Spyker

Modern Spyker was established in 1999 by Victor Muller and Maarten de Bruijn, reviving a brand name originally famous for 19th-century carriages and World War I aircraft engines. The company gained international recognition with the launch of the C8 Spyder at the 2000 Birmingham Motor Show, featuring an Audi-sourced V8 and a highly detailed 'steampunk' interior. Over the following decade, Spyker expanded its lineup with models like the C8 Laviolette and C8 Aileron, while also engaging in high-profile motorsports including a brief stint in Formula 1 and multiple entries in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In a pivot that proved financially catastrophic, Spyker acquired Saab Automobile from General Motors in 2010. The deal led to severe liquidity issues and the eventual bankruptcy of Saab in 2011, which dragged Spyker into a series of legal and financial battles lasting years. Throughout the mid-2010s and early 2020s, the company underwent multiple restructurings and announced several investment deals with Russian and international partners intended to restart production of the C8 Preliator, though consistent manufacturing has remained elusive due to ongoing funding and ownership disputes.