If you made $$$ in the '80s and a Delorean didn't fit

[ZAMIRZ]

the bill, you might've considered one of these rolling pieces of garbage

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6472&item=4527313732&rd=1

The Gemballa Avalanche is as graceful as a pre-war benz compared to this thing.

[widebody911]

I thought the Vector was supposed to be the exotic car shiznit at the time, with all kinds of aerospace goodies and whatnot.

[azasadny]

Incredibly ugly!!!

[PCA 944]

If my Grand Turismo memories serve me well... I thought the Vector was an exotic supercar created by Japan. Who created the Vector W8, and why the hell would anyone pay over 100 grand for it when you could by a Porsche 928 V-8?

[mikes72t]

I am pretty sure it was made in Florida. If you look at the picture that shows the VIN, its first digit is a "1" which means country of manufature is the US. I didn't realize they ever made any that they could sell. One of the biggest reasons for the cost being so high was all of the crsh testing that had to be done to prove the car was safe, since as I recall he wasn't basing his car on anything else like the Ruf uses a Porsche whitebody.

Neat but they are other things that I would spend my money on, if I had any extra.

Where would you take that thingto be serviced?

Mike

[Eagle Keeper]

I think it could use a few more buttons on the dash!!

[ErVikingo]

I believe the first ones were made in Cali but later on (with the M12) they moved production to Florida. On the W8 they used a 6 liter supercharged engine and helicopter display and switchpanels. The later car used a Lambo V12.

Jerry Weigart was the designer/builder. OTT but in an era when Porsches and Ferraris were common, .....

[white87911]

I would rather walk before I would drive this car someplace where people could see mee!

[Serge914]

This is a piece of art. Just look at that triple blade wiper and those fakes sidepods. Too bad it is automatic.

[ErVikingo]

If I remember corectly the story with the Auto box was that he could not find a manual that could handle the torque.

I confess, I had a poster of this car on a wall next to a Countach and a 930 Slant when I was in college........

[BGCarrera32]

Originally posted by ErVikingo
I believe the first ones were made in Cali but later on (with the M12) they moved production to Florida. On the W8 they used a 6 liter supercharged engine and helicopter display and switchpanels. The later car used a Lambo V12.

Jerry Weigart was the designer/builder. OTT but in an era when Porsches and Ferraris were common, .....

Gerald Wiegert was a pretty bright guy but more industrial designer than businessman. He was also as rumor has it pretty difficult to get along with (wanted it his way). A variety of financial issues with the Vector unraveled on him and the company was forcefully bought by another company (who's name I can't recall) and was moved to Florida. The next generation of the W8 I think had marginal success because by this time it was tarnished goods...

The 1993 movie "Rising Sun" with Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes features a short car chase with the Vector running flat out and ultimately ending in an explosive crash. Pretty much reflective of the whole Vector endeavor...

[Eric 951]

BGC is correct.

Notice also that the auto shifetr is on the left side of the driver, between the seat and door.

Weigart was very into the aeronautical engineering aspect--hence all the flight-type controls. The Vector photos and press kit were circulating for about 2 years before any production models hit the streets--supposedly because of Weigarts' perfectionism(although this was often called obsessiveness by his critics). When some were finally delivered(one to Andre Aggassi) they had all kinds of fit and finish problems, overheating, melting soundproofing, etc. It was about this time that the majority of the company was purchased by the foreign conglomerate that at the time also owned Lamborghini, and another high-end exotic--can't think of right now(they were a group of Saudis I think). Then Weigart and them clashed--with him once locking up the production facility and the inventory--of course he lost the legal battle and everything was sent to FL--where they used the Lambo V12 as a powerplant--becasue of the availability of the owners' group. In the early 90's all Weigart had left was the empty warehouse/office and had plans of making some type of "water bike"--which I have never heard of since.

Weigart also owned a 911 prior to him wanting to develop the Vector.

Personally--I sort of like the Vector.

[Sarc]

I recall Andre Agassi had one until it caught fire on him.