The Return of the S8

The S8 was more than just a demonstrator, though, with Joop investing everything he had into his young company just two years after it launched with the S7 in 1978.

The S8 was a major step forward, containing all the lessons Donkervoort had learned in his first two years with the S7, and delivered a more powerful 81kW Ford four-cylinder engine and a wider front track.

It has a pair of aluminium fuel tanks mounted ahead of the rear axle, giving it the flexibility to be a tourer as well as a corner-hungry sports car, and the 625kg S8 ran to 100km/h in just six seconds.

It also incorporated the build quality and attention to detail that have become hallmarks of Donkervoorts to this day, and even when it was located, it was amongst the 99+ percent of Donkervoorts ever built that were still in drivable condition.

But the relationship with the Donkervoort family and Donkervoort number 22 go far deeper than that. Not only is Joop’s birthday on the 22nd of the month, but so is his granddaughter, Filippa, to give the F22 its name.

It was also inspired to paint Donkervoort’s first F22 demonstrator model in a similar sumptuous blue colour.

“Donkervoort number 22 was much more than just a demonstrator, though,” Denis Donkervoort continued. “The company was still in its infancy, and it was actually my mother’s daily driving car, so all of the test drives were scheduled in the evening when she had come home from work.

“In fact, this was the car my parents used to bring my sister Amber home from the hospital when she was born. That’s why this car meant so much to my parents. It was a landmark in the history of the company, but it was also mum’s car.”

Sold before Donkervoort moved to the S8A (named after Denis’ sister, Amber) in 1985, the car was accidentally found by a long-time Donkervoort owner and Ambassador.

He was having his car cleaned and detailed when a neighbour arrived in the S8. The two Donkervoort owners began talking about their rare sportscars, and it became clear that the S8 owner was keen to sell.

Our Donkervoort Ambassador bought it on the spot and contacted Denis, who tasked Donkervoort Classics with tracking down the car’s provenance.

“We were all a little stunned when Donkervoort Classics found out it was Joop’s car,” Donkervoort said. “It was in very good condition, but we decided to strip it all the way back for a ground-up restoration, and now it’s a beautiful classic, full of memories.”

The Donkervoort S8 number 22 is unlikely to be sold again anytime soon, but Donkervoort Classics can restore any Donkervoort ever made, and the Donkervoort Pre-Owned section frequently has classic-era cars available, including S7s and S8s.