How a Murderous Prince Stole America's Supercar
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#Supercar #Vector #lamborghini
Jerry proudly shows off every bit and piece of his new production supercar,
The newly crowned Vector W8.
The W8’s new race-bred Rodeck engine now makes an impressive 625 horsepower.
It has forged pistons and stainless steel internals.
The engine is fed by two Garret Turbos with adjustable boost.
A knob inside allows you to change from 8 to 14 PSi,
And Jerry claims they’d measured 1200 horsepower at the highest setting.
The engine powers a stealth fighter body made of carbon fiber and kevlar,
Held together by over 5,000 aerospace grade rivets.
All wrapped around an aluminum honeycomb monocoque.
The car has massive brakes and sits atop custom made Michelin tires.
And yes, it still has a 3-speed out of an old camper.
But Jerry promises it’s better now.
Every part of it uniquely Vector,
Every piece made in America,
Every box stamped with military specs.
Jerry proclaims that it makes the F40 look like a fiberglass toy,
That it’s 248 mile per hour top speed makes the 959 obsolete.
It has GPS, a car phone, sequential shifting with no clutch, and of course those fighter jet gauges.
It is America’s first true supercar,
It is the world’s most advanced machine,
And it is the fastest car ever built. Period.
This is THE SQUIDD, a channel devoted to telling boring stories BOLDLY. Automotive icons, car company calamities, supercar legends and underdog heroes. All told through the lens of The Squidd, automotive content creator famous for being a dude with bad hair.
Follow us everywhere!
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CREDITS:
Assetto Corsa footage: / demerov
Writer: Ken Steinberger
Editors:
Dhananjay Singh
Alex Anastasakis
Music Used in Order of Appearance:
Digital Future - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Safeword (Instrumental Version) - Torii Wolf
Infiltrator - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Airglow - Max Anson
Show Me the Door (Instrumental Version) - Big Girl
Deconstructing the Empire - Christian Andersen
89 - Ben Elson
The Kill (Instrumental Version) - Particle House
Sunstorm - ELFL
Absolute Power - Hampus Naeselius
Fallout - Lennon Hutton
Titan - Lupus Nocte
I Will Bleed for You - Reynard Seidel
Rescue the Embassy - Lupus Nocte
Motives - Hysics
Beyond the Time - Turpak
0:00 - Intro
05:02 - The Flight
07:34 - Modelling Clay
09:48 - Debut
12:45 - The Fight
13:59 - The W2
18:04 - The Hype
19:49 - The Late Show
22:20 - The W8
26:18 - The Other Jerry
28:26 - The Trouble With Tommy
32:52 - But Was It a Failure?
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Can you do a video on the Lotec Sirius?
Worst Google Chrome ad read.
I'm no expert.....(just an amateur filmmaker).......but...........THERE'S A MOVIE HERE!
Jerry turned out to be all sizzle and no steak...
Imagine if he just kept on going made deals with maybe Plymouth or Honda etc
I got to ride in the original grey prototype, back in 1979, I was 10. I had just finished delivering my paper route, talking with my Dad out on the sidewalk in front of the house. This insane car comes down the street and rolls up to us, and stops. Crazy doors open, and this guy gets out and asks for directions. I tell him how to get where he's going, and he drives away. Later that day, I was with my friends and tell them about this car I saw, they all thought I was lying. That afternoon, we are out riding our bikes and we see the car at an auto boutique in the city, so we go and look at it. My friends are aghast, and the guy sees us and says, thanks for the directions kid. You wanna go for a ride? And so I went for a ride down Huntington Drive in the prototype Vector W2, with Jerry behind the wheel.
How did it feel being inside? Did it feel like it was as fast as Jerry claimed?
What an awesome thing to be able to experience! Thank you for sharing your story with us!
Back before the Epstein days….
@@pompa13bro’s a hater fr
@@pompa13 awe, poor fella, sorry to hear that :/
I had no idea this company even existed and made such radical cars. Thank you for yet another fantastic documentary.
Our pleasure! I am happy to share the insane creations of Jerry. I think more people need to know about Vector.
@@the.squiddR390 vid?
Search for “Doug Demuro Vector”. He’s did a great in depth review of one.
If you want a review of the car, DougDemuro has a really good one!
