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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 03:16 PM
  #1  
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Default Do you remember this car?

I'm sure some of you remember this car.

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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 03:24 PM
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Vector W8!!


EDIT: I think I was around 11 or 12 when this came out, had the brochure and everything.

Last edited by Technics; Nov 15, 2005 at 03:30 PM.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 03:41 PM
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I remember that car... barely.


Didn't they have problems with them catching fire or something?
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 04:09 PM
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Ugggh. The Vector. Back in the early 90s, HRE used to make the wheels for that thing... the three-bladed ones with the slit cut into the spoke. Considering how old the design is, the car doesn't look too bad, although I find it incredibly dated-looking today.

I've been up close & personal with these cars, even met the designer, Jerry Wiegert. Wiegert is one of those odd combinations of designer/entrepreneur, even delving into watercraft and other transportation fantasies. The car might have been more successful if it weren't for financial issues that have haunted Wiegert, seemingly ever since he graduated college. He is one of those eccentric people with a million ideas, 13 minutes and $27 he can dedicate to each idea. He is, unfortunately, seemingly scatterbrained and disorganized.

I previewed the "new Vector" about 18 months ago, with the idea that I would measure it for and specify a wheel fitment. What I found was a fiberglass styling buck on a tubular steel frame held together with resin and screws. Some of the suspension was in place- old C4 Corvette arms and knuckles. Honestly, it wasn't even enough of a car to get accurate measurements from.

Jerry waxed poetic about the car and it's Viper V-10 powerplant, which was sitting in on a pallet a corner of the shop. He showed me photos of the car driving down the street, looking menacing in flat black paint. He even filled-in the blanks - it was the exact same styling buck I had just seen, pushed down the street at about 5 mph with the photographer panning to create the illusion of speed.

Then he asked if I knew of any investors who might help him make the car a reality... I was supposed to build wheels for this guy, but he had no money to finish the car! Of course, if my company "sponsored" the first set of wheels, the car (and the wheels) would get all sorts of exposure in the magazines, plus a lucrative contract for all future production Vector wheels.

Mr. Wiegert, that first set of wheels- your cost is $5000. Cash. Not company check.

In retrospect, I am stunned that the original Vector ever got built. Investors got burned badly on the original one... I do know wealthy investors, but I'd never admit that to Jerry.

But hey, Andre Agasi had one of the originals (actually, I think he owned two).

PT Barnum said it: there's one born every minute.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 05:05 PM
  #5  
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This car is featured in the film "Rising Sun" for a moment for those who care to see.

Jon
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 05:16 PM
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WOW!! A Vecto. To this day is it is still a car I would love to experience in person.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Baby ///M3
This car is featured in the film "Rising Sun" for a moment for those who care to see.

Jon
Ah, I knew I've seen this car somewhere before...Eddie Sakamura rolled in it right? Thanks for jogging my memory.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 06:11 PM
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Sieze......where on earth did you find THAT? Is that your latest set of wheels? if so, congragulations.....Vectors are not exactly a dime a dozen on E-Bay.

( Yeah, I know.....somebody's going to reply, saying LOL or LMAO...that's not his car.....but I guess I'll have to hear it from you.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 08:39 PM
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That's right!

Too bad he was driving it for only like 5 seconds before the plot of the movie shifted to some other matters......

Jon

Originally Posted by BR1AN
Ah, I knew I've seen this car somewhere before...Eddie Sakamura rolled in it right? Thanks for jogging my memory.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 08:56 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by SoCalSC4
Ugggh. The Vector. Back in the early 90s, HRE used to make the wheels for that thing... the three-bladed ones with the slit cut into the spoke. Considering how old the design is, the car doesn't look too bad, although I find it incredibly dated-looking today.

I've been up close & personal with these cars, even met the designer, Jerry Wiegert. Wiegert is one of those odd combinations of designer/entrepreneur, even delving into watercraft and other transportation fantasies. The car might have been more successful if it weren't for financial issues that have haunted Wiegert, seemingly ever since he graduated college. He is one of those eccentric people with a million ideas, 13 minutes and $27 he can dedicate to each idea. He is, unfortunately, seemingly scatterbrained and disorganized.

