Vector Motors Corporation

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Vector Motors Corporation

logo
legal form Private
founding 1978
Seat 400 N. Marine Ave., Wilmington , California , 90744, USA
management Gerald Wiegert , CEO
Branch Automobile manufacturer

The Vector Motors Corporation is an American sports car manufacturer , but now changed several times, which was launched in 1978 as a result of repeated financial problems the owner and the company has changed. The original Vehicle Design Force went back to Gerald Wiegert and Lee Brown; The latter was the owner of Precision Auto Inc. in California at the time. Wiegert was responsible for the design, Brown for technical questions. Brown withdrew from the Vehicle Design Force after the first prototype was presented, and Wiegert continued on his own. The Vector vehicles were all made by hand and were either prototypes, one-offs or small-series models. Overall, fewer than 40 vehicles were produced over the years and across all model series, and around 30 of them were sold. All privately owned Vector still exist.

background

Vector prototype from 1979. The later W2 was created from this car.

The history of the Vector began in the early 1970s: Gerald “Jerry” Wiegert, a trained technical draftsman who completed his training at General Motors and had left the company during a dispute, wanted to build a purely American sports car that was manufactured entirely in the USA and should only use components built there. The car, which Wiegert called the “ Starfighter for the street”, was supposed to be faster and better than all American vehicles and also outperform European sports cars. In line with this intention, Wiegert demonstratively used aviation terminology at his company and later also in Vector publications.

The prototype of the Vector appeared repeatedly in various specialist magazines and reports for over a decade. Despite regular media coverage, the project was not an economic success. The media presence of the Vector W2 meant that the name Vector was usually only associated with this single vehicle. This is why people often do not speak of "a" Vector, but of "the" Vector.

The technology of the Vector

Vector W2, 1983
In 1984 Wiegert painted the car silver. You can clearly see the changed arrangement of the rear lights, which was retained in this form until the last W8. The picture shows the company's headquarters in the Wilmington industrial park. Wiegert still works in this building today, but the “Vector” lettering has been replaced by the Aquajet logo.

Chassis and body

In contrast to many other sports cars, the Vector did not have a self-supporting body. Instead it rested on a tubular frame made of chrome molybdenum steel, which was clad with high-strength aluminum panels and also served as a roll cage. This made the car extremely rigid. The connection between the tubular frame and the monocoque element was made by epoxy resins and stainless steel rivets, the floor of the passenger cell was a stable and torsion-resistant honeycomb structure made of aluminum. The entire chassis unit weighed 160 kilograms, the body attached to it, made of plastic reinforced with carbon (“carbon”) and aramid fibers (“Kevlar”), 45 kilograms. The underbody was consistently smooth. However, this meant that the Vector, especially the W8 series, was very light at high speeds on the front axle and the maximum possible speed was hardly achievable due to the lack of grip. In later models, the aerodynamic properties of the underbody were changed to improve traction.

Engine and power transmission

The engine was a Donovan V8 based on the Chevrolet 5.7-liter small-block in both pick-ups and the Corvette was used and Wiegert with a water-cooled twin turbocharger of the type H3 by Garrett AiResearch equipped has been. The engine block was machined by IMSA outfitter Rodeck, the cylinder heads were custom-made by Brownfield and crankshafts , connecting rods and pistons were forged by the racing supplier Carillo.

There are different details about the engine power. Wiegert claimed that the engine had up to 1500 hp, but tests by various specialist magazines did not confirm this value. After that, the engine output was between 450 and 600 hp; the torque was 846 Nm. According to the factory, the top speed was 389 km / h, which temporarily earned the Vector an entry in the Guinness Book of Records . Again, there was no independent confirmation. A maximum speed of 290 to 300 km / h was reached in various tests. One test in Europe did not materialize: In a comparison test organized by the German importer Auto Becker on September 30, 1981 at Cologne Airport, in which the Vector against a De Tomaso Pantera , a Ferrari 512 BB, a Lamborghini Countach S and a Porsche 930 Turbo were to compete, it stopped in the engine compartment after a fire caused by a cable fire. The test was never repeated.

Initially, a three-speed automatic transmission was used as power transmission, which could optionally also be operated manually. In W2 it was arranged to the left of the driver. The later M12, on the other hand, had a conventional gearbox with a centrally arranged, open shift gate.

Although the W8 in particular struggled with engine and transmission problems, the W2 covered well over 100,000 miles between 1978 and 1990 (40,000 of them by 1981 alone). Despite everything, this makes it the most reliable and everyday concept car to date.

Design and interior

Cockpit view of the W8. The multifunction display is clearly visible to the left of the steering wheel.

Wiegert described the design of the Vector as unique, but conceptually it followed the pattern of Italian mid-engine sports cars that has been common since the late 1960s. In particular, the scissor doors that swiveled upwards were reminiscent of the Lamborghini Countach .

Smooth surfaces dominate the cockpit. In the W2 there was no center tunnel due to the lateral arrangement of the transmission. The space gained opened up the possibility of equipping the car with a third seat in the middle. This option was offered for the W8 at an extra charge of $ 5950, but was not actually implemented on any of the models.

The Vector was equipped with complex electronics. A so-called heads-up display , which projected the most important data from the inside onto the windshield in the driver's field of vision, was conceptually reminiscent of aircraft. However, the system only worked theoretically in the W2; the driver could only use this system in the W8. Due to an advertising contract with Blaupunkt , the W2 was equipped with over a dozen loudspeakers, but it can be proven that not all of them were connected. Instead of an ignition lock, the car was started by entering a number code. The keyboard was located to the left of the driver in the recess of the automatic selector lever. Many of the cockpit components used in the later W8 came from American military stocks: some of the built-in parts come from an F-16 from General Dynamics , the adjustable air nozzles and pressure safety devices were supplied by Northrop Corporation - these are also used in the F / A-18 . The multifunction display, which is located in the W8 cockpit to the left of the steering column, originally comes from an M1 Abrams battle tank. The electrically adjustable Recaro seats were also exclusive.

The beginnings, from the concept to the W2

One of the first test shots of the Vector. At this stage the exterior mirrors were still "exterior" mirrors (even on the roof). They were later placed on the inside of the panes.

