Vector M12: Rare American Supercar Powered by Lamborghini V12

Turbo Legacy - When people talk about supercars, names like Ferrari, Lamborghini, or McLaren often dominate the conversation. But the dream of building a world-class supercar wasn’t confined to Europe. Back in the early 1970s, an ambitious young American named Jerry Wiegert set out to prove that the United States could build a machine just as exotic, powerful, and desirable. 

The Vector M12, loosely based on the WX-3, was powered by a version of the Lamborghini Diablo's V12 engine and became the first model produced under MegaTech's new management in 1996. (Picture from: RMSothebys)

That dream eventually became reality—albeit with plenty of twists and turns—culminating in one of the most intriguing cars ever produced: the Vector M12. It all began in 1971 when Jerry Wiegert teamed up with Lee Brown, a skilled auto body expert, to form a company they called Vehicle Design Force. Their goal? Create the first true American supercar. Just a year later, their striking Vector concept landed on the cover of Motortrend magazine, putting their bold vision in the spotlight. 

The Vector M12 fused Vector’s bold, wedge-shaped design with the proven performance of Italian engineering. (Picture from: RMSothebys)

But bold ideas come with bold price tags—the early projections for the Vector's production cost hovered around $100,000, while a brand-new Lamborghini Miura at the time sold for just $20,000. That massive price gap made it tough for the small California-based startup to gain traction. Wiegert's passion never wavered, but his journey through the supercar world was anything but smooth.

The Vector M12's interior was also based on the Diablo, resulting in the removal of the aircraft-inspired features that had made the W8 iconic. (Picture from: RMSothebys)

By the mid-1990s, the original Vector dream had come crashing down, overtaken by corporate maneuvering and international power plays. The company, now under the control of MegaTech—a firm owned by the son of an Indonesian ruler—shifted its base of operations to Florida and took a new direction. Yet, out of all this chaos emerged the Vector M12, the first model produced under the new management.

The Vector M12 was powered by a mid-mounted Lamborghini V12 engine—the same one used in the Diablo—making it a true American-Italian hybrid. (Picture from: RMSothebys)

Though the M12 looked every bit a continuation of Wiegert’s futuristic designs, its DNA had shifted. It was born from the Vector WX-3 Concept that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993. That prototype used Vector’s homegrown 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. But once MegaTech took over in 1994, the plan pivoted. Rather than sticking with Vector's in-house powerplants, the M12 adopted a more international flavor—specifically, a mid-mounted Lamborghini V12 engine, the same used in the Diablo, making this new creation a true American-Italian hybrid.

The Vector M12's rear end, which housed the massive powertrain, was overly long, giving the car a futuristic pickup-like appearance with an aggressive tonneau cover and a large spoiler mounted on top. (Picture from: RMSothebys)

Revealed in production form at the 1996 Detroit Auto Show, the M12 combined Vector’s aggressive, wedge-shaped styling with the proven performance of Italian engineering. It shared its chassis with the Diablo, but MegaTech fine-tuned the body and interior, blending Lamborghini components with Vector’s vision. The result was a 500-horsepower beast that could hit 60 mph in under five seconds—impressive by any standard, especially for the time.

The Vector M12 saw a total of only 14 cars sold, with an additional 3 prototypes—including a race car—built before production ended in 1999. (Picture from: RMSothebys)

Still, the M12’s story is about more than speed. It was a car born from drama, built with international parts, and shaped by a deep desire to challenge the automotive elite. Even though only 17 were ever made—14 of them true production models—each one tells a story of what might have been. Among them, one car stands out: the fifth M12 ever built, finished in a striking purple shade, with only 6,000 miles on the clock. It's not just a collector's item; it’s a piece of automotive folklore. | Im0OaGJVWHk | GWJvOQuN7p8 |

Today, the Vector M12 is more than a rare machine. It’s a rolling reminder of one man’s vision to shake up an industry, the global forces that shaped its destiny, and the passion that kept it alive, even against the odds. For those who get behind the wheel—or even just admire it from a distance—it’s a powerful symbol of ambition, perseverance, and the wild ride that comes with chasing a dream. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RMSOTHEBYS | AUTOEVOLUTION | CARBUZZ | WIKIPEDIA ]

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