Donkervoort Automobielen BV is a manufacturer of hand-built and ultra light weight sports cars based in Lelystad, Netherlands.

Marianne Donkervoort, who is married to Joop, and Amber, their daughter, also have played key roles in developing the business and branding of the company.

[3] Joop started the company as a kit car importer in 1978, but upon learning he needed to make significant modifications to make the assembled kit cars street legal, began building the first S7 automobiles using a design derived from the Lotus Seven in a Tienhoven shed.

The drivetrain uses a five-cylinder engine from Audi that develops 492 hp (367 kW) / 640 N⋅m (470 lbf⋅ft) and drives the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission.

[13] Donkervoort tout it as having improved "practicality, comfort, and ease of use", featuring the car's 298 L (10.5 cu ft) trunk.

The S8A also was introduced that year with a wider front track and an independent rear suspension, distinguished by refreshed styling and new adhesive-based manufacturing.

[19] Responding to the need for more power, a turbocharged version of the S8A was introduced in 1986; this car is identifiable by a profusion of various vents and openings to cool the engine.

[21] Donkervoort offered a "Sport" version that changed to cycle-style front fenders and reduced weight through the use of carbon fibre body parts.

[22] During 1999, Donkervoort switched from Ford to Audi's 20-valve turbocharged 1.8-liter R4 engine, available in a variety of outputs ranging from 150 to 245 PS (110 to 180 kW).

Thanks to its total weight of 630 kg (1,390 lb), this results in an acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) between 3.8 and 5.2 seconds depending on the type.

[5] In July 2021 Donkervoort announced on their website that they were launching a newer vehicle and their moto was "Any company can sell their cars.

This sleek, minimalist version was built in a very limited series of ten to celebrate Donkervoort's tenth anniversary in 1988.

The cars lacked a spare wheel as well as a windshield, but benefitted from an enlarged (2,160 cc) version of the Ford engine with a bigger Garrett T3 turbocharger, producing 190 PS (140 kW).

[30] Intended as the 25th anniversary special, the J25 used the nose and doors from the D20 with modernized styling and was the first Donkervoort to develop 270 hp (200 kW).

In September 2014, the Donkervoort D8 GTO broke the lap record at the German Bilster Berg Drive Resort.

To celebrate this milestone – along with the opening of a Donkervoort subsidiary at that same location that year, Donkervoort introduced the Bilster Berg Edition, which was based on the record-breaking test car and built in a limited series of just 14 cars, a number that represented the successful year 2014.

Weight has been reduced by 22 kg (49 lb) compared to the conventional GTO through the use of carbon fibre sandwich panels (branded and patented by Donkervoort as EX-CORE) and an optimized steel tubular chassis.

[34] The JD70 R is a track-tuned edition with racing-specific improvements, and Donkervoort includes driver coaching and data analysis services with the purchase of the car.