The first prototype of the Vector could already be seen in 1972 at the LA Motorshow, in April of the same year the design sketch was shown on the cover of the US American magazine "Motor Trend". At that time there was no type designation, nor was there an engine or chassis, the car was a pure design study. Wiegert and Brown's ideas for later engine equipment had the following key data: 2 liter displacement, 4 cylinders, around 250 hp and a top speed of around 270 km / h. The planned sales price should be $ 7,500. Wiegert originally intended to build a down-to-earth and affordable two-seater sports car. The background was that the Vector should actually be much cheaper than the Corvette . Wiegert had already made the basic technical drawings when he was still working for General Motors - but they didn't want to know anything about his concept. Wiegert, who at the time was a staunch Porsche driver (one of the reasons why he was not the most popular at GM), had apparently even toyed with the idea of ​​using a Porsche engine on a temporary basis. This is clear from the design sketches of the time.

About four years later, the first rough version of the sports car now called W2 was ready. The pure design study had turned into a "white, aggressively drawn automotive monster that made all the competition pale even while it was still standing," said Helmut Becker, former owner of the Auto Becker car dealership in Düsseldorf. The designation "W2" came about quite simply: "W" for Wiegert, "2" for the twin turbochargers used. In 1978 the car was finally ready to drive, and Wiegert founded the "Vehicle Design Force" with the aim of further developing the Vector into a production vehicle. In the meantime, however, the performance figures of the Vector had increased significantly - in the meantime Wiegert spoke of 600 hp, a price of $ 50,000 (at that time a price range in which only the most exclusive vehicles were available for purchase), 500 units built per year and the Participation in the 24 hours of both Le Mans and Daytona . In addition, the rumor mill was seething: For example, it was said that Wiegert had completed his training as a technical draftsman at NASA and was already drawing the plans for the Vector there, or that anyone interested in buying had to present a valid racing license first, because otherwise they would not buy the Vector at all may. Of course, none of these rumors were true, but they contributed to the myth of the unearthly super sports car that has always accompanied the Vector. At a time when information was scarce, such rumors quickly developed a life of their own, and so much of this misinformation and misinterpretation was accepted as fact and printed in various magazines without being checked. In the following ten years, there were sporadic reports about the W2, but none was actually delivered - and there was a reason: Although one could assume from the various reports and photos that there were several W2s, this appearance is deceptive. Wiegert had only built two Vector W2s, the first of which was completely dismantled in an accident during a test drive.

The other was repainted several times (silver, black, red) and modified again and again (different or no spoiler and various sills) and photographed in all reports and tests. On September 23, 1983 the Bild newspaper described the Vector as "the most expensive car in the world" , which was sold directly at the IAA for 500,000 DM by Helmut Becker ("Auto Becker"). The corresponding sales contract actually came about. However, the purchase was never fully completed. The car was later still in Wiegert's private possession.

The start of series, from the W8 to the WX-3

Vector W8 Twin Turbo from 1992; exhibited in the Auto-Technik-Museum Sinsheim . This Vector (chassis number 1V9VW2623NW048007) was sold on October 27, 2010 through RM Auctions for £ 179,200
Side view of the W8 in Sinsheim

In 1987 the company was renamed Vector Aeromotive Corporation. A year later Wiegert managed to win Blinder, Robinson & Co., Inc. in Englewood, Colorado as a partner for its IPO and received a financial injection of six million US dollars (10% of which was commission from Blinder, Robinson & Co . remained). In September 1990, the first Vector that actually went into production was finally presented at the New York Auto Show: the Vector W8 Twin Turbo. In 1990 and 1991 3 cars each were built (the fifth W8 produced was also featured in the film " The Cradle of the Sun "), in 1992 9 more W8 Twin Turbo cars were produced, the last two series vehicles and five unfinished cars in the spring of 1993 So 19 W8 Twin Turbo produced, 17 customer and two pre-series vehicles, which visually corresponded in all details to the W8. Because, even if you couldn't necessarily see it at first glance, the W8 differed significantly from the W2: The huge rear wing of the W2 (from the early eighties) was replaced by a more discreet and flatter spoiler, the vehicle now had side skirts and a modified front lip. The design of the rear section was greatly changed by specially developed tail lights, and the front section no longer had the typical headlights hidden behind lamellar covers that had been the defining main feature of the Vector nose for years. Instead, the slats were replaced by two retractable plates that slid down electrically operated as soon as the light was switched on. Wiegert thus returned to the first W2 version, which also had these plates, albeit not voluntarily: The American licensing authority now banned covers in front of the headlights of the main headlights in new vehicles, and even though this originally meant in particular plexiglass covers, they also dropped the slats of the Vector are subject to this ban. The interior was completely lined with leather (in the case of the world's only yellow Vector W8, by the way, with ostrich leather), and the Vector now had real exterior mirrors that nestled aerodynamically against the body. The "outside" mirrors of the W2 were mounted on the inside of the doors and set at an angle that would allow the driver to see outside through the side windows. The fact that this construction method was not sufficient for Wiegert itself led to the fact that a rear view camera was planned for the W2 (but never implemented), but for the W8 it was optionally available in 1990 for $ 3900. Furthermore, Wiegert had put the Vector on specially made for this vehicle in the format 9.5 J x 16 (front) and 12 J x 16 (rear), while the W2 had to be content with 15 " Countach rims before it was later fitted with Centerline rims, which are also used in dragster races. The W8 is now fitted with Michelin XGT tires measuring 255/45 at the front and 315/40 at the rear. The prototype, known as W2 in 1989, exists still today in badly damaged condition and is in Gerald Wiegert's private property.

The European premiere of the W8 took place in 1991 during the Geneva Motor Show on the PalExpo site and, as expected, the car became a crowd puller. In Hong Kong, too, where it was presented at "Money 91", the "high-tech weapon for the street" (as the official description in the trade fair guide is) received praise and recognition. As at the IAA in Frankfurt at the time, the vehicle on display was sold during the fair (for almost $ 400,000), but in contrast to the W2 at the time, this purchase was made later and the vehicle was sold through the "Garage Sea Side Corporation" based in Yokohama was actually extradited to Hong Kong on October 1, 1991. The model exhibited in Geneva is also still in the possession of the then Swiss buyer and is the only W8 registered in Europe (apart from the W8 in the Sinsheim Museum).

