Gerald Wiegert
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Gerald Alden "Jerry" Wiegert is an automobile designer and manufacturer. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he is most famous for creating the Vector Supercars, a high-performance sports car intended to be America's answer to European supercars such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche. Wiegert also created the Aquajet jet ski. His black suit and wrap around shades have become his trademark outfit.
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[edit] The early years
As a child, Wiegert liked automobiles and aerospace, so when he was in high school, he entered a design contest, which he won, giving him a good design course in College. In 1972 he began his career in the automotive industry when he teamed up with Lee Brown to create Vehicle Design Force. The first car to be built by this company was called "The Vector." The first Vector was a mock up with no engine, and it had to be pushed onto its display. Wiegert announced that the car would use the Wankel engine from the Mercedes-Benz C111 and that it would be priced at $10,000. The car appeared in Motor Trend after its debut, but the car was never seen since.
[edit] Vector Supercars
Wiegert is best known for creating Vector Supercars, an american exotic manufacturer, and is considered America's first attempt to compete in the superexotic class. The Vector stalled until the 1990's, when the W8 entered production, but its glory was cut short when a car sold to Andre Agassi caught on fire. Some though defend Vector, claiming that the car was unfinished when Aggasi got it, and he ignored Vector's instructions. This still managed to ruin Vector's reputation, and it still didn't get back onto its feet until Megatech's takeover in the late 1990s. Vector made its way back onto the market, but embezzlement by another employee caused Vector to go bankrupt and close operations. Wiegert has revived the brand name, but still hasn't produced another car, as Wiegert is seeking investors. Nobody is sure if there will be another Vector produced.
[edit] Firing from VSC
Wiegert was glad that MegaTech offered such a big investment, but was outraged when they tried to take over the company. MegaTech wanted to keep Wiegert's talents working for the company, by offering him position as head designer, and a generous retirement plan, so he could retire when he wanted to, but Wiegert didn't like this offering. He performed a lockdown of the building, changing all the locks, laying off all of his employees, and hiring armed guards to keep people out who didn't have appointments. Wiegert just wanted to start from scratch all over again. Operations resumed, and Wiegert was fired. Despite this, years later Wiegert revived the Vector name when the original company lost grip.
[edit] Today
After the demise of Vector Aeromotive after a takeover from Megatech in the 1990s, Wiegert took back the Vector assets, including the W8 prototypes, the WX-3s, and the M12 molds, while Ohio-based American Aeromotive bought the remains of the bankrupt company with plans to restart Vector. Wiegert has renamed his company several times — Avtech Motors, Vector Supercars and then Vector Motors — but neither he nor American Aeromotive have produced cars. No one is sure if there will ever be another Vector produced.
[edit] Aquajet
In the 2000s, Wiegert founded Aquajet, a jet ski company. Aquajet models are said to handle like motorcycles, but for the water, with many motorcycle styling cues and the handling and feel of a motorcycle. Aquajet has so far been a successful venture and this has gotten many Vector fans to believe that Wiegert may fix most of his focus onto Aquajet, and focus less on Vector.
[edit] The Next Vector?
There have been rumors about Wiegert developing a new car to bring Vector back to life, supposed to be called the WX-10. It is said to be a mix of the WX-3 and a Toyota Supra, with a little bit of Corvette mixed in. This has not been proven though, while there are stories of fans who saw it when they visited Wiegert at the Vector Supercars headquarters.
[edit] Controversy/Criticism
Wiegert has been drawn under heavy media fire for some of his choices/antics during his run at Vector. He has been known for overexaggerating the capabilities of his cars, and in turn, letting fans and customers down when the vehicles do not deliver as promised. When the W8 was unveiled to the public, he claimed that it was able to best respected supercars of the era, such as the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Diablo, and the Jaguar XJ220. It turns out though, that the Vector probably couldn't be able to take those cars, because it wasn't engineered on even half the budget that the latter three cars were, and because the other cars were aerodynamically engineered in a wind tunnel, and have been tested to do their slated top speeds, while the W8 wasn't. Due to the W8's lack of aerodynamic engineering -- in fact, due to its pointed nose, early models were known for the front to lift off the ground -- it is probably only able to do 190 MPH at best, even though it was said to do 230 MPH. Megatech is an Indonesian company that pursued the development of various supercars. It is jointly owned by Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra, the youngest son of President Suharto, and Mycom Setdco, a Bermuda-based subsidiary of Mycom Bhd. In 1994 it purchased the Lamborghini brand for $40 million and then sold it to the Volkswagen Group in 1998. It is also infamous for leading to the downfall of the Vector brand when Tommy embezzled from the company.
[edit] Quotes
"The Vector is advanced aerospace technology for the street"
"I wanted to be a Jet Pilot, but I didn't have the eye sight for it, so I decided to make a car that is just like a jet" (When asked why he created Vector)
[edit] References
Tv.com biography
Vector Aeromotive club
Supercars: The World's Most Exotic Sports Cars - Craig Cheetham, 2003
vector supercars official page
Vector Aeromotive Club Forums (Through Internet Archive)
Aquajet official site
