1993 Vector WX-3

Automobile manufacturers that are new to the industry are known for going in unexplored directions; some improve upon ideas, but few get off the ground. One such fledgling company that boldly decided to contest the supercar market was initially dubbed Vehicle Design Force. It was Jerry Wiegert's first major foray with automobiles after graduating from California's Art Center College of Design, and his approach was to blend Detroit componentry, West Coast style and individualism, and European flair into his supercars.

From humble beginnings, Wiegert worked out of a small warehouse in Los Angeles' Venice neighborhood when he conceived and designed the W2 prototype in the late 1970s. It was distinguished by its angular design with a sloping hood that flowed gracefully into a steeply-raked windshield. Motivation was courtesy of a twin-turbo General Motors-sourced 350 cubic-inch V8 engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission.

In 1976, the first example in non-running prototype guise was shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The purpose was to display his engineering prowess and to generate financial support for a production-intent model that would later be known as the Vector W8.

The Vector W8

The Vector Aeromotive Corporation produced the exclusive W8 sports car from 1989 to 1993, with just 22 examples built. Designed by Wiegert, its mechanical componentry was overseen by Vector's head of engineering, David Kostka. Like the W2 prototype, the W8 had a futuristic, wedge-shaped, aerodynamic design with styling elements inspired by the Alfa Romeo Carabo. The two-door coupe had scissor doors, and pop-up headlights,

During its production lifespan, subtle changes were made to the body, including a lower front fascia and air splitter, adjustments of the rear wing, and the removal of some gills. Top speed testing revealed that the removable glass roof caused buffeting at extreme speeds. Thus, production W8s did not have this feature.

Mechanical Specificaiton
To compete with supercars of the era, the W8 would have to employ advanced construction methods, futuristic materials, and proven componentry. Over 5,000 aircraft specification rivets were used in the car's assembly, and its body was formed of lightweight carbon fiber and Kevlar. The semi-aluminum monocoque chassis was epoxy bonded and riveted with an aluminum honeycomb structure floor pan.

The compact dimensions included a 103-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 172 inches, a generous width of 76 inches, and a meager height of 42.5 inches.

The suspension was a double A-arms setup at the front with a DeDion tube at the rear, located by four trailing arms that reached all the way forward to the firewall. Koni adjustable shocks were located at all four corners. The Michelin XGT Plus tires measured 255/45ZR-16 at the front and 315/40ZR-16 at the rear. The ventilated discs measured 13 inches and were complemented with Alcon aluminum 4-piston calipers.

The Engine and Transmission
A Rodeck aluminum resleevable 365 cubic-inch twin-turbocharged V8 engine had Carrillo stainless-steel connecting rods, stainless-steel valves, TRW forged pistons, a forged crank, roller rocker arms, and a dry-sump oiling system with three separate filters and braided stainless-steel hoses. It delivered 625 horsepower at 5,700 RPM and 649 lb-ft of torque at 4,900 on 8 psi of boost pressure.

The transmission was a three-speed General Motors Turbo-Hydramatic 425 automatic.

The Interior
The interior had wool carpeting and floor mats, leather and suede upholstery, and electrically adjustable Recaro leather seats. The cockpit-style dashboard displayed four display modes with information about the car's status, along with gauges that gave instant information and switches to control the car's functions.

Air conditioning was standard, but other items, such as power-assisted steering and anti-lock brakes, were excluded to reduce the curb weight.

Performance
Zero-to-sixty mph took about 3.9 seconds, and it had a projected top speed of 242 mph. Road & Track magazine recorded a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 4.2 seconds and projected the car to have an estimated top speed of 218 mph due to the redline RPM of the top gear in its 3-speed automatic transmission. Car and Driver recorded 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

It generated a skidpad acceleration of 0.97g, one of the highest of its era. Its drag coefficient was 0.32.

Among the Vector's most notable owners was tennis star Andre Agassi, who insisted on taking delivery of a car, said to be a pre-production model, before it was fully ready. Vector agreed to delivery if Agassi would keep the car in storage and not drive it until Vector adjusted the emissions to make it road-legal. When the rear carpeting burned due to an overly hot exhaust system, Agassi returned his car and demanded a refund.

The three W8 cars tested by Car and Driver in 1991 all broke down in different ways. The Road & Track car did not encounter any problems.

The intended successor of the W8 was the AWX-3 and AWX-3R, but series production never began due to a hostile takeover by the primary shareholder, Megatech. The 'AWX' represented Avtech Wiegert Experimental, the '3' was for the 3rd generation, and the 'R' meant it was a roadster.

Vector WX-3

The Avtech WX-3 prototype was shown at the 1992 Geneva Motor Show, previewing the company's next planned production car. Its carbon fiber and Kevlar body wore a silver paint scheme and it was devoid of a powertrain. The streamlined and aerodynamic design had an impossibly raked (nearly flat) windshield, pop-up headlights, and a curved front profile. There was a three-abreast bench configuration with the seating position of the driver positioned slightly towards the center of the car.

After the Geneva Motor Show, the WX-3 would return to the Vector stand in 1993, this time with a twin-turbocharged Rodeck 7.0 liter V8 engine installed behind the passenger compartment and offering 1000 horsepower. This was the only Vector to receive the 7.0-liter twin-turbo engine. It wore a Brilliant Aquamarine paint scheme in an apparent nod to Wiegert's Aquajet jet-ski company logo.

The sister car - a roadster - was also shown at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show but powered by a conventional powerplant as the earlier W8 model.

Weigert retained the WX-3 vehicles during the takeover proceedings and remained with him until 2019. After they entered into private collector ownership, the coupe was given nearly $300,000 of restoration work. The work included restoring many mechanical aspects of the car, along with installing an interior to match the original colors.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023