The first owner of a W8 Twin Turbo was the car collector Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia, who had to wait ten long years for his dream car: the purchase contract was signed as early as 1980. Another prominent buyer was the tennis professional Andre Agassi in 1991 , who bought the car with the chassis number "005". However, this car suffered from engine overheating and a number of other problems. However, Agassi, who was 21 at the time, was not entirely innocent of the fact that at least this car was not one hundred percent fully developed - he insisted that Wiegert deliver his car on April 29th (Agassi's birthday), even though he was informed several times that that is not feasible in terms of time or technology. In protest, Wiegert gave in and handed over the car unfinished - possibly he did not want to alienate future prominent customers. He achieved exactly the opposite and made statements like: "Build me a car that I can get out of the garage without the risk of explosion, then I'll buy it!" shaped the lasting image of the "unfinished, unreliable super-bolide" , as it was called by "Hollywood Insider". His cars never really got rid of this reputation - unjustifiably. Because compared to other super sports cars, the Vector was an extremely sophisticated vehicle. Especially in relation to the number of pieces produced, the technical defects are hardly worth mentioning. European, especially Italian sports cars of that time, which were produced in significantly higher numbers, were many times more prone to defects. It is probably more because of Wiegert's corporate policy itself that the reputation of the crisis-ridden company rubbed off on the car. The fact is that all Vectors sold today (2008) are still ready to drive. In 1991 the Vector W8 was finally certified by the EPA (" Environmental Protection Agency ") and was thus the most powerful street-legal vehicle ever to receive this award, which is necessary to be able to register a series vehicle in the USA. This is particularly noteworthy because it is normally issued for mass-produced vehicles. The fact that Wiegert received this certification for a car that had not yet been built ten times at this point in time clearly indicates that the W8 was anything but a fault-prone exotic, but in fact a mature product that met the high requirements that were required by the EPA, with flying colors. In addition, the Vector W8 was the only vehicle to date that had passed the strict American safety tests of the DOT (" Department of Transportation ") with regard to front and rear impact safety with the use of just a single chassis without complaints or rework. Wiegert himself commented on this in 1992 with the words: "Safety is more important than speed, and on this issue, I allow no compromise." After the car 005 had been repaired, Wiegert no longer delivered the car to Agassi, but sold it elsewhere. The vehicle is now in Florida.

Another equally prominent owner is the 73-year-old John W. Dick, then owner and chairman of the Hooper company, which manufactures exclusive bodywork for Rolls-Royce . In June 1989 he ordered the car with the ending number 007. The last three digits of the respective chassis numbers were not simply numbered consecutively. The chassis numbers 004 and 010 were not assigned, while the numbers 008 and 013 were assigned twice for different years. The last assigned chassis number is 018. The two prototypes PP-1 and PP-2 are not officially part of the W8 series.

Despite well-known, prominent and financially potent customers, Wiegert did not manage to steer the finances of his company into controlled channels, although the "Vector Aeromotive" was initially on the road to success: in 1990, just one year after the company went public, a securities broker certified of the Düsseldorf Blinder branch, the Vector shares have already increased in value by 25% compared to their cost price in the previous year. In the meantime, however, Wiegert had largely succeeded in getting the technical problems of the car under control - provided the car was treated with care. However, the overheating problem was never solved to the satisfaction of the customers in any of the series vehicles. In the meantime, the Vector W8 has been touted as a symbol of advanced vehicle technology and was even exhibited at the 1991 "Technology 2001" in San José, a NASA technology exhibition. In the course of this, the W8 was described in the official exhibition brochure with the words: "See America's most advanced automobile - THE VECTOR W8 TWIN TURBO!" and was shown in November 1991 on the cover of NASA's in-house magazine "NASA Techbriefs".

1992, on April 18, Wiegert presented the Avtech WX-3 at the "New York Auto Show" in the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York , which should be technically mature as the successor to the W8, the name Avtech being an abbreviation for "Aviation Aerospace Technology "( " Aerospace Technology " ) stood. Visually, it looked like a modernized and slightly rounded W8, because Wiegert had adopted enough style elements from the W8 to immediately identify the car as a Vector. In the official technical description of the WX-3 he says: "My intent was to capture the unique character and spirit of the Vector, not to clone either of the current models." which he has undoubtedly succeeded in doing. The only point of criticism, however, was the changed rear section, which no longer really wanted to fit this car. A Spider ("WX-3R") and a Coupé were realized for show purposes. Engines between 600 and over 1000 hp were planned again, but the car did not get beyond the exhibition vehicle stage. But Wiegert already had fixed price expectations: Since the production of the two cars had already swallowed up over a million dollars, the finished car should be available for $ 765,000. However, no buyers were found at this price. Instead, however, there were at least three further requests for a W8, which Wiegert was unable to comply with, as the production machines and in particular the body shapes of the W8 had already been sold. Today, their whereabouts are unknown, the only thing that is certain is that they were no longer used. Wiegert later lowered the targeted WX-3 sales price to $ 685,000, but without finding a buyer.

These two prototypes of the WX-3 were the last Vector to be produced in California. The six million dollars were enough to produce a total of 19 W8s and to keep the company afloat for a while, but the company's finances were able to with the enthusiasm and drive of Wiegert and his team, which consisted of at least 50 people at peak times, not keep up. The value of Vector shares fell rapidly. Once again, Vector Aeromotive was threatened with bankruptcy and would have had to close its doors for good without further help - although Wiegert had meanwhile had company capital of almost 14 million dollars. He owed this capital in part to several lawsuits he had won, including against the tire manufacturer "Goodyear", which had used the protected designation "Vector" for a tire series without authorization. Nevertheless, the company was heavily indebted, " Newsweek " even spoke of a total loss of 45 million dollars. At the beginning of 1993, Wiegert accused his finance and marketing managers of embezzling tens of millions of euros and of having sold company secrets and plans, but could not prove this in court. Instead, John Pope, then finance manager of Vector Aeromotive Corporation, managed to convince shareholders that Wiegert himself was the one who was driving the company into bankruptcy. He gave him the choice of either resigning as president and working as chief designer in the company he founded, or he would simply be fired. In the first court hearing on March 26, 1993, things looked good for Wiegert, as the court confirmed that his managers had no right to fire almost 20 of his employees without his knowledge (which happened behind his back when he presented the WX-3 in Geneva). But as early as September 1993 it was determined by a court that it was no longer Gerald Wiegert, but the shareholders who owned the company and that Wiegert's termination, which had meanwhile been issued, was legally binding. At this point in time came the offer of the Indonesian "MegaTech, Ltd.", which at that time belonged to Tommy Suarto, the son of the Indonesian president and millionaire Setiawan Djody, to take over the entire company, including production machines and the naming rights. Wiegert accused his former confidante of having initiated the " Indonesian deal " in order to force him out of his company. However, he could not prevent one or the other.

