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Rare 1 of 15 Spyker C8 LM85 heads to auction in Miami.
RARE 1 OF 15 SPYKER C8 LM85 HEADS TO AUCTION IN MIAMI.
You may have heard of Dutch automaker Spyker. The company is (was) old, its rich history dates back to the late 19th century. The company was originally founded in 1880 by two brothers, Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, and the focus was on coachbuilding, but the focus eventually transitioned into building cars. The first Spyker car was released in 1903. Spyker soon gained prominence for its luxurious and high-performance cars, often featuring distinctive design elements and advanced engineering in a blend of amazing proportions. One of the bespoke automaker’s most famous models was the Spyker C8 which was introduced in 2001. It was a high-performance sports car known for its aviation-inspired design cues and powerful engines. Sadly, despite critical acclaim for its designs and performance, Spyker faced financial difficulties throughout its history. The company went through several owners and suffered periods of financial instability. As a last-ditch attempt to rescue the company, Spyker bought the Saab brand from General Motors, but it was too little, too late and the company was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2011. Before that happened, Spyker released its most advanced and interesting car to date - the Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85. It wasn’t for everyone, the styling was completely different to what other manufacturers were doing at the time, but it was definitely a head-turner. A closer inspection of the car reveals some amazing details inside and out, all inspired by the aviation industry. The plan was to limit production of the LM85 to just 24 units, but it was 2009 and the financial struggles were really making a negative impact on the company so 24 units became just 14. It’s rare to see one come up for sale, and you can be sure that they’re worth more than the $210,000 initial asking price. One has just been listed as part of the upcoming RM Sotheby’s Miami Gables auction.
The car listed at RM Sotheby’s is the 5th one created by Spyker, and it’s a perfect example and has just a little over 2,000 km on the odometer. The car is finished in the unique and recognisable LM85 livery comprised of Burnt Almond Orange and Gun Metal over black Alcantara and leather trim with contrasting orange stitching. All the orange is a nod to the company’s Dutch roots. The LM85 rolls on black 19-inch Aeroblade wheels to complete the look. The C8 Laviolette LM85 trim is by far the most interesting-looking created, and it really is an acquired taste. Not too many would own such a garish car - nit us though, the SXdrv crew would rock this thing as often as possible. That name, the C8 Laviolette LM85 has a story. LM stands for Le Mans, and 85 represents Spyker’s favoured racing number. As said, there were meant to be 24 units produced, one for each hour of the iconic French endurance race. As you can see in the images by Alex Stewart, the features on the bespoke car include LM85-specific exhaust tips, a fixed rear spoiler, and black AP Racing brake calipers. The cars were hand-built at Spyker’s Zeewolde factory, this one was completed in March 2009 and was the 5th unit constructed. The car was put on sale through Spyker of Troy/Suburban Exotic Motorcars of Troy in Michigan. The same car can be seen in numerous online reviews and videos, making it well-known in rare supercar circles. As per the RM Sotheby’s listing: “A report from Spyker specialist Jasper den Dopper confirms this car as one of 15 total Spykers ever produced with power-assisted braking. In January 2024, this LM85 reportedly received a full fluid service, new tyres, and new engine lid support struts. Now offered for the first time in a decade, and showing under 1,300 miles at cataloguing, the car is accompanied by an owner’s manual, window sticker, build report from marque expert Jasper den Dopper, Spyker-branded car cover, fire extinguisher, and a Chronoswiss wristwatch numbered to this car. Any Spyker is a truly fascinating masterpiece. This LM85, however, with its extremely limited production, unique options, and strikingly low mileage, is undoubtedly among the most desirable variants of this already rarified breed.” The car is expected to fetch somewhere between $400,000 - $500,000 - or roughly R9,500,000. We’re keen to see the auction results because this is a car that will only appeal to a select few.
Take a look at the YouTube video from Saabkyle04 when he got his hands on the rare Dutch supercar that was created to celebrate Spyker's experiences in the world-famous 24 Hours of LeMans races There were meant to be 24 of these produced, but due to a bunch of things out of the manufacturer's control, only 14 unis made it to production: 2009 Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Review | Saabkyle04
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