Vehicle Description
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1993 Vector Avtech WX-3 Prototype
VIN: 1V9VW2620PW048001
"1 of 1" WX-3 Coupe Prototype
Displayed at the 1993 Geneva International Auto Salon alongside
Vector WX-3R
Featured heavily in Vector's marketing campaigns and period
automotive press
2,625 miles since new
Owned by Vector founder Gerald "Jerry" Wiegert from new until
2019
Twin-turbo 7.0L all-aluminum V8 engine - 1,000+ horsepower
Recent major mechanical freshening of $300,000
Aquamarine metallic paint over grey and aquamarine leather
interior
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, complete as
a highly detailed display model, highlighting the brand's
advancements in technology and design. 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. Drawing heavily from the
W8, the WX-3 incorporated cutting-edge materials like carbon fiber,
aluminum honeycomb, and Kevlar, alongside a fully integrated roll
cage within its angular frame. Its design featured streamlined
bumpers characteristic of early 1990s aesthetics. The car garnered
praise from John Dinkel, former editor of Road & Track, for its
unparalleled design and Vector's dedication to cutting-edge
technology.
The interior reflected aerospace influences, with an upgraded
layout compared to the W8. It included billet-machined switches and
conventionally arranged controls, though the seating arrangement
was unconventional-a three-place bench design. Innovative elements,
such as lightweight sliding side windows and integrated A-pillar
mirrors, further distinguished the prototype.
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 envisioned a range of high-performance engines for the WX-3,
offering outputs from 600 to 1,200 horsepower. Powering the WX-3
and WX-3R was a unique and upgraded 7.0-liter all-aluminum Rodeck
twin-turbocharged V-8 engine with an estimated 1,000+ horsepower,
paired with a heavily modified General Motors Turbo-Hydramatic 425
transmission. Company founder Jerry Wiegert boasted that the WX-3
could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and achieve a top
speed of 248 mph, cementing its place among the fastest vehicles of
its era.
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-3 received widespread media acclaim, both during its teaser
debut in 1992 and as a completed vehicle in 1993. Between 1992 and
1995, the car appeared in numerous publications, including Car
Styling (July 1992), Performance Cars (September 1992), Car Stereo
Review (October 1992), and the New York Times. It also featured in
a segment of the Australian technology show Beyond 2000, an
advertisement for Bridgestone tires, and an episode of the American
crime drama Burke's Law. Both Avtech WX-3 prototypes played
significant roles in Vector's advertising campaigns, with a late
1993 ad showing this prototype before and after its repaint-likely
intended to suggest that the model was entering series
production.
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. 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-3
Prototype underwent an extensive $300,000 restoration by Miller
Motorcars of Greenwich, Connecticut. This work prioritized
mechanical enhancements while also addressing any necessary
cosmetic refinements, ensuring the Coupe was in peak mechanical
condition.
The 1993 Vector Avtech WX-3 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 WX-3 Coupe, 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.
