Forgotten ONES There are so many great four-wheeled vehicles that have been made but haven't had the luck to make them then put on the production line, so then they quickly be forgotten. Among them there are several great supercars made by an American manufacturer called Vector Motors which we will discuss on this occasion.
The four supercars of Vector Motors Corporation consisting of the Vector M-12 (front), Vector Avtech WX-3 (left), Vector Avtech WX-3R (right), and Vector W-8 (far above). (Picture from: VectorFiles)
Although there's a common thought that says the only proper to be said as the American supercar is the Corvette. However, this assumption is not one hundred percent true, because in fact there are many more supercars that have been made by another American manufacturers, as we could not named them one by one due to they're too many. One of them is the automotive company which was originally an automotive design house called Vehicle Design Force founded by Gerald 'Jerry' Wiegert in 1971.
The first supercars of Vector Motors Corporation named Vector W-2 debuted back in the 1977. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
This American automobile company originally based in Wilmington, California later changed its name to Vector Aeromotive in the 1977. As quoted of Wikipedia, altogether around 50 Vector sports car models were developed and produced during the 1980s and 1990s including some racing versions mostly built using American made components. Nearly every car produced by the company is designated the letter "W" (for Wiegert) and a number. A letter "X" after the W (e.g. WX-8) signifies a prototype unit.
Vector W-2 prototype is powered by a twin-turbocharged Chevrolet V8 with 5,700 liters coupled with GM's THM 425 3-speed automatic transmission. (Picture from: Autozine)
The company known launched its first supercar named Vector W2 in the same year. The W2's powertrain is a fascinating feature, it was a twin-turbocharged Chevrolet V8 with 5,700 liters coupled with GM's THM 425 3-speed automatic transmission, and claimed to have a power over 600 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. At the time the company claimed the car could reached top speed of 230 mph (370 kph).
Vector Motors Corporation released the first production-ready W2 in 1989, later changed the name to Vector W8. (Picture from: Autozine)
However, due to the global economy, everything went wrong. Wiegert struggled to turn the W2 prototype into a viable concept car. However, he finally created a fully-functional W2 after a highly successful launch and much publicity, including exhibitions at international vehicle events, articles in major automotive publications, and funding from other sources.
Vector W8 is powered by 6.0-liter Rodeck twin-turbocharged V8 that produced 625 horsepower. (Picture from: Autozine)
The California-based automaker released the first production-ready W2 in 1989; however, the name changed to Vector W8. It was an improved model with a larger 6.0-liter Rodeck twin-turbocharged V8 that produced 625 horsepower. Unfortunately, the gearbox remained the same, GM's THM 425 3-speed automatic. A total of 17 Vector W8 cars were built for public sale at a price of more than $450,000 each.
Vector Motors Corporation shown its Vector WX-3R (left) and Vector WX-3 (right) at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show. (Picture from: Petrolicious)
And then Wiegert turned his attentions to the W8’s successor, the Vector WX-3. Like the W8, it featured an aluminum honeycomb structure floorpan and carbon fiber and Kevlar bodywork was shown for first time in silver at the 1992 Geneva Motor Show.
Vector WX-3 featured with an aluminum honeycomb structure floorpan and carbon fiber and Kevlar bodywork was shown for first time in silver at the 1992 Geneva Motor Show. (Picture from: TopSpeed)
Later it further developed for the following year’s show with a variable boost twin-turbo Rodeck 7.0-liter, 1,000 bhp V8, while its transmission was a modified General Motors Turbo-Hydramatic 425 transmission. The car also repainted in Brilliant Aquamarine and was joined on the 1993 Geneva stand with the open-top purple Vector WX-3R (for Roadster).
Vector WX-3R (roadseter version) shared all mechanical compnents from Its sibling WX-3 Coupe. (Picture from: GTSupreme)
In short, then in 1993 this company was acquired by Megatech which then moved its production base to Green Cove Springs, Florida. At that time the company then launched the Vector M12 was loosely built based on the WX-3 but powered by a version of the Lamborghini Diablo's V12 engine. Consequently, some work on the M12 was handled by Lamborghini. As such, many of the essentially American "spirit" characteristics of previous editions did not carry over to the M12.
Vector M12 was loosely built based on the WX-3 but powered by a version of the Lamborghini Diablo's V12 engine. (Picture from: Road&Track)
The car was first introduced to public at the 1996 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where Vector displayed two cars. Production was shuttered late in 1996 when the $189,000 cars did not meet projected sales targets. Production resumed after MegaTech sold off Lamborghini (to Audi) and Vector (to management), by early 1999, only 14 M12s were produced.
Vector SRV8 went back the company to its roots by using a modified 5.7 liter LT1 Corvette engine coupled with Borgwarner gearbox. (Picture from: GTSupreme)
Vector reduced the production cost of the M12 by creating the Vector SRV8. This new model went back to its American roots, and powered by a modified 5.7 liter LT1 Corvette engine coupled with Borgwarner gearbox. Although, within days of the car's first public appearance, Vector shut its doors with only one prototype was produced.
Gerald Wiegert's last project, the ultra sleek, super secret (until now) Vector WX-8 at a hidden location somewhere near the World Port of Los Angeles. (Picture from: BaronCapital)
After the remains of Vector Aeromotive were sold to American Aeromotive, Jerry Wiegert took back the assets of Vector and changed the company name from Avtech Motors to Vector Supercars, then finally to Vector Motors. Then the company developed new supercars named Vector WX-8. The supercar prototype was first unveiled at the 2007 LA Auto Show, revealing the development and the company's ambitious intentions of creating a next generation sports car successor to their previous models.
The Vector WX-8 sports car prototype posed along with the late Gerald Wiegert. (Picture from: Art&Living)
The company claimed the WX-8 may achieve a top speed of 270 mph (430 kph) and a zero-to-60 mph time as low as 2.3 seconds for the version of the car equipped with a 10-liter turbocharged engine. This engine was described variously on the company's website as being capable of "1800+ HP", "1850+ HP", and "over 1250 horsepower". As of August 2018, Vector Motors reportedly was still actively developing the vehicle.It was reported that the company seeks to sell two Vector WX-3 prototypes for US$3.5 million to secure further funding of development operations.
Furthermore Vector's website announced the WX-8 will be equipped with a choice of two potential engines, ie a 10.0 liter big-block V-8 or an electric/hybrid 7.0 liter small-block V-8. The car was not complete by the time of Wiegert's death in early 2021, with an incomplete prototype model sitting on Wiegert's driveway.😢 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | PETROLICIOUS | SUPERCARS.NET | HOTCARS | GTSUPREME | ART&LIVING | ROAD&TRACK | TOPSPEED ]
The company claimed the WX-8 may achieve a top speed of 270 mph (430 kph) and a zero-to-60 mph time as low as 2.3 seconds for the version of the car equipped with a 10-liter turbocharged engine. This engine was described variously on the company's website as being capable of "1800+ HP", "1850+ HP", and "over 1250 horsepower". As of August 2018, Vector Motors reportedly was still actively developing the vehicle.It was reported that the company seeks to sell two Vector WX-3 prototypes for US$3.5 million to secure further funding of development operations. 