@arthurtoscano723 Nah man, you know how squidd's vids go through the people behind and development history of the cars? That's what I want, I already know a fair bit about the actual car itself, (Also how did they get an R390 to review, there are like 2 of those things in the world)
I worked with Jerry personally in the early 00's and while i was aware of his deeper problems i really looked up to his vision and ambitions. I wish i could have had a better impact to help that vision come to light. Very patriotic.
We are all flawed, it takes a lot of bravery to put yourself out there like Jerry did and I will always respect him for that.
I think that it’s great that you were able to get to know him. My brother met him at a Detroit Auto Show and took a pic with him twenty five years ago.
@@the.squidd I have another video idea for you Mazda 787b Number 55
Growing up in Europe in the 70's and 80's, Vector/Wiegert were absolutely at the top in my mind, even above Ferrari and Lambo, because they made the Battlestar Galactica with wheels and it was so out of this world it made European supercars look pedestrian in comparison.
In pictures of a magazine. Does it count?
Your obviously a clueless clown when it comes to supercars
Jerry was a very ambitious guy who knew what he wanted...the W8 remains as a testament to his legacy in auto history
he knew what he wanted but had no concept of how to make himself a likeable person,
I fart
@@SimigemaGreat news.....I guess...?
@@rahulsudhir666 thank you, thank you. Special recipe is eggs and beans
It was and still is a piece of crap. We have never seen an actual testing of this car, all we had ever seen was silly commercials. It was all hype and nothing more.
If it wasn't for a little game called Gran Turismo 2, I never would've identified this insane-looking car I spotted in the Bay Area. The car company I really wanted to succeed.
Holy crap I forgot there was a vector in gta 2
Gt2 was the first thing I thought about when I saw this. Was one of my favorite cars in the game 😊
I remember the magazine article for the Vector W2 and then racing the Vector in GT2. Always wondered what happened to them.
@@Shawn-Leider and gta 3
It's a well-known fact that Polyphony Digital only put Vector in GT2 (then Cizeta in GT4) because they couldn't have Lamborghini's license. Since the M12 was a Diablo kit-car, it was the closest substitute to the real deal they could get. Same reason they got Venturi & RUF to fill in for Ferrari & Porsche respectively.
Jerry is the example of why you need people to tell you what NOT to do, such a visionary, but clearly so full of himself, that in the end, he was left all alone.
He needed someone to check himself before he wrecked himself.
he seems to have been what is today called a techbro, before popular culture had developed that concept
@@Tsotha truly beyond his time
John Romero from Id Software and Ion Storm would in his younger days fit the definition of a prototype for the tech bro, reading about the weird publicity stunts he pulled back in the 1990's I am instantly reminded of Elon Musk's today. The difference is that Romero seems to have learned from his mistakes in a way I don't think Weigert ever did and it seems extremely unlikely Musk will as far as the foreseeable future. @@dank_tomatoes1165
As an Indonesian, the name of Tommy Suharto has always has been, shrouded in infamy. Along with their family name. But to think he is also part of the downfall of Vector, but somehow is also a part to Lamborghini's survival is mindblowing to me.
that's true lol
Hey, just saying, megatech was not responsible for Lamborghini's survival. They were about to kill Lamborghini. The M12, he forgot to mention, shared the Diablo's V12. They made the flagship lambo of the era non bespoke. A complete tragedy, and it didn't stop there, with the Diablo's chassis being parted to the cizeta v16t (also known for having double popups). What saved our company (look at my username as why I say this) was Audi. The best Lamborghini has ever been treated, even better than when they were an independent company. Audi has given more to Lamborghini that anyone else ever did, Chrysler, megatech or anyone else. This was Lamborghini's darkest time. Looks like Tommy was even worse than just ruining vector.
@@a-lambo-boi i'm not surprised if you told me that 😂 That's even make more sense since Tommy is just a businessman at heart. Often his money goes to political will. 😂
@@OsaPratama Yeah. I get you. By the way, just asking, politically, are you guys doing any better now?
@@a-lambo-boi Tommy's Father was a dictator named Soeharto. Soeharto decide to gave up his position in 1998 due to public pressure. Then Soeharto passed away in 2008. Indonesia is so much better today, no longer experience economy crisis.. Thank God...
I love the way you tell stories and tell the history of cars and the people behind them!
They tell nothing all they did is post a video of a TV broadcast, anyone can steal a video.
@@LarkspeedNL Okay hater then tell me why all his videos follow the same format and atmosphere?
@@LarkspeedNL this is my favorite comment.
The quality of these videos is absolutely insane. A serious treasure trove to the car community, thank you for all the hard work and dedication.
