America’s first ever 200mph supercar is a distant memory almost nobody remembers

You’d think that America’s first supercar would be the stuff of legends.

In a time when Europe was dominating the high-performance sphere, America produced a true competitor: the Vector W8.

Built from carbon fiber and Kevlar and able to exceed speeds of 200mph, the W8 was a force to be reckoned with.

Why, then, is its name barely mentioned when discussing supercar history?

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The Vector W8: America’s first supercar

In the 1970s, Jerry Wiegert, the founder of the Vector Aeromotive Corporation, dreamed up a futuristic supercar on the pages of his sketchbook, developing the Vector W2 prototype.

It took over a decade to secure funding for his project, with the first production model, the Vector W8, finally being released in 1989.

The Vector W8 could’ve been America’s second-ever supercar if the AMC AMX III hadn’t been canceled for no reason.

Its design was inspired by fighter jets, from its aerodynamic wedge shape to its cockpit-like interior that featured aircraft-style switches and buttons and a digital dashboard.

The car had a turbo-charged V8 that produced 625 horsepower, which was quite a feat at the time.

For comparison with other performance vehicles of the era, the Ferrari F40 had 471 horsepower, while the Lamborghini Diablo produced 485 horsepower.

The sci-fi-like car could race from 0-60mph in just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 218mph.

After severe production delays and financial issues, only 19 units were ever produced.

By the mid-90s, Wiegert’s finances were in ruins, and the supercar’s expected shot to fame came to a grinding halt.

A forgotten hero in the automotive hall of fame

The Lamborghini Miura is well-known as the world’s first supercar, and a Nigerian man is on the verge of making history by producing the country’s first supercar.

So why did the Vector W8, with all the makings of an icon for the ages, end up forgotten?

Ultimately, the exotic looks and impressive specs of the W8 were overshadowed by issues.

Initially promised to the public in 1985, the first units were only produced in 1989.

During the delayed production process, problems with the car’s quality became apparent, such as its engine being prone to overheating.

Additionally, the vehicle was not marketed well, with the failing company unable to keep up with the flashy ads produced by competitors at the time.

Its price tag didn’t help either, costing over $450,000, which is around $1 million today.

In 1991, tennis star Andre Agassi’s Vector W8 made headlines after he requested a refund when the overheating exhaust burned the rear carpets.

So much for any press is good press.

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