VIDEO: THIS VECTOR W8 TWIN TURBO CAR LOOKS LIKE IT WAS BUILT BY ALIENS!
The Vector W8 sports car was produced from 1989 to 1993. The car was manufactured by Vector Aeromotive and was designed by Gerald Wiegert and David Kostka. The company claimed the newest and most advanced aerospace materials were used in building the Vector W8. It even used 5 000 aircraft specification rivets to hold it together.
Just 19 of the Vector W8's were produced and 17 of those were customer cars and pre-production cars, and the car originally sold for up to $455,000 brand new. However today the Vector W8 is available from $200,000 to well over $1 Million, depending on the condition of the car.
The Vector W8 was based around a Rodeck Aluminum 365 cu. in. racing engine connected to a very highly modified Turbo Hydro 425 General Motors three-speed automatic transmission that had been used in front wheel drive Oldsmobile Toronados dating back some two decades earlier.
The engine features intercooler twin-turbos and produces an advertised 625 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 649 lb.ft of torque on 8lbs of boost. Boost levels were driver adjustments between 8 and 14 lbs and during dyno testing at the factory the engine put 1,200 bhp at 14 lbs of boost. A claimed top speed of 242mph (389km/h) and a 0–60mph in 3.9 seconds meant it was no slouch in the performance department.
In the early 90's automotive journalist Douglas Kott finished his review with, "Hats off to Gerald Wiegert and his team of dedicated engineers, and to all others with the fortitude and determination to have their dreams see the light of day."
The car's history is a short one though. In 1993, the company underwent a hostile takeover which forced production to end. Fortunately, the W8 had other ideas and made appearances in movies and TV series through the rest of the decade, and was later featured by Top Gear USA in their 50th episode as the first US-built sportscar to really give the Europeans a run for their money.
Have a look at the video to see the Vector W8 in action on Top Gear USA.