This Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 build in 2009 was the first of a proposed series of 24 cars. Eventually, only 14 were built. Whilst writing this the Spyker parent company is bankrupt. Former CEO Victor Muller has always maintained that it is but a question of time before this Dutch sports car company is resurrected. Many a feline would have viewed the many lives of Spyker with a degree of jealousy, but for now, the show seems definitely over. Many books have been filled with stories in regard to Spyker’s tumultuous existence, so we won’t. Formula 1, Le Mans and even the Saab takeover, nothing seemed to exotic for the brand from the little Dutch town of Zeewolde. Of all three adventures, Le Mans was the most logical and successful venture. Le Mans also provided the inspiration for the Spyker C8 Laviolette we have here: the LM85.
The car was bought by Victor Muller’s good friend and business partner: Vladimir Antonov. In the very extensive accompanying documentation is an e-mail from Antonov to a later owner congratulating him on the purchase of this fantastic car. The documentation is probably the best place to start our tour of this car as it is exceptionally complete. Naturally, the aluminium car wallet is there containing the owner’s manual and service book as well as a number of business cards of people no longer contactable. The signature of the car’s designer, Maarten de Bruijn, is present in the manual. Besides the former, there is a large file containing a workshop manual. Finally, a number of photo series are included, made during the few trips the car made and when it was being presented at various shows as well as photos were taken driving the circuit prior to the2009 Le Mans. Describing everything would take up too much space so we have summarised the itinerary for you:
1. Manual and service book in the aluminium car wallet.
2. TUV papers
3. Dutch registration papers
4. Certificate of origin furbished by Spyker
5. LM 85 sales brochure
6. Workshop manual
7. Maintenance invoices incurred over the years
8. Correspondence between previous owners
9. A photo album detailing the car’s history
10. A file with the car’s history and copies of old registrations
11. Two Spyker leather suitcases
12. Spyker inside cover
13. Outside Spyker covering
14. Spyker LM 85 limited edition TW Steel watch signed by Maarten de Bruijn
15. Spyker C8 Laviolette telephone
16. MP3-player headset
17. Original Spyker key and Spyker “puck”
18. Spare key and Clifford remote alarm controls
19. Spyker trickle charger with quick connect coupling
20. Lockable petrol cap
21. Spyker registration folder
22. Caps signed by Maarten de Bruijn and Tom Coronel during the Le mans
23 Signed Spyker Squadron shirts
24. Signed Spyker squadron polos
To state this car is perfectly documented and comes with everything intended to make owning a Spyker a unique experience is a bit of an understatement. It is not just the items of clothing signed during the 2009 Le Mans Driver Parade, it also includes the car itself that was signed under the hood by Maarten de Bruijn and Tom Coronel.
Naturally this Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 is totally undamaged. Since 2009 the car has only travelled 7,651 kilometres. The car’s condition reflects the low usage, it is nothing less than immaculate. As expected the car has remained totally in an original state, including its paintwork. When opening one of its scissor doors it becomes apparent the Spyker was built to an exacting standard. The doors scissor up precisely with minimal effort. The hood easily pivots forward to reveal a lovely aluminium front suspension housing many add-ons from the Audi stable. The Spyker LM 85 stands proudly on its 19-inch “Aeroblade” wheels with centre-lock. The wheels are beautifully filled in by a pair of extremely powerful AP brakes with 6 front pistons and 4 rear wheel ones. The suspension has fully adjustable Koni’s attached to the double wishbones. The finish sports the wonderful name “Burned Almond Orange” accentuated with Gunmetal elements. The car also has a roof air inlet made of polished aluminium. The polished aluminium is a recurring theme contrasting the orange paintwork. The exhaust is embellished with adapted ends distinguishing it from the “normal” Spykers. The LM 85 is further recognisable by its small rear spoiler, orange window surround, large diffuser and a frontend splitter.
The car’s interior is also pure art and is as good as new. The steering wheel has an airbag courtesy of Lamborghini due to the changed laws prohibiting the use of the brilliant air-bagless characteristic 4-spoke steering wheel. The gauges all carry the fine Spyker branding and keep you abreast of the car’s vital functions during your trip. The instruments light up in eye-catching green. The seats are really comfortable made of leather sides and Alcantara centres are adorned with diamond stitching. The dashboard features brushed aluminium. The openwork gear mechanism is probably one of the more eye-catching features. Spyker was as a newcomer instantaneously as famous as Ferrari thanks to this kind of brilliant design. It not only looks great it works flawlessly as well, which is quite important in a purebred sports car.
That we are dealing with a purebred sports car is a given. The Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 weighs just 1,275 Kg, measures only 4.19 metres in length and 1.25 metres in height. The car has a 4.2 litre Audi V8 delivering a pleasing 400 Ps. The LM 85 version of the C8 gets from 0-100 km/hr in 4.5 seconds and tops out at 300 km/hr thanks to its powerful engine and low weight. This engine transfers its power through a manual 6-speed gearbox to the rear wheels using a Drexler plated limited-slip diff.
To cut a long story short, as was the case with many of Spykers models it never reached its intended production target and only 14 LM 85 C8’s were ever built. A true-blooded car enthusiast could become a little melancholic when seeing this example and may ever start to philosophise how the world could have looked if only Spyker had limited itself to building stunning sports cars. Whatever the future may bring for Spyker, the Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 deserves the accolade of being the “Peak Spyker”. In our case, it also happens to be the one with the best provenance, the most complete history and accessory package. No other Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 on the market comes close!
