2010 Spyker C8 Spyder SWB

Offered by Barrett-Jackson | Palm Beach, Florida | April 7, 2012

The Spyker C8 is the most popular model from Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker. In fact, it is the only model from the company to really get going, production-wise (the C12 sold about two-dozen copies).

Introduced in 2000, the C8 features an Audi-sourced V8 of 4.2 liters, pumping out 400 horsepower. It’s pretty quick too, sprinting to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The car being offered here is two years old, but essentially brand new, having only covered six (6) miles.

The original Spyker company, which began as a coach builder, began producing automobiles in 1900. The company was quite innovative, producing the world’s first four-wheel drive car in 1903 (or, the first four-wheel drive car with a single engine. Ferdinand Porsche technically built the first four-wheel drive vehicle, with a motor at each wheel). Four-wheel brakes and a six-cylinder engine were other Spyker firsts. When World War I came around, the company began producing aircraft engines.

It is this aeronautical link to history from which the new Spyker company derives its logo. Also, their interiors are second to none in the highly-exclusive supercar world. Check this out:

There are some aircraft touches in there, from the dash switches to the world’s coolest shifter. I really do like the way these cars look. Some supercars are wild just to be wild, but this one is beautiful. It’s a shame that Spyker got tangled up in the mess that was/is Saab. I just hope these cars can continue to come out.

Brand new, this car would run about $225,000. And this one is essentially brand new. For the complete catalog description, click here and for the entire Palm Beach lot list, click here.

Update: Sold, $220,000.

1955 Porsche 550/1500 RS Spyder

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 9, 2012

Photo – Gooding & Company

Shelby Cobras, Ford GT40s, Lotus Sevens and the Porsche 550. These are cars of which replicas far outnumber the real thing. But this is a real Porsche 550 Spyder. Only about 90 550s were built and this one retains everything it originally came with.

The Porsche 550 was a great track-day car back in the mid-1950s (it still is, but they don’t come quite as cheap as they used to). Many of them were used and abused on weekend jaunts to the nearest road course or former air base. The most famous of these cars was James Dean’s “Little Bastard” that he was tragically killed in on his way to a race.

To have an original, unrestored engine in one of these cars is amazing. Nor does it have any replacement bodywork. It was a street car for most of its life, serving as daily transportation at one point (sunny days only, I presume).

And what fun that would be. The 1.5 liter flat-4 makes 125 horsepower, which may not sound like much but consider how much a tiny car like this weighs with all aluminum bodywork. Aluminum bodywork and a lack of interior.

Luxurious comfort is a small thing to sacrifice for a car this amazing. They do not come up for sale often and by “not often” I mean “almost never.” There are few Porsche models that are more collectible, desirable or iconic than this. The price reflects that, estimated between $2,200,000 and $2,600,000. The buyer may adopt the name of James Dean’s infamous car for themselves, but only if they add “lucky” to the beginning of it.

For the complete catalog description, click here and to see the entire lot list, click here.

Update: Sold $3,685,000.

Here’s video of a similar car: