Vector Motors
 |
|
| Private | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Wilmington, California |
|
Key people
|
Gerald Wiegert Chairman & CEO |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Revenue | unknown |
| Website | www.vectormotors.com |
Vector Motors Corporation is an American automobile manufacturer originally based in Wilmington, California. Its history can be traced to Vehicle Design Force, which was founded in 1978 by Gerald Wiegert. Vehicle production by Vector Aeromotive began in 1989 and ceased in 1993. The company was later revived (as Vector Motors Corporation), and has continued to develop supercars. Vector initially hoped to represent what was perceived as one of America's first attempts to compete with European performance car manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Lotus. Altogether around 50 Vector supercar models were developed and produced during the 1980s and 1990s including some racing versions mostly built using USA made components.
Nearly every car produced by the company is designated the letter "W" (for Wiegert) and a number. A letter "X" after the W (e.g. WX-8) signifies a prototype unit. Recently the firm has launched a brandnew supercar model called the WX8 which has entered production after a long development program designed by Gerry Wiegert himself fitted with all the latest safety items and original equipment, powered with the ultimate hi-tech mechanicals and precision electronics soon to be available to few customers and certain large automobile markets such as the USA and the Middle East and possibly to Europe.
In 1971, Gerald Wiegert, who had just graduated from college, founded a design house called Vehicle Design Force, and teamed up with Lee Brown, a well-known auto body expert in Hollywood, to create a new car called The Vector. The Vector was planned to feature various powerplant options, including a DOHC Porsche engine, and preproduction literature said that it would cost US$10,000 (at the time, a new Rolls Royce Silver Shadow cost $11,500). The Vector was featured on the cover of Motor Trend magazine in April 1972, and a concept prototype was displayed at the 1976 Los Angeles Auto Show, however the car did not enter production. Later on Lee Brown left the design team in 1977. Gerry Wiegert renamed Vehicle Design Force to "Vector Aeromotive" after the previous vehicle's research was refocused on a new car, the Vector W2. Most of his cars were then designated as Vector Avtech AWX Series for export as they were known, such as the very rare VECTOR AWX3 GT supercar first shown to the world at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show.
...
Wikipedia