The new beginning, from the WX-3 to the WX-8

After the successful takeover by MegaTech, Ltd. In late 1992 / early 1993 the company moved to Jacksonville, Florida. The two WX-3 vehicles remained in Wiegert's private possession and were used by him, among other things, as an advertising medium for Aquajet , Wiegert's jet ski company. The silver Avtech WX-3 Coupé was repainted accordingly in blue by Wiegert (so the two vehicles were designed in Aquajet colors for advertising purposes) and finally offered on Ebay in 2004 for $ 199,000, but again without a buyer. On some of the official production photos of the current WX-8, the two WX-3s can be seen in the background in Wiegert's production halls.

As a result, Vector Aeromotive had the financial means through MegaTech, Ltd., but they actually had no vehicle, not even a prototype - but the company owned the production facility for the WX-3. Apparently, it was initially assumed that the WX-3 would be manufactured as a series vehicle with slight changes, because the (non-existent) car was simply renamed Avtech SC (since the naming rights to WX-3 were with Gerald Wiegert) and as the successor to the WX-3.

A short time later, MegaTech also took over the Lamborghini brand , which had previously belonged to Chrysler for 40 million dollars , and then presented the latest Vector at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 1996, which, albeit optically reminiscent of the WX-3, was a completely redesigned vehicle: the M12. The abbreviation was made up of the manufacturer and the number of cylinders (M for MegaTech, 12 cylinders - the abbreviation W8 was based on the same pattern before, after the twin turbochargers were still decisive for the designation of the W2). Since Wiegert was no longer involved in the decision-making process (the new man at the top was initially Robert Braner, the former Vice President of Vector Aeromotive Corporation, who now became President of the company. He later moved to Lamborghini as President. His successor at Vector was David Peter Rose, who originally came from the British manufacturer Lotus Cars ), and you could look around at MegaTech in their own ranks to find an engine with which you could finally eliminate the still lingering technical problems of the Vector Logically enough, the specialists at Lamborghini found what they were looking for and equipped the car with the Diablo's engine and Brembo brakes without further ado - which was also less expensive, because the engine was considered to be fully developed and met all emission guidelines without any further modifications.

Grudgingly, Wiegert had to realize that his dream of the “all american sportscar” was (for the time being) over and concentrated on his company Aquajet. He stayed in the business premises where he once founded the “Vehicle Design Force”. With the Italian twelve-cylinder unit, which compared to the production figures of the W8 can almost be described as a large-scale production engine, the Vector was far from the dizzying performance figures that Wiegert would have liked to see with his Vector, but finally the car worked largely problem-free. In addition, unlike its predecessors, the M12 had finally been tested in the wind tunnel, with the result that all air intakes were given a new design and the engine got more air, so that the annoying overheating problem that both the W8 and the WX -3 was typical, could eventually be eliminated. Barner (and later Rose) got well-known support to make the M12 a success: Ian Doble, who was now chief engineer at Vector, had previously worked on the Lotus Elan and the Corvette ZR-1, Jim Router, formerly responsible for the development of the McLaren F1 and the Jaguar XJR-15 , now dealt with the chassis and the suspension of the M12. The car was redesigned by the British Lotus designer Peter Stevens (who also worked on the McLaren F1) and Michael Santoro, who had recently drawn the Chrysler Cirrus and the Dodge Stratus . The two men were now responsible for the design of the interior and exterior of the new vehicle. The (visual) result largely corresponded to the WX-3, only the front was completely redesigned and now differed significantly from the design of the previous (WX-3) study, which was based on the original W2. Although the M12 was sold almost as often as the W8 (and that in significantly less time, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the more successful vehicle despite fewer models), the modified front was described several times and by various specialist magazines as an " optical disaster ". Apart from that, the new model had become significantly more reliable and customer-friendly, and the global trade press reacted enthusiastically, especially because the company's change in management now also placed emphasis on a balanced pricing policy. So the M12 had become a very affordable sports car based on the base price of DM 272,000 at the time - Rose banned all military and aerospace components from the vehicle and all of the military and aerospace components that had an image-bearing but ultimately no acceptable price-performance ratio replaced them with cheaper components: "In the W8, the door handles alone cost around 800 marks. Those of the M12 cost 20. We kept the automatic air conditioning and the front cross member from the predecessor. That's all." . He also replaced the three-speed automatic transmission that had been used until then with a manual five-speed gearbox. Of course, the Vector lost the image of the supernatural that Gerald Wiegert had built up from the start. In 1998, Jeremy Clarkson described the M12 in a test by the British magazine " BBC Top Gear " with the words: "Without wanting to be unnecessarily unfriendly, I have to say that the Vector M12 is very likely the worst car in the world. It is motorized dirt The most honest thing I can say about him is that he is very American. The interior smelled of gasoline and the ventilation was inoperative. On the road, the Vector was clumsy like a pig, I have a car that does not drive well never moved. The steering was as stiff as a photocopier and the brakes were barely noticeable. The finish corresponded exactly to that of a Reliant Scimitar from 1975. "

Nevertheless, it now initially looked as if both the company and the vehicle finally had an economic future, but despite the engine and financial problems resolved, the end came back in 1996 after only five vehicles had been produced - the company changed its priorities now also at MegaTech to the task of the further development of the Vector. Waldon Randall Welty, the new owner of the company, decided to sell the brand, although in 1995 annual sales of well over 200 vehicles were planned.

