The real story behind the failed American supercar Vector W8 is a tale of what could have been
- The Vector W8 was one of the first American supercars
- Unfortunately, its success was the reason for its downfall
- According to the automaker, it was even faster than a Ferrari F40
Published on Oct 20, 2024 at 3:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Oct 18, 2024 at 4:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The Vector W8 is an important piece of American supercar history.
Although it was never as popular as Ferrari or Lamborghini, it still created quite a name for itself.
This American supercar was built by Vector Aeromotive brand under the supervision of Jerry Wiegert, the founder of the company.
However, its success was the very cause of its failure.
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Vector W8
In 1971, Wiegert drew some concept sketches for what would be known as the Vector W2.
The W2 was a prototype car without a running gear or an interior.
After that, throughout the 1980s, Wiegert tried relentlessly to procure funding for the supercar.
However, it was only by the end of 1990 that the first Vector W8 was officially ready for delivery.
The supercar came well-equipped with many advanced features like a climate control system, a Sony stereo, a high-quality interior, and power windows.
Unfortunately, this also led to the supercar being extremely expensive.
Failed American supercar
The first production model itself cost a whopping around half a million dollars.
And as you can expect, Vector went bankrupt in 1993.
In the three years the car was in production, Wiegert was only able to make under 20 examples.
However, some might say its price was justified, as the W8 claimed to be even faster than the Ferrari F40.
The manufacturer claimed that the Vector W8 had a top speed of 242mph and reached 0-60mph in just 3.9 seconds.
However, these numbers were never confirmed since all three cars that were sent for testing had mechanical issues.
But it wasn’t the only American supercar to challenge the European automakers.
The Vector Avtech WX-3 was another futuristic supercar that challenged Europe’s finest car brands with its advanced design and incredible performance.
Then there’s also the AMC AMX III, which could’ve been the first American supercar if it had ever been released.
Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
