Vector W8 Twin Turbo
The Vector W8 is one of the most extraordinary cars ever built. Created by Jerry Wiegert's Vector Aeromotive Corporation, the W8 was inspired by fighter jet aesthetics and engineering. Its angular, wedge-shaped body concealed a twin-turbocharged Chevrolet-derived V8 producing 625 horsepower, mated to a modified GM Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission. The cockpit was designed to look like a fighter jet, with aircraft-style switches and gauges. Wiegert claimed top speeds over 240 mph, though independent verification was never completed. Only 22 W8s were built before Megatech, an Indonesian conglomerate, acquired Vector in a hostile takeover. The W8 represents the ultimate expression of 1980s American excess — audacious, flawed, and utterly unforgettable.
With only 22 built, these rarely come to market. Authentication and provenance are critical. The Chevrolet-derived engine is more serviceable than exotic European counterparts. The modified TH400 transmission is the weak point. Vector-specific body and interior parts are irreplaceable. Museum pieces rather than driver's cars.
Only 22 W8s were built between 1990 and 1993. Jerry Wiegert developed the car over nearly a decade before production began. Megatech's hostile takeover in 1993 ended W8 production. The successor WX-3 used a Lamborghini Diablo engine.