The M12 GT2 in racing

In 1997, a new investor was found with "Tradelink International Limited", and ten more M12s were produced at a unit price of $ 200,000 each, also with the proven Diablo engine. In 1998 Jon Lewis from the American Spirit Racing team (ASR for short) drove an M12, which was officially called the "M12 GT2", in the American "Professional Sports Car Series". He was eliminated three times in three races he had participated in. The car used had the serial end number 18 and was originally built as a certification vehicle for the EPA after the actual M12 production had already been discontinued. After the 1998 season, the Vector / Tradelink consortium bought the vehicle back from Team ASR. It was never used again in a race later, but was used as a development vehicle for the following SRV8.

In 1999 Vector presented the new SRV8, a further development of the M12 based on the ASR vehicle. Instead of the Lamborghini V12 engine, however, it was to get a US engine again, and a tuned Chevrolet V8 engine with 420 hp was installed. The SRV8 never went into series production, however, because in the same year Vector had to close its doors again for financial reasons: The company "American Aeromotive" took over the company, until shortly afterwards Gerald Wiegert himself took over the naming rights to the "Vector" and from the "American Aeromotive" made the "Vector Motors Corporation". He filled the most important positions from scratch, partly with his closest employees from "Aquajet".

Vector WX8 prototype at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

For the next few years it was quiet about Wiegert's Vector, until he finally presented a new prototype at the LA Auto Show in November 2007: the WX-8, with the "W" in the type designation clearly back as a Vector from Gerald Wiegert detect. The WX-8 was already shown four years earlier in the official business plan of Vector Motors Corporation, which Wiegert had drawn up as a presentation of the company to potential donors. A spider called "WX-8R" is also shown and described there. Due to the successful racing of its predecessor and the fact that Wiegert himself had the proverbial rudder again, the prototype was given advance praise worldwide, but at the same time no WX-8 ready for series production has been delivered until today (2008) - the vehicle is in place is still in the prototype stage. Critical voices still accuse Wiegert of having made the Vector fall through massive wrong decisions. He himself, at that time 62 years old, announced that he had learned from his mistakes in the past and that he now wanted to put his company on a solid financial and personnel basis before he started building the WX-8 in series. The official website, on which the development of the current vehicle should be followed, is not very informative and does not seem to be maintained.

The vector is changing

Vector design study

  • Year of construction: 1972, whereabouts unknown. The prototype was a pure design study and consisted only of the body (without engine and chassis) and was visually very different from the later W2. The plan was to use a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine with 250 hp. Estimated Retail Price: $ 7,500. The distribution was planned over the "Precision Auto, Inc." in Hollywood, California.

Vector W2

Vector W2, taken in 1984. Over the years, the W2 has covered well over 100,000 miles - making it the most reliable and most suitable of all concept cars.
  • Premiere 1976 as a white prototype, 1978 (new) presentation as W2
  • Engine: 8 cylinders, 5730 cm³, tuned based on the Chevrolet Small-Block from Donovan, additionally equipped with an H3 double turbo system from AiResearch
  • Power: 600–1500 PS (manufacturer information), top speed: 389 km / h (also manufacturer information, then temporarily entry in the Guinness Book of Records ), acceleration 0–100 km / h: 3.9 s
  • Wiegert had estimated a sales price of $ 150,000, but the car was never sold. There were only two W2s, one of which was modified and repainted many times, the other completely destroyed in an accident. The stated maximum speed was never determined independently, but stated by Gerald Wiegert, who, however, repeatedly refused to have a new (independent) speed measurement carried out. During a comparison test organized by "Auto Becker" from Düsseldorf at Cologne Airport, there was a fire in the engine compartment of the W2; the test and a measurement did not take place. The entry in the Guinness Book of Records was finally deleted, and in 1986 the Porsche 959 received this coveted award. The magazine "AutoKraft" wrote: "At Porsche, despite pretending to be self-confident, one is perplexed by the future prospects of a 1500 kg 959 with barely 450 hp. Anyone with a sense of humor should consider whether the 959 was not already developed as an anti-vector weapon . "

Vector W8 Twin Turbo

  • Construction period: 1990–1993, number of items produced: 17 + 2 pre-series vehicles. The prototype with the internal designation PP-0 was still based on the W2 presented in 1978 and is now in Gerald Wiegert's private collection. A W8 was destroyed in a (mandatory) crash test. Wiegert had specified the maximum speed of 240 mph ("miles per hour") at the beginning of the W8 production, since otherwise no insurance could be found that could insure the vehicle for road approval. The legal situation later changed and Wiegert was able to increase the maximum speed specified in the vehicle documents again. The engine corresponded to that of the W2: V8 with Garret AiResearch twin turbocharger, initially 5730 cm³, later 5970 cm³, with specified 634 hp. Top speed: over 322 km / h (manufacturer information), acceleration 0-100 km / h: 3.9 seconds (also manufacturer information). In principle, the W8 was not a newly developed vehicle, but an evolutionary stage of the W2. Sales price in 1990: $ 178,000, 1992: $ 489,900 (that was about 600,000 marks at the time). This meant that the W8 was (at least initially) below the price level of comparable super sports cars.

Vector WX-3

  • Year of construction: 1992, equipped with a 7-liter twin-turbo engine that should produce up to 1200 hp. Only two prototypes were produced (one of them in an open spider version, but without a soft or hard top, this was called "WX-3R"). Both vehicles are privately owned by Gerald Wiegerts.

Vector M12

The "M12 GT2", the only Vector ever used in races
  • Construction period: 1995–1998, number of items produced: 14 + 3 prototypes, one of which was destroyed in a crash test. The M12 engine came from the Lamborghini Diablo and developed over 490 hp. The car was certified to have a top speed of 306 km / h and an acceleration of 4.5 seconds (0-100 km / h). The selling price was $ 184,000 (the equivalent of 272,000 marks). An additional M12 was built as the "M12 GT2" and used in races by the "American Spirit Racing" team. The later SRV-8 was developed on the basis of this car. The negotiations to make the car available to ASR dragged on for over a year due to the change of ownership at MegaTech, and so the car was only delivered in 1998, immediately before the first race in Sebring, instead of towards the end of 1997, as planned. It was then converted by ASR to be ready to race within (only) two weeks and was able to qualify for the race, but was canceled after 50 minutes. Thereupon it was subjected to another, extensive renovation. Another race followed in Atlanta before the vehicle was finally bought back.