I previewed the "new Vector" about 18 months ago, with the idea that I would measure it for and specify a wheel fitment. What I found was a fiberglass styling buck on a tubular steel frame held together with resin and screws. Some of the suspension was in place- old C4 Corvette arms and knuckles. Honestly, it wasn't even enough of a car to get accurate measurements from.

Jerry waxed poetic about the car and it's Viper V-10 powerplant, which was sitting in on a pallet a corner of the shop. He showed me photos of the car driving down the street, looking menacing in flat black paint. He even filled-in the blanks - it was the exact same styling buck I had just seen, pushed down the street at about 5 mph with the photographer panning to create the illusion of speed.

Then he asked if I knew of any investors who might help him make the car a reality... I was supposed to build wheels for this guy, but he had no money to finish the car! Of course, if my company "sponsored" the first set of wheels, the car (and the wheels) would get all sorts of exposure in the magazines, plus a lucrative contract for all future production Vector wheels.

Mr. Wiegert, that first set of wheels- your cost is $5000. Cash. Not company check.

In retrospect, I am stunned that the original Vector ever got built. Investors got burned badly on the original one... I do know wealthy investors, but I'd never admit that to Jerry.

But hey, Andre Agasi had one of the originals (actually, I think he owned two).

PT Barnum said it: there's one born every minute.

Good story, thanks for sharing. Yeah, it was to be the American supercar but you showed us why not.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 11:33 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
Sieze......where on earth did you find THAT? Is that your latest set of wheels? if so, congragulations.....Vectors are not exactly a dime a dozen on E-Bay.

( Yeah, I know.....somebody's going to reply, saying LOL or LMAO...that's not his car.....but I guess I'll have to hear it from you.
hahha, nah bro that ain't my car.

If I had that type of money to spend on a car it definitely wouldn't be on a Vector. I'd opt for the new Corvette ZO6 with Lingenfelter treatment
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Old Nov 16, 2005 | 01:34 AM
  #12  
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i like it very much any more pics
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Old Nov 16, 2005 | 03:57 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by SoCalSC4
Ugggh. The Vector. Back in the early 90s, HRE used to make the wheels for that thing... the three-bladed ones with the slit cut into the spoke. Considering how old the design is, the car doesn't look too bad, although I find it incredibly dated-looking today.

I've been up close & personal with these cars, even met the designer, Jerry Wiegert. Wiegert is one of those odd combinations of designer/entrepreneur, even delving into watercraft and other transportation fantasies. The car might have been more successful if it weren't for financial issues that have haunted Wiegert, seemingly ever since he graduated college. He is one of those eccentric people with a million ideas, 13 minutes and $27 he can dedicate to each idea. He is, unfortunately, seemingly scatterbrained and disorganized.

I previewed the "new Vector" about 18 months ago, with the idea that I would measure it for and specify a wheel fitment. What I found was a fiberglass styling buck on a tubular steel frame held together with resin and screws. Some of the suspension was in place- old C4 Corvette arms and knuckles. Honestly, it wasn't even enough of a car to get accurate measurements from.

Jerry waxed poetic about the car and it's Viper V-10 powerplant, which was sitting in on a pallet a corner of the shop. He showed me photos of the car driving down the street, looking menacing in flat black paint. He even filled-in the blanks - it was the exact same styling buck I had just seen, pushed down the street at about 5 mph with the photographer panning to create the illusion of speed.

Then he asked if I knew of any investors who might help him make the car a reality... I was supposed to build wheels for this guy, but he had no money to finish the car! Of course, if my company "sponsored" the first set of wheels, the car (and the wheels) would get all sorts of exposure in the magazines, plus a lucrative contract for all future production Vector wheels.

Mr. Wiegert, that first set of wheels- your cost is $5000. Cash. Not company check.

In retrospect, I am stunned that the original Vector ever got built. Investors got burned badly on the original one... I do know wealthy investors, but I'd never admit that to Jerry.

But hey, Andre Agasi had one of the originals (actually, I think he owned two).

PT Barnum said it: there's one born every minute.
Damn Bob, you know a whole lot of people in the industry.
Great story!!
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