Doing our best here, all credit goes to my team. Just absolutely more talented people than me.
@@the.squidd It takes a great leader to put his team first, nothing but blessings for the future ❤️
I really appreciated how most of the footage was actually out of the 70's, not only that but exactly related to what he's talking about instead of stock footage, it must be hard to do, really appreciate it.
@@Ar1AnX1x it is quite difficult sometimes. Luckily Jerry put out a few promo videos and was interviewed a few times on the news so we had some stuff to work with. We even hired a guy to record some Assetto Corsa footage for us for the intro.
PLS DO RUFF!
I was watching this video thinking it was a weird looking Countach, then, my father walked behind me and saw what I was watching and immediately exclaimed (in french): "WOOOWWW, the Vector, I definitely had a poster of it back when I was young. Son, this one's a classic!"
your dad is cool
I have actually seen one of these W8s in person and I believe the guy still has it and lives not too far from me. They are absolute works of art and one of the most interesting cars I have ever seen. Thank you for making this documentary and sharing Jerry's dream with everyone who hasn't seen one before.
They didn't make anything all they did was post a video of a TV broadcast.
what color is the W8? In which state?
It's a dark green color and it's in ND or was I haven't seen it in a couple years but it was 100% a W8. @@vectorfiles
There’s a black W8 in Manhattan Beach, CA. He was an engineer that helped Jerry with the wiring. Ive tried many times. He won’t sell it to me.
Are you 100% certain it’s a vector and not some kit car? There are 20 in the entire world. Chances it is a real vector is slim. But possible. There are just so many kit cars that look like that. Story sounds legit. It’s like the lottery if u seen one
Dude thia ain't an automotive channel.. This is a motivational channel that inspire all...
thank you friend that brought quite a smile to my face.
So make that Automotivational.
Squidd Vid Brigade unite!!
Yep we love squidd here
Unite!!
All for squidd, squidd for all!!!
Netflix should give them a show already
Present
Some people will probably get mad at this comparison, but I couldn't help but think of all the parallels to the story of Steve Jobs and Apple early on. A visionary dreamer who couldn't get along with anybody, frustrated with the media, lawsuits, losing an intelligent key partner, and even a forced exit (sure you could argue the word "forced" with Jobs). Crazy how one company literally took over the world and the other was never heard from again. RIP Mr. Wiegert, and great job as always Squidd and team.
Perhaps one of the weirdest claims Wiegert made about the Vector was his (alleged) statement of it being faster around a track than “any Le Mans car” upon being asked about Ferrari’s effort to send the F40 racing. This was the late 80s & early 90s, and “any Le Mans car” included the Group C cars, which were setting lap records comparable to F1 cars. There’s a certain Brazilian man who just so happened to be racing in F1 with Lotus & Mclaren at the time as well. Essentially, whether intentionally or not, Jerry Wiegert effectively claimed the W8, a street legal car, would be faster around a track than AYRTON FUCKING SENNA.
Yeah Jerry was not exactly a great marketer.
@@the.squidd Yeah, I feel like with a better marketing team & smarter management Vector could have easily made a bigger impact on the American supercar scene the way Mosler & Saleen did. The incredible ambition & unique car design was there. Part of me kinda wishes someone buys the Vector brand & gives it the revival it deserves. Perhaps a mid-engined lightweight supercar with a GM-sourced V8 (Supercharged LS anyone?) for the sake of tradition. A proper rival for the Ford GT & C8 Z06/ZR1 corvette. Of course the fighter jet influence would need to remain as well.
I had a chance to see a Vector in person (The silver one that Dak gets into on Motortrend's Top gear, seen in the video) when it was in Sacramento. The fit and finish is amazing, which really surprised me. They are so notoriously unreliable I thought they would be crap, but they seem really well built. It's a shame we didn't get to see Vector evolve. I think it's a much more interesting core philosophy in comparison to Saleen or Hennessey.
yeah every review ive read or seen on it says its surprisingly well built, outside of the engine bay. i think perhaps his vision of winning by having the bigger numbers, rather than just a beautiful well functioning car are his ultimate downfall.
@@the.squidd, yes and no. Yes cuz it's obvious and no, because if we're not allowed to dream we'll never evolve. So... yeah!
Wait it lived in Sacramento?!?! that’s insane
@@jakebower2515 Nearby, but the episode was filmed in Old Sac. Sacramento has a really good auto museum though, they take the cars out and make sure they are all runners, even the rare stuff like the early AC Cobra and the Rolls Silver Arrow
Its a boosted sbc, need forged parts to make it reliable.
