Vehicle Description
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1993 Vector Avtech WX-3R Roadster Prototype
VIN: 1V9VW2620PW048002
"1 of 1" Vector Roadster
Displayed at the 1993 Geneva International Auto Salon alongside
Vector WX-3
Owned by Vector founder Gerald "Jerry" Wiegert from new until
2019
Original twin-turbo 6.0L all-aluminum V8 engine - 650+
horsepower
Recent major mechanical freshening of $116,000
Amethyst purple over grey and purple leather interior
Created by the makers of the "Original American Supercar"
In the 1990s there were several daring supercar manufacturers who
tried to beat Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche at their own sports
car game. While most of these companies fizzled out or took a
traditional approach to building cars, one company sought to upend
the supercar market by using exotic space-grade materials, new
techniques, exceptional quality standards, and advanced production
methods: Vector Aeromotive. Spearheaded by founder Gerald "Jerry"
Wiegart, a special blend of West Coast style, European influence,
and Detroit production paired with aerospace technologies birthed
some of the wildest handbuilt supercars the world had ever
seen.
Vector produced nearly two dozen W8 supercars, attracting
high-profile buyers like tennis legend Andre Agassi. Hand-built
with meticulous craftsmanship in the European tradition, the W8
featured a 625-horsepower V-8 engine capable of launching the car
to 60 mph in just over four seconds-a remarkable feat for its time.
With a 12-second quarter-mile, it outperformed rivals such as the
Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Countach, and Jaguar XJ220.
Riding on the success of the W8, Vector began work on its next
project in 1991. By 1992, the company unveiled the Avtech WX-3
Coupe Prototype at the Geneva International Auto Salon. This
silver-clad display model showcased an evolution of the W8's
fighter jet-inspired design, adopting a smoother, more organic
aesthetic while retaining a strong emphasis on aerospace
technology.
In 1993, Vector returned to Geneva with a completed version of the
WX-3 Coupe, now finished in striking Aquamarine, alongside a
surprise debut of the WX-3R Roadster in vibrant Amethyst purple.
Both models featured scissor doors and Rodeck twin-turbo V-8
engines mounted behind the passenger cabin, exemplifying founder
Gerald Wiegert's dedication to extraordinary design and
performance.
Vector's Director of Manufacturing, Markus Rufer, and Chief
Engineer Dave Kostka highlighted the WX-3's exceptional build
quality in several U.S. publications, describing it as "built like
a spaceship" using "aerospace-grade materials" and adhering to
rigorous aerospace industry standards.
The WX-3R Roadster shared much of its design DNA with the WX-3
Coupe prototype but stood apart with a sleeker and more refined
profile. Key to this was an aggressively angled windshield that
seamlessly flowed into lightweight side windows, separated by
sections of Kevlar composite door skin. Further enhancing its
aerodynamic appearance, the roadster featured a lower rear spoiler
compared to its coupe counterpart. Inside, the cabin traded the
coupe's three-wide bench seat for snug individual Recaro bucket
seats, adding a sportier and more focused feel.
Powering the roadster was a 6.0-liter all-aluminum Rodeck
twin-turbocharged V-8 engine, paired with a heavily modified
General Motors Turbo-Hydramatic 425 transmission. This potent
combination was claimed to propel the WX-3R to speeds exceeding 200
mph, cementing its place among the fastest roadsters of its
era.
Despite an ambitious $765,000 price tag announced at its 1993
Geneva debut, neither the WX-3 nor WX-3R advanced beyond the
prototype stage. Vector soon faced a hostile takeover by the
Indonesian government-backed Megatech. Following a legal battle,
company founder Jerry Wiegert retained ownership of the WX-3
designs and prototypes. Megatech later introduced the Lamborghini
Diablo-based M12, which borrowed heavily from the WX-3's design
cues but failed to find success in the market or on the
racetrack.
For over 25 years, Wiegert retained both prototypes, rarely using
them. Interestingly, the WX-3R's odometer displayed over 89,000
miles-an inflated figure, reported by Chief Engineer Dave Kostka,
programmed by Wiegert to stealthily showcase reliability during its
Geneva debut. However, subsequent restoration efforts strongly
suggest the car has seen minimal actual use, further emphasizing
its pampered condition.
In 2019 both WX-3 and WX-3R prototypes made their way to a new
caretaker after being auctioned by RM Sotheby's on behalf of Jerry
Wiegart himself. Under the new owner's care, the WX-3R Roadster
underwent an extensive $116,000 restoration by Miller Motorcars of
Greenwich, Connecticut. This work prioritized mechanical
enhancements while also addressing any necessary cosmetic
refinements, ensuring the roadster was in peak condition.
The 1993 Vector Avtech WX-3R represents a unique snapshot of
American supercar design and development in the early 1990s,
pioneered by Jerry Wiegart's visionary approach from his California
operation. Being the singular example of Vector's roadster, this
prototype will add significant cache to a discerning collector
looking to bring some American supercar DNA to their collection, as
well as turning heads no matter where it goes.
