VECTOR cars!

The W2 & W8 models resemble the Carabo the most imo. I don't think they had jet fighters that looked like that back then! Maybe he was inspired by sci fi spacecraft! One thing I'll say is he sure nailed the design!
There were several show cars back then that had a body line cutting through the side glass...

 

I've always thought so too, to me it was like the German Vector.

Chris

 

The Isdera 108i came almost directly from the Benz CW311 (1978)

http://blog.iso50.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Mercedes_Benz_Studie_CW311_1978_06-449x271.jpg

...which basically was an evolution of the Benz C111 (1969)

http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/69mb_c111-1_1.jpg

Could it have been influenced by the Vector Prototype of 1972 or the later W2 of 1980 (officially, may be earlier)?

It is possible but I'm not sure how much press or exposure that Vector prototype (or W2) really had before 1978 to, in turn, influence other car designs like the MB CW311 of the late 70s.

LS

 

the Countach prototype first showed in 1971 at Geneva and entered production in 1974

Wiegart's first body prototype was IIRC 1971 after college, so it's a close call, but between the Bertone Carabo and Countach - and others - it's easy to see that was the design trend during that time, for wedge shaped super cars, and birth of the unique doors

I think as far as fighter aircraft, that was more present in the interior styling really, perhaps some on the exterior, like the bare aluminum panels, cockpit gauges, aircraft rivets, helicopter air vents, etc.

here's a paragraph I copied off of a wiki link

 

No. The first owner was from Texas. The second owner, Frank Griga, was murdered the same week he had purchased the VECTOR. There was a movie made on that case.:

"Pain & Gain, the documentary":
https://www.google.de/search?q=%22frank+griga%22&client=firefox-a&hs=E57&rls=org.mozilla:defficial&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&psj=1&ei=uyiEUp3nA4jjswbS_YCIAg&ved=0CAwQ_AUoBA

Gary Anzalone from the Auto Typ store told the story on this forum:

The story was all over the news back then:
https://www.google.de/search?q=%22frank+griga%22


Tony, who sold the car to Spain two years ago was the fourth owner, if we don´t count in Gary Anzalone being the dealer at Auto Toystore.

 

That's the story I was thinking of...

 

The CW311 was NOT a Benz! The CW311 was built by Eberhard Schulz:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCW_311

The Isdera is the "German VECTOR".
Very similar stories, very similar drama.

 

I had to clarify from my library as almost every picture and period article I could remember referred to the CW311 as an MB design study of sorts that was never funded.

The sources I have, do in fact, state the project was partnered by Rainer Buchmann and Schulz with the C111 as inspiration and with heavy MB engineering and influence (“Road and Track”-Jan 1979, "Road and Track Exotic Cars 2”- 1984).

However, I’m looking at a feature in “Voitures Extraordinaires” (1988)that does downplay the Buchmann role a bit.

The MB star on the front, rear and sometimes steering wheel and the other MB identification are all pretty misleading as are the majority of the MB references abound online. Not sure why Buchmann or Schulz would want the star badges unless there was some official link to MB?

And does MB have the car in their museum?

Vectorfiles, I know you have good sources. Please share as this is an interesting story that deserves clarification.

Still, the original point was whether the CW311>Isdera was influenced by the Vector.

Could it have been influenced by the older Vector prototype? I see more MB C111 of 1969 than anything else...especially considering the "link" to MB engineering and the designers affinity for MB in general.

Thanks,
LS

 

I know an owner of two Isderas and incidentally had a ride in both cars last week.
Ever since the CW311 had appeared on Germany´s largest car magazine in the late 1970´s I have been following their story.
At the same time I always appreciated the VECTOR as a much more refined design and sophisticated exotic car.

The CW311 never had anything to do with MB.
It was designed by only one man: Eberhard Schulz. Buchmann (bb) was only marketing the car.
Apparently the MB executives liked the car so much back then they would allow Schulz to make use of the original logo.

Read their history at isdera.de (use google translator for an English version)

I doubt that Eberhard Schultz ever heard of the VECTOR before it was first written about here in Germany around 1976 or ´77. That´s the oldest German article I have in my VECTORfiles collection so far.

When you compare the design of exotic cars of the late 60´s and early 70´s the wedge design had come into fashion. Even the Japanese came forward with their wedged design D.O.M.E supercar or the Australians with the Holden Hurricane. We saw the Bertone Carrabo (with just too many similarities to the Vector to call it a coincidence), the Bertone Lancia Stratos protoype and many more.

The official story tells us that the CW 311 was inspired by Mercedes´ design icon the 300SL gullwing and the C111.
The next time I get a chance to talk to Mr Schulz I will ask him what other designs may have been influential in the creation of the CW311.
But if you mate the 300SL with the C111, the CW311/Isdera ist pretty much the logic outcome.

 

I just took a ride in a Vector M12 and got some amazing footage! Two M12s make an appearance in this video, one of them is driving.

Chris

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7wz5znvuTI]Ride: VECTOR M12 [1 of 14 made] - YouTube[/ame]

 

Very cool!

 

Very cool! Nice to see it driven for sure. Really hard to beat the looks of these!

 

It is one of those cars that look decent to really good on the body, but then the design is completely ruined by the 3 spoke rims. It's more Saab than Vector.

 

Anybody heard anything new on the WX8? I see there's a different pic on the home page, but nothing else has been updated that I can see...

 

Cool, I have yet to see a M12. I like your thanks for Vectorfiles at the end of the video

 

Thanks guys! This was an incredibly rare opportunity!

Haha yep! He played no small part in this achievement, so I am very grateful for his help.

Chris

 

VECTOR W8 on Top Gear America 2013
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxwfLkqx2dg&feature=c4-overview&list=UUqLM0OfONczkQ8Cqf2SLzSA]VECTOR W8 on Top Gear America 2013 - YouTube[/ame]

 

Take a nostalgic ride in the Vector M12, America's forgotten supercar - Autoblog

Congratulations to Chris on making it to Autoblog with his video of the Vector M12's!

 

Thank you, Isaac!! It was so exciting to see it getting some attention. It also got on carbuzz and autoevolution!

Chris

 

Here is some extra footage that I took of the two M12s. It's not much, mostly just startups and moving around the area, no actual driving. But any Vector footage is rare footage, right?

Chris


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc7cg4X9-yo]Vector M12 (x2) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Yes, any footage is good footage

 

Thanks for the clarification...very interesting indeed.

Has David K ever told you the Agassi story in detail? It was hilarious but unfortunate as it caused a lot of bad press for Vector.

LS

 

I would love to hear the Agassi story!!

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3iXs2zD7J0[/ame]

Combined some old footage... enjoy!

 

Thanks for sharing! I must say, every little detail of these cars gives me goosebumps!