tagline: Nulla tenaci invia est via (Latin, "For the persistent there are no impassable roads")
Well-known Dutch manufacturer of hand-built supercars. A company with an interesting history and an exceptional product range.
Actually, Spyker Cars NV is the reincarnation of a company that went bankrupt in 1926 Spyker.
Spyker was founded in 1898 by the brothers Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker (Jacobus Spijker, Hendrik-Jan Spijker), who lived in Amsterdam. In 1903, the brothers changed the combination of the letters “ij” (read as a cross between “ay” and “yay”) in the name, which is characteristic of the Dutch language, to the letter “y”, which is more familiar to other Europeans.
The most famous creation of the brothers was the carriage of the Queen of the Netherlands - the so-called Gouden Koets ("Golden Carriage"), created in 1898. By the way, it is used to this day, at especially solemn departures of the royal couple.
The company begins to produce a wide variety of cars, the common features of which are luxury and endurance. The company tries itself (and not without success) in sports. During the First World War, a merger with an aviation company takes place. Dutch Aircraft Factory NV The result is the emergence of a new brand - Nederlandsche Automobiel en Vliegtuigfabriek Trompenburg (Netherlands Automobile and Aviation Company). All the years of the war, the new company has been producing aircraft engines. Later on, this is reflected in the logo, which simultaneously depicts a car wheel and an aircraft propeller.
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| Spijker C8 (photo from the official website) |
After the end of the war, the company again returns to the production of luxury cars. Exceptionally successful models appear ... Which are sold very badly. The general situation in Europe, economic turmoil and other negative factors of that time turned out to be disastrous for a manufacturer that creates such expensive cars. The company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, is trying to rectify the situation through financial injections from British distributors. The name changes to Spyker , the company's first (and only) truck appears - a two-ton model C2. However, all this only prolongs the agony until 1926, when Spyker finally ceases to exist. In total, the company produced about 2000 cars.
In 1999, the Dutch Victor Muller and Maarten de Bruijn undertook to revive national pride. current Spijker continues the tradition of its ancestor, producing exceptional hand-built cars. Not only the spirit of the legendary company has been preserved, but also its old slogan and logo.
When creating cars, quite exotic approaches are often used. For example, the fastening of some elements is not by welding, but by rivets. Which is quite symbolic "spijker", translated from Dutch means "rivet, nail".
On September 9, 2006, the company decided to try its hand at Formula 1. The team was bought out Midland F1 Racing (MF1 Racing, former Jordan Grand Prix), previously owned by Russian businessman Alexander Schneider. The purchase cost US$106 million. The Russian flag was replaced by a Dutch one so similar to it, and the name was changed to Spyker MF1 Team. However, it was not possible to achieve outstanding success - in the overall standings, they managed to take only an “honorable” 10th place. After the first and only season in 2007, the team was resold again. Indians this time. Accordingly, she received a new name - Force India F1.
Headquarters Spyker Cars NV is located in Zeewolde, the Netherlands.