Very cool car, and one that honestly doesn’t look all that dated today. In an alternate timeline, I feel like Vector would be known as a serious competitor
If he had just made cars, and shut up, and maybe changed that transmission, we'd all be talking about Vectors today.
@@the.squidd I definitely think so. It kind of reminds me of the John DeLorean story, little too much ambition in the wrong directions
@@believeinmatterexcept DeLorean got a little too involved in some illegal.... Things. 😅
@@the.squidd That and maybe if he found a partner that he could trust that would've been able to handle the business and public relations side of things. It saddens me that we were so close to something so amazing, and it just never got off the ground for real.
@@drkilledbydeath87 Apart from that.. it was about the worst car ever built.. It looked Ok, but it was too heavy, the engine underpowered, the FuelCap under the front Hood..and not a discrete Fueldoor on the wings, then add the Gassprings that were too weak for the heavy doors, Low Topspeed.. nah.. it was all bark but no bite... and underneath that Stainless steel body, they would rust like the clappers..
This was my bedroom poster car when I was 7 and on. I couldn't understand why it wasn't more popular and well known. As soon as I saw a picture of it I was in love!
What's interesting is the Vector was probably the only vehicle in the world that had a real aircraft hour meter installed on its dashboard. I'd love to drive one. It is the first supercar I have ever seen or heard about.
One of my all-time faves....the W8 was really insane...its earlier prototype/sister W2 was the most extreme auto in 1978...real aerospace tech for the street !!!
WE GONNA MAKE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH THIS ONE!! 🗣️ 🥶🔥😎💥💯
Thought you said garbage for a second lmao. Shame it ended as it did
The Vector was my dream car as a kid I used to have posters it was such a cyberpunk car that was filled with tech.
I remember as a kid I owned a book of supercars that had the WX8 as one of the final cars in the book and I remember even now how cool that car was to me. Matte Black SR-71 Blackbird on wheels. I couldn't have cared less if it worked. The idea of it was so profoundly cool to me. One of the first "bedroom poster" cars for me. Say what you want about Jerry, but the guy was certainly a visionary who deserves to be remembered for his badass cars and will to succeed..
I finally saw a Vector in person at Hagerty in Traverse City years ago, there was a huge crowd around it, and I wondered how many people truly appreciated what they were seeing.
Travers city Michigan?
@@wasntme3651 Yep, at the Hagerty HQ campus
1992 Vector W8 #15 will travel there from time to time.
@@HotMetalVideos no, that was W8, chassis 001.
I heard of Vector back in the early 90s, I was around 5-6 years old in Mexico when my mom bought me a purple WX3 Hot Wheels car. Still got it, of course.
We need to bring vector back alive
So damn close. Like the Delorean, all they had to do was pick other options. Better engine, transmission, cooling, brakes, etc... Reminds me of the Tucker, wanting to push things to a new level. Sad to see something fail for reasons that could have been solved at the time. We've lost so may great things because of this. At least people can learn from the mistakes of others and make their things better. Example: the Jag XKE lives in the Datsun Z car.
Absolutely. If they’d just made the powerplant reasonable and the cost to manufacture a bit more realistic, it would’ve likely done very well. But then it wouldn’t be Jerry’s vision, and Jerry was gonna build that damn car.
And, as a history teacher I admire the richness an depth of the info not only on the car, but more so on Jerry and the "Pacemakers" (Suharto and the rest)
One of my primary missions as a history teacher was always to spend time on great historical characters personal/professional flaws to show students that statues do not make perfect and that greatness exists in a lot more people then we know but only on display when tested....it was more fun too.....@@the.squidd
The Vector W8 was one hell of a car. It was beautiful, sleek, and the true definition of futuristic. I can safely say that it looked so much more beautiful than the first Countach. But alas, fate and he himself had been cruel and killed all signs of it's rise to the ranks. You told his story in such a beautiful way that I have gained quite some respect for tbe man behind the production of this sharp, brutal beauty. Thank you!
By the way, if you hearted this comment, sorry, it might've vanished cuz I edited it- xD
Is everyone in this comment section on some copium crack ? The W8 is absolutely hideous and looks better than WHAT ? Are you nuts the Gen 1 Countach is the epitome of downright gorgeous, to compare this droopy mirrored hideous wedge to that is INSANE.
