi V8 servicing should lead the PPI — verify service history, timing-chain service where applicable and Getrag gearbox condition, particularly on turbo derivatives.
The aluminium spaceframe and body require specialist attention. Priorities are corrosion in aluminium-steel interfaces, panel fit consistent with hand-built construction, and the condition of the exposed aluminium interior details — machined-turned surfaces, quilted leather, aviation-style switchgear.
Continuous ownership history, complete factory build documentation and access to a marque-competent specialist are essential. Spyker Cars' corporate history has been discontinuous; parts and specialist support depend on independent networks.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
Averages ~$400k; range ~$240k–$670k. The glass-canopy Laviolette and low-mileage / last-built cars top the market. ~240–300 built across all variants; most trade privately, so public results are sparse but strengthening.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06 | Bring a Trailer Online | 2006 C8 Laviolette Highest recorded C8 to date. | — | $670,000 Sold |
| 2024-10 | Bonhams The Zoute Sale 2024 | 2014 C8 Spyder (last built) | — | €575,000 Sold |
| 2024-08 | RM Sotheby's Monterey 2024 | 2008 C8 Laviolette (ultra-low-mileage, #182) | — | $582,500 Sold |
Auction results reflect verified public sales only. Most C8s trade privately; the glass-canopy Laviolette and low-mileage / last-built cars command clear premiums.
Small-volume hand-built exotic with distinctive design language and a defined history. Long-term positioning depends on the health of the independent specialist network and on how the pre-2011 C8 family is treated relative to the later Preliator programme.
Get new buyer's guides and collector market intelligence delivered to your inbox. No spam. We respect your inbox.
The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
