VECTOR cars!

Wow, I think that was the longest post in history!

One thing I'm wondering is, how did allowing the press close to the W2 do so much damage to their reputation? Did Weigert just allow it too soon, before ironing out all the kinks?

I too, like the M12. I certainly like the W8 better, but the M12 is still an extremely rare car, and that makes it so much more special when you see one. I don't think it looks bad either.

Chris

 

I think the main problem with the W2 was that Vector wasn't quite up to actually producing it. They were taking deposits too soon & not able to deliver. Jerry mentions his frustration about how everyone wanted to buy the car, but not invest in the company. Without investment money, they just didn't have enough to set up production. It wasn't until the public stock offerings that they finally were able to do this, which they did.
I haven't really run across any bad press about the W2. In one of my articles, it mentions the brakes being poor, but that they were already looking at different braking systems. In another, the writer mentions something about how the W2 was supposed to have been showcased at a track for a television program, but the car showed up late, then had transmission problems right away.
In addition to the nearly unbelievable claims made for the car, it became a bit of a myth without substance. Most of the claims ended up being proven, or even exceeded, except for the top speed. This is still a mystery.
I'm still trying to find the issue of Top Wheels, in which they supposedly tested the car at the Bonneville salt flats to 242 mph. Not sure if this actually happened. Back then Jerry had the "bonneville gearing" note in some literature. A 2.09 optional final gear is also listed. Another thing I've run into is that one version of the W2's engine was putting out 1100 HP on race fuel which put some doubts into what the actual production car on regular fuel could do.

 

I have a few more VECTOR videos on my YT channel as well:

http://www.youtube.com/vectorfiles

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=FLqLM0OfONczkQ8Cqf2SLzSA&feature=mh_lolz

 

I am currently organizing the 2012 European VECTOR Reunion in Germany for August 24-26.
If you can make it book a flight to Frankfurt, Germany for that weekend.
We have four W8s in Europe (1xD, 1x SP, 2x CH) and I hope to gather at least three of them.
Two W8s are set for the event as of this week.
I will keep more info as I receive confirmation from the other two owners.

 

The last time a W8 had been on a dyno was last month.
I have seen the print outs of the power and torque output.
The tested car showed 554hp (DIN) on the wheels which translates into s.th. like 650hp (DIN) from the engine.

The same day they tested a 2010 Corvette C6 (with LS engine) with 474hp on the wheels.

 

Nice! Was this on "pump" gas? Where was the boost set?

 

Yes, it was on pump gas, 98 octane ("Super" as it is named over here)
I will get the printed test sheets soon.
They did not play with the boost. So I would believe it was all set to standard.
The engine had undergone some restoration (head gaskets, pistons etc) and also received the Electromotive Tech III unit.
The original unit is the Tech I.

Unfortunately, I did not have my video camera that day.
The original plan was to film the VECTOR W8 on the dyno and have the video uploaded on my youtube channel.
A rare chance missed

But I did take approx 550 photos of the car from every angle imaginable.

 

I really doubt that any VECTOR ever did over 200mph
After speaking to several owners as well as with David Kostka and Jerry Wiegert I have found no evidence that any car was ever taken over 200 mph.
The Bonneville W2 test mule had no instruments for speed measuring onboard according to the driver, David Kostka.

The only confirmed event I heard first hand, where a W8 owner had taken his W8 out at high speed is owner of W8-007 chasing his buddy in a Porsche 959 on the German Autobahn and pulling away with the W8.
However he was not able to tell me the speed he was driving as the illuminescent W8 instrument panel does not allow reading while having your eyes fixed on the road ahead.
So we can only guess that both cars were pushed to approx. 200mph.

The official Vmax of the 959 was stated 197mph.
So in theory, that day the W8 might have done just a little over 200mph but surely not much.

 

Great! Will any of these pictures be made available?

 

Was the 959 featuring the optional twin turbo system instead of the sequential turbo system?

 

I don´t believe that we could find out the technical specifics after all these years.
This Autobahn chase happened in the mid 90s.

(PS: I read on Wikipedia that the sequential KKK twin turbo was standard, no mention of an optional system)

I still need to find first hand evidence that a W8 or W2 for that matter has ever run over 200mph.

Several early style W8 owners told me that the W8 with the sharp nose have a serious lift issue above 120mph.
The front of the car gets very light at high speeds due to its poor aerodynamics.
From what I have heard I do not believe it is safe to drive an early W8 above 200mph unless you have three lanes available.
The later W8 model with the large front spoiler might show improved high velocity handling though.