Vector SRV-8

In 2007 a prototype of the planned M12 successor "SRV-8" was created based on the modified "M12 GT2" from ASR-Racing, which however never went into series production due to the takeover. The whereabouts of the prototype has not been clearly established.

Vector WX-8

After Gerald Wiegert took over the rights to the name Vector again , he presented the WX-8 at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, although it never went into series production. For photo and test purposes, the chassis, which in its basic structure still corresponded to that of the W8 (and thus retained the EPA certification of the W8) was temporarily provided with an open spider body and referred to as the WX-8R , but it was one and same vehicle. The performance data of the prototype (up to 10,000 cm³ and 1380 kW / 1850 PS) correspond to Gerald Wiegert's information. He described the WX-8 as the next generation Vector and had the name HPRV (Hyper-Performance Road Vehicle) legally secured.

The Vector as a used car

It is difficult to buy a Vector due to the low production numbers alone. In recent years, however, various W8 and M12 have been offered for sale at auctions or on the Internet. The prices are very different: At a US auction in April 2006, two M12s were offered for auction, including the well-known "American Anthem" car painted in the stars and stripes design. The serial number of the car ends with "001", after three prototypes it is the first ever produced series M12, which was therefore also shown in various magazines and tests. The other vehicle, a yellow M12, chassis 012, with just 2,800 miles on the odometer, found a buyer for US $ 126,000 - although it was in need of repair due to transmission problems. The "American Anthem" car brought in US $ 105,000 (equivalent to around 77,000 euros), but was also not immediately ready to drive at the time of the auction: The complete drive train was missing, but was replaced by the new owner a short time later. The cheapest used M12 so far was the car with serial number 008 from the bankruptcy of an Isuzu dealer in Florida, which changed hands for US $ 7,000. The first prototype built ( brochure car ) was sold to Canada for $ 50,000. Chassis 005 was sold for $ 94,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale in January 2009.

Due to the popularity of the car, a higher price would have been expected and justified, especially for vehicle 001, but the auction was not held by a renowned auction house, but by the US marshal in Ohio and without any serious advertising in advance, so the prices achieved are not meaningful. Vehicles of the M12 series are usually significantly lower in price, around 50,000 to 120,000 US $. In October 2008, two M12s were also offered for sale at internet auctions - for 149,000 US $ (equivalent to around 109,300 euros) on the US eBay Platform and for US $ 179,500 (equivalent to around EUR 131,000) at autotraderclassics. However, no M12 has been sold at this price in the past eight years. The highest price achieved after production stopped was US $ 115,000 for chassis 010.

Type W8 models are subject to the strong fluctuations typical of rare collector's vehicles, which make it difficult to provide clear information about the real market value: For example, W8s have already been offered for over US $ 500,000 (but not yet sold) on the internet platform ecxoticcarworld.com ), while in Japan a W8 in need of repair changed hands for just under $ 80,000. The world's only yellow W8, the owner of which subsequently tuned the Rodeck V8 to over 900 hp, has meanwhile been offered several times for over US $ 200,000 (and has not yet been sold); Gerald Wiegert's private (formerly red) W8 was sold in 2004 for a little over US $ 120,000 and painted a dark blue shade by the new owner.

The car with chassis number 1V9VW2623NW048007, previously exhibited in the Auto-Technik-Museum Sinsheim , was sold on October 27, 2010 through the RM Auctions auction house for £ 179,200.

Film, TV and video game appearances, merchandise

A red Vector W8 (chassis number 003, originally sold to the CEO of Toys'R'Us in 1990 and later converted into the 1992 model especially for the film) is right in the opening scene of the film The Cradle of the Sun (with Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes, among others ) until it is involved in an accident and explodes (film quote: "I didn't like it in red anyway!" ). The corresponding Vector wreck, which can later be seen in the police garage, is of course not one, but simply a bunch of beautifully decorated spare parts from Wiegert's stock. The fact that the Vector was seen in a Hollywood blockbuster (and was explicitly mentioned in the film's credits) was, of course, an enormous advertisement for Wiegert's company and made the W8 even better known than it was before. Of course, this appearance wasn’t accidental: Gerald Wiegert and Sean Connery got to know each other back in 1982 on the set of "Say Never Never" and Connery was enthusiastic about the Vector, which at the time was just a one-off. The suggestion that one of the film's protagonists should have the Vector W8 as a mobile stand came from Connery himself.

The WX3 and before that the W2 could also be admired on television: The WX3 made a brief appearance in the series "Burke's Law" (Episode 24: " Who killed the automobile manufacturer? ", In the original " Who killed the motorcar Maverick? ") , the W2 in "V" and in the first episode (" License to Steele ") of the Remington Steele series , where it was presented as the "Hunter Jet Star 6000". In the 1982 film " The Killer Parasite ", the W2 was used to represent a vehicle from the (then future) year 1992.

There were also some advertising appearances for the Californian flounder: Timex booked it for a year-round advertising campaign with a few TV spots, for the company Chemo-Design ("CD") it was at the IAA (covered with styling foil) and was able to do so in October 1983 at Auto Becker in Düsseldorf, Blaupunkt used the car for various trade fairs (among other things, the Vector W2 was exhibited at the "Consumers' Electronic Show" in Chicago ) and the fuel manufacturer Chevron showed the Vector in silver in one of its commercials. The Vector also posed for various car care products from various manufacturers and the cigarette manufacturer " Winston ". The tire manufacturer Bridgestone also used the Vector as an image-enhancing draft horse ( "Even the fastest racing cars in the world are not fast enough to test Bridgestone tires to the limit." ) And showed the WX-3 in the race against a military jet taking off.

The Vector also appeared on a (very rare) postage stamp from the Republic of Congo, on which it can be seen along with other prototypes: a Porsche 959 by Luigi Colani , a design study of the Lancia Stratos by Bertone and a Lamborghini "Countach II", the looks very similar to the later Diablo.