@@samueljones3668 No. I am perfectly fine and didnt ask for your opinion. Carry on.
@@samueljones3668It's quite insane isn't it? To say that Jerry is a better car designer than Marcello Gandini is like saying Stockton Rush is a better submarine designer than General Dynamics. Hell, the W8 makes even an Isdera Imperator look decent.
*This car is A E S T H E T I C .*
Steve Jobs could never have succeeded without Steve Wozniak. Jerry needed a partner who could not just build those cars, but make them work perfectly.
totally agree, and a good observation. Jobs/Wozniak worked very well, because their skill sets, although different, complemented each other very well. Wozniak was such a solid guy, Jobs less so.
There was a WX3 on display at the Riverside Car Museum in Southern California I saw back in 2012 (haven’t checked if it is still there) but the curator shared a piece of information that showed the struggle of the failing company: The WX3 that was displayed at auto shows would get painted in between shows in a different color, making it appear as if there were multiple cars made.
no, there was no WX3 at the Riverside museum. The Riverside museum had the black M12, chassis 012 with red interior, formerly owned by Prince Jeffry of Brunei.
@@vectorfiles it’s been years… but thank you for clarifying, i vaguely remember the curator saying it was a Lamborghini chassis so I just assumed it was the WX3!
I figured out where I goofed after doing a little research: the M12 had the Lamborghini motor, not it being the Diablo chassis! It’s all coming back to me now.
Vector made cars so futuristic they are still being talked about today. This story is a cautionary tale to any automotive designer. Have a dream but keep it simple. All the technical and performance feats are only as amazing if they work and you can prove it. I've seen high speed claims questioned only for the automaker to become defensive and blame the speed testing company for their numbers.
Or have the backing of multiple mulit-millionares like Gordon Murray did, or have an incredibly strong understanding of your product, like Pagani, or eat a ton of fried chicken, like Koenigsegg.
absolutely. If he had just made the damn car, not bragged about numbers, and been nicer to journalists, we'd all be drooling over the 2023 Vector W16 right now.
@the.squidd - Would have been interesting to have talked to people there who were there with the automotive journalists to find out what happened. Instead you make assumptions. Not like it was all roses and glitter perfection. Someone you should have spoken to is the VP of engineering for Vector - the man who made the dream a reality.
@@HotMetalVideos I feel like the video makes it pretty clear that it wasn't "roses and glitter" - most the journalists are more than happy to talk about what happened. Car and Driver especially, Csaba has extensive notes that he freely shares. As for talking specifically to Kostka, there just isn't really any reason. He's not the main character of the story being told. While his cost saving and engineering ideas are fascinating, ultimately his time at Vector was very short compared to the entire saga.
@@kensteinberger6968 are you serious? David was there basically the entire time. Weigart passed away, and David carries the Vector legacy. "No reason to speak to him" but lots of reasons to speak to Casaba" what a joke!
Interesting story, sounds bit like Koenigsegg's story, but Koenigsegg is still around and thriving with some insane cars.
I am so glad I finally got to see a Vector in person this year. Simply awe inspiring. If anyone is ANYWHERE near Hickory Corners Michigan, I 200% urge you to RUN to Gilmore Car Museum, as they have a temporary "Supercars: Then and Now" display in their main concourse, and it features a W8.
chassis 001.
Like many said, i never heard of him. But i am glad you told his story so it‘s not forgotten. Thanks Man
Damn that nearly brought me to tears. I really do think Jerry was a visionary and that his story deserves to be told. So glad people agree.
Whatever his mistakes, this man built the finest supercar to ever exist on the surface of Earth. He's legend.
@@jdizzle2918 Name me just one with half its pedigree. 1978...are you joking?
@@RenoLaringoYes I agree the sexiest car ever made especially from that epic era he was a legend of a man.
lol what?
@@Decenium Do you have any problem understanding English?
The W2 is still around. Saw it a few months back. Helped move it out of the garage it was stored in back in 2021ish. I became the next tenant of that garage, and built my c10 in it!
I love how wild Jerry was and love his car's looks, so ahead of it's time and luckily we can try it on granturismo 2. It's a shame it never worked out but its a big lesson for others
The W8 was absolutely a giant leap ahead.. Could have been much more powerful but the looks were to die for
JERRY..... was a racear driver, he drove so goddamn fast... he never did win no checkered flags , but he never did come in last.
Nice job! This is the documentary I was pushing Matt Farrah to do 11 years ago. You knocked it out of the park!
