Chapter One
A Dutch
Dream
Being Dutch, my dream was always to one day own a Spyker. That dream took its first step during a business trip to the Netherlands, where I met Jasper den Dopper from the Spyker Enthusiasts group. Jasper den Dopper knew of Spyker #94, a car located in Los Angeles, California. After a quick visit to inspect it, my son and I decided to become the next lucky owners of a beautiful silver Spyker C8 Spyder with a ruby red interior. The car had been meticulously maintained, and aside from some light servicing and a full set of wheel replacements due to a previously missed recall, it was ready to be shown at our local car shows and events.
Not long after, a friend and owner of a local car club asked if he could purchase Spyker #94 from us. He wanted to add it to his own collection, where it would be displayed for all to enjoy in his club museum. I agreed, on one condition: I would first find myself a new Spyker C8 Laviolette. Back to Jasper and the Spyker Enthusiasts group to see what miracle he could come up with this time. He sent us photos of several cars that might be available.
Spyker #94 & #206 · Raleigh, NC
He knew of a Laviolette somewhere in Northern California, however, he had never seen the car in person and knew little about its history or condition. After a few emails back and forth, we connected with the owner and made plans to fly out and inspect it.
Chapter Two
A Real
Barn Find
Living on the East Coast, my son and I hopped on a plane to Reno, Nevada, rented a car, and drove another four hours into the middle of nowhere. When we arrived, Tony was standing in his yard, ready to welcome these crazy Dutch people who had come to see his Spyker. When the barn door swung open, my son and I were instantly mesmerized. There sat a stunning Madeira Red Spyker C8 Laviolette with a two red and ivory interior. It was the only Spyker ever produced in this color, making it a true one-of-one.
Northern California · The barn door opens for the first time in ten years
Inside the barn · Hidden alongside other cars for a decade
After restoration · The same car, reborn in Raleigh
Having sat untouched in that barn for ten years, it was a genuine surprise to find the car in such great shape, or so we thought. We spent some time with Tony, learned how he had acquired the car a decade earlier and everything he knew about its history, and the deal was sealed. We were to become its next custodians.
With the help of Jasper and Spyker owner Ed Bolian, we found a transportation company willing to haul the car to our home in Raleigh, NC. A week later, my son and I made the same journey back to that small Northern California town to help extract the car from the barn and load it onto the transport truck. It was the first time the car had seen daylight in years, and in full sun, its color was even more breathtaking.
Two long weeks passed before the car finally arrived home. When we opened the driver’s door to pull it from the trailer, we knew immediately that we were in trouble. An enormous stench of dead rodents greeted us with open arms. So bad, in fact, that the delivery driver politely asked if I wouldn’t mind taking the car out of the trailer myself.
