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Vector Motors

USA Founded 1971 1,200 hp Wilmington, California

Vector Motors — founded in Wilmington, California in 1971 by Gerald Wiegert — is America's most audacious supercar brand. Inspired by aerospace technology rather than European tradition, Vector produced some of the most powerful and uncompromising supercars of its era, leaving behind a short but dramatic corporate history that is as fascinating as the cars themselves.

1971

Founded

California USA

Origin

1,200 hp

Peak Power

Aerospace Tech

Inspiration

History & Origins

Vector Motors — formally the Vector Aeromotive Corporation — was founded in 1971 by Gerald Wiegert, a car designer with an ambition to create a high-performance vehicle rooted not in European supercar aesthetics, but in the technology of America's aerospace industry. The company name itself was a statement of intent: Vector — direction and velocity.

The W2 prototype, developed in the late 1970s, was Vector's first public appearance. Its sharply angled, wedge-like bodywork, use of exotic materials, and twin-turbocharged V8 drivetrain announced something entirely different from Detroit muscle: American aerospace aesthetics applied to the road-going supercar. Wiegert's vision took more than a decade to produce a production-ready car.

In 1989, Vector finally delivered the W8 Twin Turbo — the car the company had always promised. Armed with a twin-turbocharged V8 drawing on the Chevrolet Corvette engine producing 625 hp, the W8 claimed to be among the world's fastest production vehicles. Only 17–22 examples were built. A subsequent corporate takeover by Megatech Ltd brought the Lamborghini Diablo-engined M12 — but the new ownership ended with Wiegert's ousting and the brand quickly collapsed.

Key Milestones

1971

Gerald Wiegert founded Vector Aeromotive Corporation in Wilmington, California — determined to create a high-performance supercar inspired by America's aerospace technology.

1978

The W2 Prototype debuted at motor shows — its sharply angled, aviation-inspired design generated enormous interest in the world automotive press, arriving nearly a decade before a production vehicle.

1989

Vector W8 Twin Turbo production began — twin-turbocharged American V8 producing 625 hp, claiming a place among the world's fastest production vehicles. Only 17–22 examples were built.

1990

Megatech Ltd acquired Vector Aeromotive Corporation — a contested transaction that transferred control of the company away from Wiegert.

1993

Gerald Wiegert was ousted from Vector — a dramatic exit for the man considered the true creative force behind Vector throughout the company's history.

1995

Vector M12 launched with a Lamborghini Diablo 492 hp V12 engine — Megatech's attempt to bring new technology to the Vector range. Only 14 examples were built before the brand ceased production.

Iconic Models in Images

Vector's brief production run left behind a collection of extraordinarily rare exotica — each one a unique chapter in the history of American supercar ambition.

Vector W8 Twin Turbo · Supercar

Vector M12 · Supercar

Vector Aeromotive W8 · Supercar

Model Range

Vector produced very few vehicles in total, yet each occupies a distinct chapter in American supercar history.

Vector W2

Late 1970s prototype — introduced Vector's design language and aerospace engineering philosophy to the world. Never reached production, but established the template for all of the brand's future vehicles.

Vector W8 Twin Turbo

1989 production supercar — twin-turbocharged American V8 producing 625 hp, with a claimed top speed exceeding 380 km/h. Only 17–22 examples built; an extraordinarily rare collector vehicle today.

Vector M12

Megatech era 1995 model — powered by the Lamborghini Diablo's V12 engine producing 492 hp. Only 14 examples produced; Vector's final model.

Vector WX-3

Concept/prototype — a future model project conceived during the Wiegert era but never reaching production. Reflects Vector's unfulfilled aerospace supercar ambition.

Technology & Engineering

Vector vehicles drew directly on technology from California's aerospace industry. The W8 was constructed around an aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis, Kevlar composite body panels, and an aviation-inspired cockpit interior — all distinguishing it from European competitors of the 1980s.

625 hp drawn from a twin-turbocharged Chevrolet Corvette L98 V8 engine — the W8's primary powerplant
Aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis for a high strength-to-weight ratio
Aerospace-grade Kevlar, carbon fibre, and polymer composite body panels
Aviation-inspired cockpit interior including instrument panel data displays
Lamborghini Diablo V12 engine in the M12 — the unique powertrain choice of the Megatech era

Vector in Azerbaijan

Vector vehicles are virtually absent from Azerbaijan — hardly surprising given that only 30–40 examples were ever built worldwide. Nonetheless, knowing about Vector is essential to understanding American supercar history; the brand represents the United States' most audacious attempt to field a rival to Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bugatti from American soil.

Among high-performance vehicle enthusiasts in Azerbaijan, Vector endures as a word-of-mouth legend — much discussed, rarely seen. The probability of encountering a Vector in Azerbaijan is extremely low; but for collectors seeking an irreplaceable piece of American supercar heritage, the marque carries a perennial special attraction.

Why Vector?

American aerospace aesthetic: Vector adopted a design language entirely distinct from European supercars — a deeply American carbon-aluminium body inspired by aviation, NASA, and Cold War technology.
Exceptional rarity: Only 30–40 Vector vehicles were produced worldwide. Each W8 example is an extraordinarily rare collector vehicle commanding the highest interest from serious collectors.
American V8 power: Unlike European rivals' exotic V12 engines, Vector utilised a twin-turbocharged American V8 — making it the carrier of an entirely different engineering philosophy.
Corporate drama: The Megatech acquisition, Wiegert's ousting, and the M12's brief production run make Vector's history — with all its dramatic elements — one of automotive collecting's most compelling stories.
Historical significance: Vector represents Americans' most courageous attempt to prove they could compete with Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bugatti from American soil — it failed, but the attempt is historically priceless.