That intro was intense, I thought I clicked on a Nexpo video. The Squidd's voice is so versatile and has so much range and emotion that he changed the entire atmosphere of a car video.
Fun fact I freaking love Nexpo and this storytelling style was inspired by them. What an honor to hear someone caught on to it.
man, this car was great, pretty sad it had to go down in such a way
Well, here in Germany the similar looking equivalent could be the ISDERA Imperator 108i. They built 17 from 1984 to 1991. Based on Mercedes technology and not so overpowered.
You knowwww they were influenced by the W2, which was based on the Alfa Romeo Carabo, which might be one of the most influential cars ever made that few speak about.
@@the.squidd Just googled the Carabo. And I thought the Lamborghini Countach was the first 😳. Anyway, Alfa Romeo nowadays is a real pity. I like the Giulia, but they don't sell many in Germany. Hard to find a dealership.
*What about the Lotec Sirius* ❓❔
7 series I Imperators were made, 5 series II plus one evo model, total of 13 Imperators. 2 series I were destroyed in a fire, one series II. One of the destroyed series I was then converted into an S II and one series II was converted by Franco Sbarro to the S20 roadster.
I remember seeing one of these at the toronto international auto show. Still such an amazing looking car
I've known about Jerry and the Vector company for years. Would have loved to see some of more of his "ideas", like the exterior folding in rear view mirrors and the see through the fog (was it radar?) systems and such. Good video! Really appreciated it.👍
Never heard a word about this car. Now i'm a fan. Peak storytelling as always 🔥
that is our goal here, to introduce you to new stories you didn't know! Thanks for watching.
Andre Agassi's bad press was the beginning of the end. That impact alone dented the company and investors trust ..
He crashed that car multiple times
Oh Jerry! I met him several times. His shop then was a half block off W. Washington Blvd (now Abbot Kinney) in a small shop across the street from "The Haunted House" , a motorcycle clubs headquarters. A friend took me there because he needed some art or artwork of some type, can't recall exactly what, but he was weird, and very guarded, leery of letting anyone into the shop even. I Also ran into him at an exhibit at the Convention center in L.A. ether the Futrama Exibition or a Auto Shop, can't recall that exactly either. What I do recall was that it was common knowledge with the locals that Jerry only had 1 Vector. But he would paint it different colors and drive it around so it looked like there were more then there actually were. We laughed about that. I also sat in the car, can't remember which version it actually was but it had a Emerson Fitapaldi steering wheel with a sort of cheap cover disguising the fact. I called him on it and he got sort of ticked off and told me to get out of the car. I also remember that in the beginning innthat little shop he wasn't using an RV transmission, he was using a unit from an Oldsmobile Torenado but I don't remember which engine it had. Ahh, what memories, thanks for that, so many chuckles people were looking at me.
He had a good idea but just when he got investments, instead of focusing on finishing cars that already had customers and further developing the Vector, he went overboard and was voted out of his company in a corporate takeover. I met him when he brought the W8 to the New York Auto Show. RIP 1944 - 2021
This kind of reminds me of the story of the McLaren F1, but it's the total opposite. Instead of the brilliance, determination, and expertise of Gordon Murray, we see the hubris, stubbornness, and incompetence of Jerry Wiegert. Truly a captivating story.
Both though, have passion, and for that, I can't fault them.
@@the.squidd Wiegert definitely had a passion for all things "aeromotive."
...with edges that lacerate the air with naked aggression. That was hella poetic!
we tried a different writing style on this one for sure
I'm of the lucky ones, who saw a black W8 in real life a few years ago. I know Vector since my childhood playing Gran Turismo 2 then, where the W8 and the M12 were included. And I always loved Vector. So you can imagine what is like to see a supercar, which is so rare, that you only can dream of seeing it once in your lifetime and then it stands right in front of you. I couldn't stop watching to it. It was so flat and wide and beautiful, oh my god... Thank you for another good automitive story. I like your stuff and how you bring it across.
Lucky you! I’ve never seen one in person. I’d love to just sit inside one once.
Incredible as always. My personal favorite documentaries on the internet. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do!
This was the first Hypercar I fell in love with. It truly is a tragic story that Jerry let his mouth write checks his behind couldn’t cash. Did any of the Vectors even remotely reach the performance levels he envisioned?