A Vector W2 (with slightly alienated headlights) was shown on the cinema posters for the 1986 Michael Verhoeven film Killing Cars with Jürgen Prochnow in the lead role. The vehicle used in the film, on the other hand, only looked similar to the Vector at first glance: it was actually an "Albar Sonic", a Swiss kit car with a VW engine. Due to the strong similarity of the vehicle used on the advertising poster to the W2, Wiegert filed a lawsuit against the film distributor in the same year, but this was not accepted.

In 1984 a 1:43 model of the W2 was made by "Provence Moulage", but is no longer available. In 2007 the company "Ricko" produced a very detailed W8 model in 1:18 scale in the colors black and red. In 1992, Hot Wheels produced a purple Avtech on a smaller scale as a children's toy and the Vector was also allowed in six different color variants on the Darda railway system (1730 series) show how fast it can be. Vector vehicles were also used several times in well-known video games and racing simulations: In the video game Gran Turismo 2 for the PlayStation game console published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1999 , the player could choose between a W8, an M12 or an M12 LM (whose name never actually existed , it was actually about the M12 GT2) control. The M12 GT2 from "American Spirit Racing" was also available in the game "Sports Car GT" from Electronic Arts . Both ASR and Jon Lewis, one of the drivers and also president of the racing team, were gratefully mentioned in the game's credits.

Wiegert himself was not idle when it came to merchandise and from the start offered t-shirts ($ 12.50), posters ($ 15), polo shirts ($ 20) and a jacket ($ 99.50) with the Vector on them or the Vector logo were shown. This product line was later given its own name and was called "Vector America". This collection also included various t-shirts ($ 15), posters ($ 10) and polo shirts ($ 40 or $ 50), as well as a leather jacket ($ 270) and an additional wristwatch ($ 790), all with the Vector Logo or images of the W8 were provided, the posters also with Gerald Wiegert's signature (prices as of 1981 and 1992). Today, all of these items are very rare and therefore sought-after collector's items.

Press reviews and opinions

“Today the Vector share is already 25% above the cost price. Of course we know that it is a highly speculative investment, but our customers believe in the solid technological background of the Vector project - and in a positive price development. "

- Ingo Soranio-Eupen, Blinder International Enterprises (German representation of "Blinder, Robinson & Co. Inc."), Düsseldorf, 1990

"The Vector is a sharp weapon in the fight to restore American supremacy in automotive engineering."

- Klaus Rosshuber, sport auto 11/89

"Jerry Wiegert claims to build the fastest, but above all the safest sports car in the world."

- euroTUNING 1/91

"Nobody would think of stealing a tactical fighter from an air show even if all the lights went out."

- Gerald Wiegert when asked why he regularly parked his prototype on the roadside instead of in a garage

"It'll be on the cover of my next LP!"

- Diana Ross

"The Vector W8 is considered one of the most daring luxury projects in the industry and one of the biggest flops in US automotive history."

- Auto Bild 2/2005

"If it had wings, it would fly."

- Vector W8 sales brochure

“What is being built on West Washington Boulevard in Venice, California, is probably the most powerful automobile that can still be driven on conventional roads. His designer Gerald Wiegert got it into his head to build the superlative car. "

- Rainer Schlegelmilch, Overdrive 1/1983

“With the Vector-Flounder it is almost impossible not to travel at least twice as fast as allowed by the police. The speed limit of 112 km / h, which is still applicable in most US states, can be reached in first gear without any problems. "

- Claus Mühlberger, sport auto 4/96

“The Vector does not hide any space technology behind its unearthly appearance. It is built on the principles of the Ford GT 40 and the McLaren of the sixties. It is a half-monocoque, a central cell made of aluminum that carries the front and rear structure of the mechanics. "

- Autokraft 7/86

“So it comes out like a prop from a Batman movie. The Vector W8 is the fastest American sports car ever. 600 hp and a top speed of over 320 km / h have not been surpassed since the beginning of the 90s. This dream of the perfect sports car is as rare as it is beautiful, because the sales figures for the Vector W8 were devastating. "

- "auto, motor und sport tv", broadcast on August 13, 2000

“Jerry Wiegert's Vector W2 wrote a page of American history, automotive history, the world's best GT department, fast-paced sales. It deserved a more gracious fate because - with a few years of costly development work - it could have shaken Europe. Yes, if only Jerry had equipped it with an engine and gearbox similar to the DeTomaso Pantera ... We might have seen this car go into production, and it's not too late. So long Jerry. "

- Autokraft 7/86

“America's sports car sector is being held by foreign powers. The counterattacks by the big US corporations were only half-hearted attacks, not effective enough. The Vector is the tactical military jet fighter for the street and is pumped full of advanced technology to forcefully bring any physical opposition to its knees on every front. "

