Estimated Price: £50,000 - £60,000

First registered in 2011, this Audi R8 Spyder Quattro V10 offers a fascinating provenance, having originally been supplied by Audi UK for the prestigious White Tie & Tiara Ball in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. A striking, chrome-finished, example of the 194mph V10 Spyder was initially donated for auction, achieving a significant sum on the night, with demand proving so strong that a second car was also entered, contributing to a combined total of £620,000 raised for the charity. This particular car is understood to have been sold during that event to a well-known guest and collector of cars, John Caudwell, representing a notable moment in the model’s early history.

The R8 was retained for a few years by its original purchaser John, on display in his front living room with little use, we understand, before being acquired by our vendor in 2014. At that point, the car was recommissioned and its appearance transformed. The chrome wrap covered the car's original factory white paint and, when removed, the decision was taken to completely refinish it in Porsche Amethyst, a colour that offers a distinctive presence, appearing vibrant in direct sunlight whilst remaining more subtle in softer light, suiting the Spyder’s clean, purposeful design particularly well. The paintwork was carried out by the highly respected F.H. Ellis Coachworks, well known for their concours work for RS Williams and a favourite of notable collectors including Chris Evans. As can be seen in our images, the resulting finish is simply spectacular.

Powered by Audi’s naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V10 paired with the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the R8 Spyder was already a highly capable performance car in standard form, however, this example benefits from a number of carefully considered enhancements. In 2015, it was upgraded by Regal Autosport with the installation of a VF Engineering supercharger system alongside an Akrapovič exhaust, at a cost in excess of £30,000. This conversion is understood to raise the output to approximately 700bhp, delivering performance comfortably beyond standard factory figures. The supercharger system was subsequently renewed in 2023 at similar expense, ensuring that the car continues to perform as intended. The enhancements were carried out with a degree of discretion, preserving the usability and character of the original car whilst offering a significant increase in performance and, additionally in 2023, the car was treated to new brake pads, discs and tyres.

Despite its performance credentials, the car has been used sparingly. Showing just over 15,000 miles at the time of cataloguing, it presents as a low-mileage example with a unique combination of provenance and specification.

The R8 Spyder itself remains one of the most usable supercars of its era, combining everyday drivability with genuine performance capability and open-top appeal. In this instance, those qualities are complemented by an unusual backstory, a distinctive colour scheme and a level of performance that sets it apart.

Offered at a guide of £50,000 to £60,000, this represents a rare opportunity to acquire a notably individual R8 Spyder with both provenance and performance credentials, presented in a form that is entirely befitting of inclusion in our Supercar Fest sale.