Kind of. There was allegedly testing that saw one do 240-something, and the math works out. Nothing ever official, though, so it's unknown if the tested W8 was a production quality car or highly modified. There's another sad layer - by the time it was tested, even unofficially, it wasn't groundbreaking anymore. Cars on the salt flats were already going over 250 regularly, and the F1 was right around the corner. There's no doubt that the car was very fast, and it is a very cool car. It just lacked the support it needed.
@@kensteinberger6968 no Vector ever made 200mph. Never!
Man I completely forgot about the Vector till now. I so remember all the posters, magazine covers and even that Agassi fiasco all through the late 80s and early 90s, that car with the hottest models. Then the flashbacks.... when everyone was thinking that was the most basass car ever made. So nice to have the story told of being so close to legendary success being so ahead of it's time to only fail. At least there are a few still around as a shining example. I hope their value is astronomical. R.I.P. Jerry Wiegert you still left your mark in automotive history.
Dude your ability to tell a story is incredible, your stuff is so cinematic!
Jerry was a legend and a genuine car enthusiast. It is utterly sad that he was not recognized for his truly superordinary endeavors. At least Vector W8 will go down in history as an innovative revolution. RIP Jerry.
The man invented the Hypercar long before they ever existed!
@@the.squiddFor sure
@hoxtongood the technology of the car is great, @the.squidd although the way the engine wasn't
So glad you did an episode on the W8. Great work, as always.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I remember the debut of this car. He meant well, but missed.
I love how you did your research deep down into the Cendana Family business. That's dedication.
this was so far my favorite squidd video. one of the best stories in automotive world ever told.
Wow, thanks! Was worried about this one, we tried some new stuff and we weren't sure people would like it!
It's a great day when I open KZhead and a new SQUIDD video is on my homepage. Thanks again for another phenomenal documentary. I knew of Vector and a few of their cars, but never the story of the company and Jerry.
Awesome so glad to help broaden your knowledge of this incredible story! I think Vector is a really under sung song in automotive history.
I was patiently waiting for this day. THANK YOU The Squidd! Amazing work as ALWAYS! Here's to another insane production value video!
With every video you put the ribbon higher and higher you're trully a storyteller, congrats man 🎉 I've knew Vector from Gran Turismo 2 it was featured a M 12 wich it was a really nice car to play with and it was. W 8 as well. Keep up the the amazing work Your mexican fan here 🇲🇽
Great video again! Just a small mistake the engine is transversally mounted not longitudinally as stated. Anyway, keep up the good work, each of your video is a joy to watch!
That was my fault. Sometimes it's 2am and you're on the 5th coffee so words get all confusing and stuff.
Thanks, will do!
Not unlike the Lamborghini Miura
Dude just trolled everyone, designed and drove his dream cars around lol
Always a good day when you upload. Good content everytime man, your consistency is awesome :D
I appreciate that!
Thanks to Gran Turismo and old magazines i knew about this brand as a child! Such a cool and unique make. They are literally the coolest supercars in my opinion. If someday when i make it big, i will do my best to get one.
A man before his time. The Vector W8 was out of this world, ruddy beautiful.
If it weren't for Gran Turismo 2 I'd have never known about Vector, thanks for this video:)
Happy to help!
What a crazy story, very well done. I can’t believe I haven’t heard of these cars before. Hope your wrist is doing better!
a lot better! Almost back to normal function!
Damn! I have seen many videos about the Vector… but watching video I have already pressed pause one minute into it just to breathe … given me the chills that 1978 sequence…
Maaaan I'm not into cars at all. But this channel isn't about cars. Its about people, and their stories. I love it!
This guy gets it.
Squidd released humanity restored 👍 Second american car video in a row, getting patriotic?
squidd tired
@@the.squiddget some rest best squiddo
This story was expertly told as usual. I remember watching the W8 Doug DeMuro video and it became my favorite Doug video of all time. These Vector cars are absolutely insane and I love absolutely everything about them.
I was poking around and Emailed Gerry, looking to join his adventure as a Fabricator about four months before he died. He said,”Let me get back with you in two weeks.” May he Rest In Peace.
Spoke with whom I assume was Weigert at the Long beach Grand Prix in the late 1980's and sat in this thing there. He was impressed that I knew so much about the car he offered to let me come to the shop in Wilmington CA and drive it. Never took him up on the offer sadly enough.. Saw a red one driving around Long Beach a time or two as well. Huge potential...
Didn't think this car would come up this soon from Squidd, but glad another big name is talking about this legend.