There is a TopGear Miura video on youtube where thy state the exact same thing.
The Miura´s front end gets lighter and lighter the more fule runs through the engine as the fuel tank sits in the front of the car.
A friend of mine told me that a 1995 Aston Martin Vantage needs three lanes when stepping on the brakes from 140mph.
So driving stability appears to be a serious issue on many performance cars.

 

Once I get green light from the owner I can post them, yes.
I have dozens and dozens and often hundreds of W8 photos of each and every W8 I have seen.
I.e. 14 out of the 19 cars made.

W8s that I have not seen yet:

PP1 (graphite grey, Arizona)
005 (black, Florida)
011 (red, Saudi Arabia???)
013 (1990, graphite grey, Japan)
015 (pearl white, Michigan)


*PP2 (formerly red, now blue, California)
I have taken shots of the car when still red, but would like to see her again in blue

 

I've heard that Jerry was very stubborn about changing the design of the car despite aerodynamic concerns. I wonder how effective the front spoiler is? It looks like it would help greatly. I'm not at all surprised that there is lift on the early cars, but am a bit surprised that it happens so soon. Nothing I have driven has had much problem at 120. Certainly this would have been known by Vector? The couple of articles in which they push 160 mph don't mention any lift issues either. (not agreeing or disagreeing, just making mental notes)
I do prefer the looks of the early cars, but if I owned one to drive, would definitely want the front spoiler!

 

One for the journey, one for the show

 

I was fortunate to see PP1 and 015 before they left California. I don't have any pics of PP1 (I saw it when I was a kid and didn't have a camera yet) but I think I have pics of 015 lying around somewhere...

 

PP1 is an interesting car.... when Vector was taken over, PP1 was fit with a very aggressive tune making north of 900 HP, and was designed to smash the world record for 24 hour avg. speed. I'm told that on a hard launch, the front tires lift off the ground, and stay up for most of 1st gear.

1st hand experience, car #15's owner was the driver @ Bonneville. He also has told many stories of other times he has hit v-max. From my own personal experience, the car was pulling extremely strongly in 3rd gear @ 150 MPH, and produced surprising amounts of down force, as we crested a tight hill (when going 150) without so much as a light feeling (The car's seat belt pulled me down!

I'm told that the old nose shape got skittish around 180, and settled back down about 195. Not for the feint of heart.

 

I just read the Vector article in Automobile, August 2004 (thanks, Tim!) It was awesome to see feedback from the actual owners. I had no idea that there was a man with 2 W8 owners. Does Tom Spagnolia still own both Chassis 018 and 006?

Chris

 

This raises more questions. Did Vector seriously intend to start proving the car by breaking records? Be interesting to know what they had in mind. Also, if the car could lift its front tires, what alterations were made for traction? & drag tires? How much would have differed from a standard production car? It would have been cool to see a LeMans prepared car run

 

I found the note about the Aspen Rallye interesting. All I can find about this currently is a motorcycle rallye, but I'd like to know more. Won by an hour? Very cool

 

When and where did you see PP1?
At an Auto Show?
And was it not you who took photos of the blue PP2 as well?

 

David Kostka told me first hand that he drove the W2 in Bonneville and there were no instruments on board to read velocity.
So I guess we are talking about two different events.

As far as front lifting issues are concerned chassis 015 has the newer style spoiler which may produce more downforce.
Three owners of the earlier W8s complained about high speed handling of their VECTOR.

 

Yes, indeed he still has both cars and shows them each year at a local car show in North Dakota.
There used to be a Japanese collector who once owned three W8s:
015 (white)
016 (silver)
018 (green)

Another gentleman owned 006 and 002, not at the same time though.
Members of the Saudi Royal family once owned 001,002 and 011.
011 is the only car that is purpotedly still in the Saudi Royal garage.
001 and 002 returned to the US many years ago while 001 resided in Geneva, Switzerland before.
002 had been shipped to Saudi Arabia and presented in one of the Royal palaces.

 

Can you fill in the history of the odd ball chassis numbers? Were 2 of the cars sold as new twice? The Agassi car & isn't another xxA or some such? (I wanna say 13 for some reason)

Also, which one is in the Pond collection? (red one)

 

wow, those cars really have some mileage on them ...just not on the odometer

 

Check out Collectible Automobile, August 1998 issue. Had a good article on Vector, including Jerry's numerous lawsuits against a number of people/companies. I think Jerry was his own worst enemy and did far more harm that resulted in him losing his company.