- Gerald Wiegert in conversation with Helmut Becker, auto welt 2/1981

Web links

Commons : Vector  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e "Vector Aeromotive Corporation - Corporate Backgrounder", company presentation of the Vector Aeromotive Corporation, prepared by Kalmann Communications, 1990
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m article " vector_Rechnung ", "Autobild", edition 2/2005
  3. ^ A b c d "Precision Auto, Inc.", company brochure, 1975
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Article " Born in the USA ", "Autokraft", July 1986 edition
  5. ↑ a b c d e f Article " The Vector threatens the sports car sector ", "auto welt", issue 2/1981
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g " Vector Perspective ", magazine of the "Vehicle Design Force", first edition May 1981
  7. ↑ a b c d Article " Flask for 390 things ", "Hobby", edition 2/1982
  8. ↑ a b c Article " VECTOR - Der Tiefflieger ", book "The most beautiful cars in the world", Peter Vann / Dirk Meixner, published by Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, 3rd edition 1985, ISBN 3-87943-964-8
  9. ^ " Vector W2 ", brochure of the "Vehicle Design Force"
  10. ↑ Article " Who is the greatest? ", "Auto welt", issue 1/1985
  11. ↑ a b Article " The Jaws", "auto motor und sport", issue 1/1980
  12. ↑ a b Article " The North American Challenge: The Vector W2 ", "Hobby", October 1978 edition
  13. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Article " American Steam ", "sport auto", edition 11/1989
  14. ↑ a b c " Vector W8 Specifications ", official data sheet of the W8, Vector Aeromotive Corporation, 1991
  15. ↑ a b Factory brochure of the W8 Twin Turbo, published by Vector Aeromotive Corporation, 1992
  16. ↑ a b c Article " Überladen ", "Sportfahrer", edition 11/1981
  17. ↑ Article " You need 1500 hp? ", "Overdrive", issue 1/1983
  18. ↑ a b Article " 500,000 Marks - Berliner buys most expensive car at IAA ", "Bild", issue of September 23, 1983
  19. ↑ a b c Article " Sword expression ", "sport auto", November 1981 edition
  20. ↑ Article " The strongest car in the world ", "Autobild", issue 35/1990
  21. ↑ a b c d e article " Excursion into the Starry World", "rallye racing", December 1983 edition
  22. ↑ a b c d e "auto, motor & sport TV", broadcast on August 13, 2000, broadcast on "vox", can be viewed here: http://www.vox.de/495_2932.php?mainid=20000813&area = fascination & area = Ams
  23. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Article " American Gigolo ", "sport auto", issue 4/1996
  24. ↑ a b Official "option sheet" (= "equipment options " ) of the Vector W8, published by Vector Aeromotive Corporation, 1990
  25. ↑ a b c Official data sheet of the W8 prototype, published by Vector Aeromotive Corporation, 1989
  26. ↑ a b c d Article " Vector CD - Technique d'Avantgarde ", "auto welt", issue 2/1983
  27. ↑ a b Design sketch of the Vector, handwritten by Gerald Wiegert and exhibited at the LA Motorshow 1972
  28. ↑ Article " Chevy V8 to power the Vector ", Los Angeles newspaper, exact publication date follows
  29. ↑ Article " Vector Twin Turbo - The super-sharp 424 hp bullet ", "Coupe", original article is available, date of issue unknown, will be submitted later
  30. ^ Copy of the original " VECTOR CAR PURCHASE AGREEMENT " (German: purchase contract ) from 1983, buyer data blacked out
  31. ↑ a b Auction details on the official website of "RM Auctions", http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=LF10&CarID=r133  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically saved as marked defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of November 9, 2010.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.rmauctions.com  
  32. ↑ a b c d e f g h i " Vector Perspective ", magazine of the "Vector Aeromotive Corporation", autumn 1991 edition
  33. ↑ a b Article " Phoenix from the Ashes ", "auto Welt", issue 1/1989
  34. ↑ Stock Broshure, " Blinder, Robinson & Co., Inc. " edited by Blinder, Robinson & Co., Inc., Englewood, Colorado, November 14, 1988
  35. ↑ Ferrari World Special - 50 Years Ferrari , No. 2/1997, explanation of the changed legal situation, here related to the Ferrari 365 GTB / 4
  36. ↑ Article " Arab Princes buy 230-mph Bondmobiles ", Los Angeles newspaper, exact publication date to follow
  37. ↑ a b c d e article " From supercar to superstar ", "Hollywood Insider", Spring 1992
  38. ↑ Video " Legend Ferrari - from the 246 Dino to the F50 ", Atlas Verlag
  39. ^ Annual report of the EPA (" Environmental Protection Agency "), published in 1992
  40. ↑ Press release on the premiere of the Vector WX-8, published by Vector Motors Corporation, November 14, 2007
  41. ↑ a b c d e f g " VMCBP " - " Vector Motors Corporation Business Plan 2004 - 2005 ", published by Vector Motors Corporation and written by Gerald Wiegert, 2004
  42. ↑ Press release " All American Vector A-WX3 Supercar sets North American premier at the New York Auto Show April 18, 1992 ", issued by Vector Aeromotive Corporation, April 15, 1992
  43. ↑ a b Technical Description of the Avtech WX3, published by Vector Aeromotive Corporation, 1992
  44. ^ Article " Mission Impossible ", "Performance Car", September 1992 edition
  45. ↑ a b Article " Maker of` super cars´ battles board, investors - Wiegert hires guards, detectives ", Los Angeles newspaper, April 6, 1993 issue
  46. ↑ a b c Homepage of Vector Motors Corporation, http://www.vectormotors.com/ , as of October 22, 2008.
  47. ↑ Aquajet homepage http://www.aquajet.com/ , as of September 17, 2008.
  48. ↑ Article " Star Sprangled Banger ", "BBC Top Gear", issue 8/1998
  49. ↑ Vector M12. RacingSportsCars.com, accessed November 28, 2015 .
  50. ^ A b c Email from Jon Lewis, President ASR, October 14, 2008
  51. ↑ Website of the "American Spirit Racing" team, archived copy ( memento of the original from September 14, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of September 17, 2008. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.americanoval.com
  52. ↑ a b Image gallery of the ASR-Vector, archived copy ( Memento of the original from July 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of October 17, 2008. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.racephoto.com
  53. ↑ Business portal "Jacksonville.com", archived copy ( memento of the original from October 6, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of July 21, 1999. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.jacksonville.com
  54. ^ Official data sheet for the Vector Avtech WX-3, published by Vector Aeromotive Corporation, 1992
  55. ↑ Brochure Vector Motors WX-8 (HPRV) , issued at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2007
  56. ↑ a b Article " Kraft & Linie ", "Motor Klassik", edition 10/2010. The article can be read online at http://www.motor-klassik.de/fahrberichte/vector-w8-twinturbo-der-extremste-keil-aus-den-usa-2786194.html?fotoshow_tab=bild&fotoshowitem=20#article_detail As of November 9, 2010
  57. ↑ Article " Vector M12s at FBI auction! ", Archived copy ( memento of the original from October 6, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of September 17, 2008. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.switchcars.com
  58. ↑ Sales advertisements on www.exoticcarworld.com in February 2004: Gerald Wiegert's private Vector W8 (US $ 178,000) and the world's only yellow W8 ($ 225,000). The internet portal no longer exists.
  59. ↑ The Vector at IMCDB (" Internet Movie Cars Database "): http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=vector&model
  60. ↑ "Killing Cars" at the IMDB (" Internet Movie Database "): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089416/
  61. ^ "GT2 Car List", Gran Turismo Center : GT2 Car List ( Memento from February 17, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), as of October 17, 2008
  62. ^ " Vector Merchandise List, " edited by the Vehicle Design Force, 1981