Vector Automobilia

Published July 30, 2026 - AutoMobilia E-Newsletter
by Dr. Michael L. Roberts.

A FOCUS ON VECTOR CARS

One Man's Dedication Helped Preserve a Rare Marque's History!

Unicorn: a mythical creature, something amazing that is hard to catch or simply an exceedingly rare find.

The name Vector often conjures visions of something sleek, fast and extraordinary – and rightly so. I still vividly recall a moment in 1989 when, as a broke dental student in Kansas City, I received a call from Gerald “Jerry” Wiegert, founder of Vector Aeromotive. I had left a message expressing admiration for his radical American supercar, never expecting a reply. But Jerry did call back – not seeking my thoughts but gauging my interest in buying a Vector or investing in his dream to create the world’s fastest, most advanced production car. After confessing that I couldn’t afford lunch, much less a supercar, we had a warm conversation. A few days later I received a brochure and a set of 35mm slides – items I still cherish. What Jerry didn’t know that day, but would find out 25 years later, was the lasting impression his creation had made on me.

​I followed Vector’s progress, obsessively devouring magazine articles, news snippets, anything I could find. In 1991, when I learned that Jerry and a Vector W8 (#003, red) would be in Kansas City for a private investor event, I found a way in. Though the event was not “open to the public,” I convinced someone I was a serious investor. I wasn’t, of course, but I came away with hundreds of photos and memories from that remarkable day. I had come face to face with a unicorn. Ultimately, only 22 Vector W8s were produced, and today these rare machines are scattered across collections from Saudi Arabia to Japan. They surface occasionally at auctions, then vanish again, as elusive as Bigfoot and almost as mythical as a unicorn!

Even after Vector ceased production, Weigert never gave up on his dream, working tirelessly to resurrect the brand. In 2005-2006 he introduced the WX8 prototype, a striking evolution of his original vision, but it failed to attract enough investor interest to reach production.

Author Michael Roberts and Vector creator Gerald “Jerry” Wiegert standing behind the 2006 Vector WX8 prototype in 2017 at Weigert’s Wilmington, CA facility.

A half-scale drawing, nearly six feet long, representing the first formal design of the Vector W2 body. The darker body lines were created using drafting tape, allowing curves and features to be adjusted as the design evolved. In this process, the grid’s reference point typically began at the front wheel center, designated as “0/0.” Estimated value $2,500.

Fast forward to 2015. I don’t recall what reignited my passion for Vector, but I found myself dialing Jerry’s number again. By then, my hobby had evolved from collecting and model building to customizing diecast models with 3D-printed and machined parts. I offered to build him a 1:43 scale model of the WX8. He was hesitant. Jerry, fiercely protective of his brand, worried I might commercialize the model. But after some discussion and reassurance, he gave his blessing. I completed the first WX8 scale model, and shortly afterwards Jerry invited me to visit his California shop to see the newly redesigned WX8 in person.

It was the beginning of a special friendship. Over several visits, I proposed building a series of WX8 models he could use to present to investors. He liked the idea, and we ultimately created eight scale models together, along with several other unique pieces. The most important project, however, emerged during a quiet evening in his home office. We were flipping through his decades-old 35mm slides when I asked, “What will happen to all of this when you’re gone?” Jerry had accumulated tens of thousands of slides, boxes of photos, VHS tapes, technical documents, and design drawings – much of it disorganized, some already degrading.
​
That one question turned into a mission. Over the next several years, I began digitizing his archives. To date, I’ve scanned more than 10,000 slides, preserved more than 400 videos, and cataloged thousands of documents. It became a labor of love – and one that Jerry fully supported, and his family continues to support. The crown jewels of the archive were nearly lost. After Jerry’s death in 2020, the contents of his storage facility were set to be auctioned off, with little regard for historical value. Some creative maneuvering – and perhaps a bit of divine intervention – allowed me to secure the original engineering drawings, the design blueprints, and scores of concept drawing and documents, preserving the very foundation of Vector’s legacy.

That archive is now complete and safely preserved. What comes next is a story still unfolding: the first and only comprehensive book chronicling Vector’s history. Scheduled for completion in the coming years, the book will comprise close to 300 pages and feature more than 600 never-before-seen photos, offering an in-depth look at the marque.
Dr. Michael L. Roberts​

This hard-to-find January 1990 edition of the Vector Aeromotive Corporation Profile brochure could be had for around $100.

Examples of W8 and WX3 automobile brochures, valued at $15-$40 on the market.

The original Vector team standing behind the first pre-production prototype, #PP001, in 1988.

Above left: The production Vector W8, shown here circa 1989, embodied one of the most aggressively styled designs of its time – a bold aesthetic that continues to stop traffic wherever it appears. Above right: In 1992, many automotive journalists praised the Vector AVTECH WX3-C coupé as a breathtaking design – an advanced and futuristic creation that was years ahead of its supercar contemporaries.

Throughout its development, the Vector chassis underwent continuous refinement as engineers advanced its design. What began as hand-drawn sketches progressed to early 2-D computer-aided design (CAD) work and, by 1993, evolved into sophisticated 3-D CAD models. The Vector W8 is widely regarded as the first American automobile to have been developed using both CAD and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) technologies. Only one known set of original digital files exists, estimated to be worth $120,000.

One of many pre-production Vector W2 concept drawings created by Jerry. It’s a 10"x24" pencil drawing from 1971 and is valued at $1,700.

Regarded by many as the “grail” of Vector memorabilia, this packet of engineering drawings and chassis plans was provided to Southern California chassis builder Wingett to fabricate the Vector W2 and the W8 PP001 and PP002 (pre-production prototypes) chassis. Estimated value $12,000.

Beginning in September 1969, this was the capstone of Jerry Wiegert’s Center for Creative Studies design program. The watercolor is 18"x24" and is valued at $4,000. It was used to create the 1:5 scale clay model (inset), offering students an authentic simulation of working inside GM’s design studio.

Model maker RICKO produced the Vector W8 in 1:18 scale, offering it in two colors – red and black. The red version has become highly sought after, often valued at more than $400, while the black model typically sells at auction for around $150.

A 1:43-scale Vector W8 produced by model maker Spark was offered in two versions, including a yellow 1991 model and a rare pearl white 1992 edition. The yellow version typically sells for around $250, while the pearl white example can command as much as $500.

Recently, boutique model maker Ice Man Creations released a limited series of 1:25 scale Vector W8 model kits, crafted from precision 3-D printed components. These kits originally sold for $100; the 3-D files are now available for purchase, allowing enthusiasts to print and assemble their own models.

For investor presentations and to help visualize the Vector WX8 concept, approximately 10 hand-built 1:43-scale WX8 models were created for Jerry Wiegert to present to potential backers. Each model is estimated to have a value of approximately $450.

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