10 things we just learned about Spyker and his cars
It’s not every day that an exciting new automaker takes the courageous step of entering the highly competitive world of building and selling high-performance cars, but in 1999, Spyker did exactly that. did. A long-dormant name, Spyker was founded by skilled blacksmith brothers Hendrik and Jacobus Spikjer in 1880. They continued to work with automobiles, airplanes and lavish cars before ceasing production in 1929. Revived for the Millennium , the new Spyker company would focus on supercars able to beat the best Italians, like the impressive Ferrari 360 or the demonic Lamborghini Diablo VT.
Packed with interesting and sometimes crazy design features like a propeller-inspired flywheel, Spyker concept cars have brought with them a huge breath of fresh air into the automotive world. They made their competitors, cars like the simple styled but fiercely fast Audi R8 V10, pretty boring.
With its diverse history, complicated history of both sexy and tempting concepts, an F1 racing team and financial plague, Spyker could form the basis of a gripping film, a complex yet interesting story of mad Dutch engineering. .
ten Spyker who?
The original Spyker company dates back to 1880 and was listed as a Dutch manufacturer of cars, airplanes and automobiles, notable for creating both the Dutch Royal Family’s ‘Golden Coach’ state car and the world’s first four-wheel drive car.
Following its financial failure, the Spyker brand was withdrawn in 1929, having manufactured a total of 2,000 vehicles. Born in 1999 as an exclusive sports car company, there was great hope to revive the Spyker brand.
9 For the stubborn, no road is impassable
Underneath the propeller logo, the Latin phrase “Nulla Tenaci Invia Est Via” forms the company’s motto and encapsulates the thinking that led to the design and manufacture of the brand’s extravagant and eye-catching creations.
Inside and out, Spyker cars are a huge departure from what’s considered normal, even in supercar circles. Wild in style, wonderfully finished and unlike anything that has never been offered before, each car can be seen as a gateway to uniqueness.
8 The Silvestris prototype
Created as a prototype to showcase a reborn company, the Silvestris was the first car to bear the Spyker name since the brand’s demise in 1929 and debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 1999 in England under great applause.
Using an Audi stock 3.5-liter V8 powertrain and gearbox, the Silvestris produced 265 hp, was rear-wheel drive, had scissor doors attached to a central unibody made of galvanized metal, and would hit 60 mph in too little than 4.5 seconds.
seven The Wild Spyker C8 and Bonkers C8T
The evolution of the Silverstris led to the development and creation of the Spyker C8, a vehicle that now housed a fire-breathing Audi 4.2-liter V8 developing 400 hp under the hood, enabling supercar performance and top speed. blazing 190 mph.
Those looking for even more horsepower may consider options of up to 620hp, or simply opt for the highly adjustable C8T Spyder which comes equipped with a dual-turbo Cosworth unit delivering 525hp in standard form.
6 F1 Championship dreams
By acquiring the British company Midland F1 Racing in 2006, Spyker set itself the goal of becoming a major player in Formula 1 racing, under the name Spyker MF1, before renaming itself simply Spyker F1 for the 2007 racing season.
Although its engines were supplied by Ferrari, the Spyker F1 team had very little success, plagued with retirees before scoring a single point before being sold to Orange India and renamed Force India again.
5 High performance SUV concept
Long before Rolls-Royce and Maserati even considered offering luxury raised SUVs, Spyker envisioned the oddly named D12 Beijing-Paris concept with a proposed make and sell date for 2008.
The public were initially tempted by the advisability of purchasing a lavishly appointed V12-powered model, with plans that later changed to offer a Volkswagen-derived 500bhp W12 version before the project finally went into operation. preserves.
4 The C12 and C12 Zagato
The plan was to build just 25 bespoke C12 La Turbie models featuring a 500bhp 6.0-liter W12 engine, handcrafted Louis Vuitton luggage, Chronoswiss gauges and the ability to reach 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. None, however, have been put into production.
Elevating the C12 platform even further, designer Zagato mixed the styling of the standard C12 with the sister C8 to create a work of automotive art, only one model was made before the C12 program was scrapped by Spyker.
3 They once belonged to SAAB
In a deal worth $ 74 million combined with Spyker shares worth $ 320 million, GM handed over ownership of SAAB to the new Spyker owners in 2010.
They had bold plans. Getting their luxury performance SUV to market is the top priority. However, this did not happen. Instead, SAAB went bankrupt and disappeared from the map.
2 The Venator B6
Yet another failed concept, the B6 Venator was unveiled in 2013 and promised to be an affordable entry point into Spyker ownership. Fitted with a 375 hp V6 engine under a carbon fiber bodywork, this would have been an exciting high performance machine.
Stunning to look at, the Concept B6 Venator was beautifully finished inside with quilted leather seats, an aircraft-inspired cockpit, and the company’s motto was proudly emblazoned with chrome lettering on its sleek upper sides.
1 Small sales figures and financial failure
During its revived lifecycle, the Spyker company only managed to manufacture and deliver around 310 completed road cars to customers, all of which quickly became wanted buys, when and if they appeared on the market. second-hand market.
In the grip of financial troubles, the Spyker brand never seemed to find its place as an automaker. After taking a number of big bets with his F1 plus racing business with the purchase of SAAB, he overwhelmed himself and ultimately failed.
Read more
About the Author