Dude no way thank you sooo much😭, I first heard of this car on a card game called "super triunfo" I remember comparing it to the testarosa which was also in that game and seeing how it completely obliterated the top speed of the testarosa, 320kmh compared to the 384kmh of the W2, I never saw such a passionate video talking about this beautiful car. I always thought this and the Pantera are complete forgotten beasts that broke record at their times. ❤
Haha that's so funny, I think that game is called "top trumps" in the UK? Yeah the proclaimed numbers of the Vector were wild, I have yet to find any information verifying any of it was true though...
Bro made another great vid......definitely one of my fav youtube channel in recent time. Keep up the good work👍
Thanks! Will do!
What a fascinating story told in a wonderful way. Always a pleasure when you upload
Once again I loved every second of this masterpiece of a video! Thanks for making my day :) Never even heard about this car/company ever, but the story was amazing and I will remember it forever! Keep up the great work 👍
When you have a person that thinks this creatively they always have a bit of crazy to them. Jerry just needed to snag a team to help him to drive this forward. Great story I remember the Vector. Never knew what happened to it.
Another amazing video, perfect narration, amazing editing. This is a perfect mini doc.
What a wild ride that was! As always, your videos deep dive and tell an amazing story!
Thanks a ton!
Love your vids. Would love to see one about "Noble". :D Was one of my favourite brands in TDU 2 on PS2 back in the days.
Noble is such a good looking car brand. Got a poster of one because of the very game you described.
Maaaan @the.squidd can you like STOP making such high quality stories and videos?! You're making us all look bad! Another banger, I had forgot about this car, and really knew nothing about it until now. Thanks for continuing to raise the bar, it's motivation for the rest of us to keep going/growing!
I remember as a kid the 1st time I learned about this car. It was an article in either Playboy or Penthouse magazine of all places. I remember falling in love with the car the 1st time I seen/read the article. To the point I can’t even tell you who the female models were but still remember the car
The car was practically designed for Playboy magazine XD
I remember seeing this car in 1985 when I worked at Tyler Camera Systems. The one I saw had a chevy 350 motor and leaked oil. It was a beautiful design but it was obvious that Jerry was unable to succeed in bringing this car to fruition. It was sad to see something that had so much potential yet never reach it. Now Nelson Tyler was a mechanial genius. He created the first helicopter camera mount and the wetbike. He even built the rocket belt that was used in 007 movies and the 84 olympics. He had such elegant mechanical solutions it amazed me. He was a true visionary. I was proud to be a part of his legacy. Back to the vector, somebody should take that vision and bring it to reality. It can still compete in the supercar world today.
Great video as always man keep up the good work
Appreciate it! Just bought a cold brew in your honor friend!
HOLY CRAP!! Top Wheels magazine!! I had that exact issue. I must have read the article on the Vector, the Testarossa and the Countach literally a hundred times as a kid. I'm sure I still have it somewhere at my parents home. I'll never forget it as the Countach had the front wing!! Small world!!
The Countach Fwing was soooooo cool
Dude, if your copy is good it can sell for $10-15k easily!
Discovered this gem of a channel recently… Your vids are truly masterpieces 👏
Glad you like them! Thanks for taking the risk and clicking!
Dang I just stumbled upon this channel. That retro intro was AWESOME! So nostalgic and vibe-inducing. Edit: If Jerry grew his hair out and dyed it blonde, he could cosplay as Dave Mustaine
If Dave Mustaine designed a car it would be pretty good, but not great, and everyone would just say that James Hetfield could have made a better one.
32:36 thats me behind the wheel of the WX8 in the early 00's we were towing it around the block with a forklift. If you look closely you will see the strap coming out the front bumper.
Yeah another commenter said Jerry liked to see what the car looked like in different lighting scenarios so they towed the WX8 around at different times of day. What a wild machine and an interesting designer. Luck you getting to at least sit in it!
I remember the Vector W8 from Gran Turismo 2- it was a mean machine and maybe, in a perfect alternate universe out there, that was how Jerry envisioned his cars to be but alas, his ambitions were built on a raggedy-ass foundation Rest in Peace, Jerry
Hi, I'm new here, just watched this video along with a few others and I have to say I really like your presentation style in how you tell a story. Your tone was great, the pauses you use to build up emotion, the words you use was unpredictable such as calling Jerry dumb to link up to your in-video ad, as well his last car demonstrated he didn't learn anything. It keeps the video interesting compared other car documentary videos I've seen. Keep up the good work!