Not many today remember it, but back in the '80s a hypercar, well before the word was even invented, was slowly gaining a reputation, Vector W2. That reputation was mixed, from sheer insanity to passive/aggressive doubt. Why you might ask? Well back then the Lamborghini Countach was the king of cars, producing 350 hp and 180 mph, and looking like something from outer space. It adorned teen rooms all across the world. The Vector was designed like an F15 fighter jet and made 625 hp and was capable of 240 mph, almost twice the top dog's numbers. Everyone ran to see if they needed to buy new posters and Trapper Keepers. Alas the car wouldn't make it's arrival until 1989 as the W8 and it immediately had issues. From that moment on Vector would be fighting an uphill battle to become relevant again.
Gerry Wiegert was at the helm of Vector from it's inception to his passing, only losing control of the car for a short time being ousted from his own board of directors (a la Steve Jobs style) and suing shortly after to have his assets returned. Still many questioned Gerry's leadership in the brand and his constant search for power.
In the end, the Gerry, and the brand that he championed, still instills excitement today. A car that was futuristic and comparatively ahead of its time. New tuners today take the old W8s and fix the small problems that ravaged the brand in the late '80s. As new car brands pop up today, we tend to wonder if he had started his adventure today would he finally have found the success he so richly searched for and would he have redefined the top speed wars. We'll never know.
Gerry Wiegert was at the helm of Vector from it's inception to his passing, only losing control of the car for a short time being ousted from his own board of directors (a la Steve Jobs style) and suing shortly after to have his assets returned. Still many questioned Gerry's leadership in the brand and his constant search for power.
In the end, the Gerry, and the brand that he championed, still instills excitement today. A car that was futuristic and comparatively ahead of its time. New tuners today take the old W8s and fix the small problems that ravaged the brand in the late '80s. As new car brands pop up today, we tend to wonder if he had started his adventure today would he finally have found the success he so richly searched for and would he have redefined the top speed wars. We'll never know.
