Vector W8: The Blade Runner Car

Gerald Wiegert wanted to build an American car that could destroy Ferrari. He used aerospace technology. The Vector W8 looks like a doorstop. It is wide, flat, and angular.

The Tech

• Chassis: Aluminum honeycomb and aircraft-grade rivets.
• Engine: A 6.0-liter Rodeck V8 with two massive turbos.
• Gearbox: A 3-speed automatic from an Oldsmobile Toronado (heavily modified). Why? Because it was the only transmission strong enough to handle the torque.

The Screens

The interior looks like an F-117 Nighthawk cockpit.

• Screen: It had a CRT monitor (like an old TV) that displayed engine stats. It looked like Knight Rider.
• Buttons: Circuit breakers instead of fuses.

The Failure

Only 17 customer cars were built. Andre Agassi bought one, and it broke down immediately. The company collapsed. But the W8 remains a cult icon of the “Radwood” era.