Jerry Wiegert was at least 76 years of age.
The history of motoring is forever etched with the iconic supercars. They are a poster-worthy combination of their futuristic appearance and impressive performance figures.
The Vector was one of the most prominent nameplates in the early 1990s. It was created by Gerald “Jerry” Wiegert (entrepreneur), who founded the company back in 1971. After partnering with Lee Brown, a Hollywood movie car expert, Wiegert renamed the company “Vehicle Design Force.”
Automotive News reports that Wiegert, 76, died on January 15, in California. At the time of writing, the cause of death was not disclosed.
In 1944, Wiegert was born near Dearborn. He studied at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, and then did an internship at General Motors’ Technical Center. He graduated from ArtCenter College of Design, California. After that, he worked as a freelancer designer before setting up Vector to compete with popular European supercars such as Lamborghini or Ferrari.
Although the Vector W8 supercar was short-lived it was Wiegert’s most important creation. The first two prototypes, one static and one running, made an impact on the motoring industry.
The Vector M12 – America’s Lamborghini Gone Wrong
The Vector W8 was praised for its top speed of 242 mph (389 km/h) and its 0-60 mph sprint time of only 3.9 seconds. This pull is a twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter V8. It initially produces 625 horsepower (466 Kilowatts) as well as 649 pound-feet (880 Newton meters) of torque with 8 PSI boost. According to the company, a boost of 14 PSI can increase the power plant’s output to 1,200 horsepower (895 kW).
The Vector W8 was not a popular car, producing only 17 cars and two prototypes per year. Wiegert was also the last of the company when it was purchased by Megatech in Indonesia, which gave birth to the M12 supercar.