Vector W8s at Monterey

[philip]

Parked on Ocean Boulevard in Carmel California during Monterey Historics Race week, two Vector W8s. These two cars represent 11% of all Vectors in existance. The crowds were pretty impressed.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8073/dsc00909smallkx9.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2548/dsc00905smallnx5.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6553/dsc00901smallfs1.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3586/dsc00922smallyr3.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5404/dsc00912smallou3.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6986/dsc00903smallej9.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9202/dsc00904smalltr6.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7397/dsc00911smallzo3.jpg

[nthfinity]

17 production cars
2 pre production cars
2 avtech cars
1 prototype

2/22 = 1/11 =9.0909% of all W8 styled chassis ;)

BTW, there is a 50% chance of getting just as many actual W8's together this weekend...


Not to take away from your post, the pictures are nice, and what a nice experience... its rare to see the twin plenum intake manifold... very few W8's even have them, even though each was designed with it...

I just can't help setting the facts straight ;)

BTW

the AWX-3R with Florida plates is NEWS :)

[yg60m]

Very rare cars !! :D Thanks for the pics and for the infos nth :wink:

[philip]

How many were convertibles?

[nthfinity]

2 avtech cars, one of which is a roadster.

[philip]

So I photographed 50% of the convertibles.

These cars actually got a lot more attention than the 4 or 5 Ferraris that were across the street. (no Enzos)

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4462/dsc00921smalltv5.jpg

If you didnt come in a Lambo or a Ferrari or something very unique, you were pretty much ignored in Monterey during this week. I have really never seen so many exotic cars on the road in one place in my life.

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/7180/dsc00835smallzb6.jpg

[nthfinity]

So I photographed 50% of the convertibles.

These cars actually got a lot more attention than the 4 or 5 Ferraris that were across the street. (no Enzos)


100% of the roadsters, 100% of the avtech cars, 67% of the prototypes, 40% of the non-production cars, 9% of all W8 style chassis.

SoCal is like that ;)

[harryo2b]

Holy hell those things are ugly as sin, well mostly the interior. I didn't know it was so...not even sure how to describe it?!

Thanks for the pics though, I wouldn't mind the green one say if it were a silver.

[philip]

The interior looked a little '80's as it was the '80's after all.

I'm not quite sure about the side support, nice if you were wanting to make out, corning I'd like some sports seats. I guess you probably do more making out than cornering in this car so, maybe it was appropriate after all. The girls were paying alot of attention to these cars.

nth, so whats the history behind these two cars. Were they not regular production/

I have some digital video of them starting up, very short as I was running out of memory. I'll put it up if I can figure out how to.

[nthfinity]

The interior looked a little '80's as it was the '80's after all.

I'm not quite sure about the side support, nice if you were wanting to make out, corning I'd like some sports seats. I guess you probably do more making out than cornering in this car so, maybe it was appropriate after all. The girls were paying alot of attention to these cars.

nth, so whats the history behind these two cars. Were they not regular production/

I have some digital video of them starting up, very short as I was running out of memory. I'll put it up if I can figure out how to.

The interior on these two cars is purely prototype quality... aka... not the same quality as the production cars. These two cars were prototypes of the car that would've replaced the Vector W8.

The lack of side-bolstering is because these two cars had the optional W8 equipment installed... the bench was only ever used on the avtech prototypes, not on any W8's. The Avtech is most definitely not a W8.

The aluminum honeycomb semi monicoque is built for superior rigidity, and incredible lightness... comparable technology was in EVERY Group C prototype until near the end of Group C racing when a few cars began making CF semi monicoques.

Why would you think these vector's can't corner? Side bolstering doesn't have anything to do with a chassis ability to hug a corner.

Additionally, these cars were made in the early 90's... not the 80's. Only the prototype Vector W2 was a child of the 80's.

They were pounded and beaten on the race tracks around the USA... and with it's street suspension setup (fully adjustable like the Koenigsegg, and Spyker's) The Vector W8 pushed .98 G laterally in 1990... the F40 wasn't able to do that even with 1990 tires/suspension. With the suspension fully tuned for the track [Leguna Seca] the Vector W8 atchieved 1.25 g laterally while still using street tires, and more aggressive suspension settings.

History on the Avtech cars?

Jerry Weigart was working on the successor to the Vector W8... in hindsight, he should've focused more energy on producing the W8, and expanding production rather then generating excitement on the next batch while only 12-13 people had recieved their own W8's... that would be akin to Pagani showcasing the car to succeed the Zonda while the F was only just released.

The W8 was already the most technically advanced car ever made. The AWX-3 and AWX-3R (Avtech Weigart eXperimental - 3rd generation Vector) were of prototype quality.. but working models. They housed new technology for new engine developments.

A 7.0 liter DOHC TT making even more power then the W8's, and an even wider torque band was made.... although, today, this engine is rumored to be in the midwest somewhere. It was lost after the illegal Megatech takover. Megatech had no interest in making the Avtech car into a production car... it would be far too expensive, and they didn't care.

There was also a big displacement high reving n/a V12 that was created... making as much power n/a as the 7.0 TT.. and a TT version also was dreamed up making an easy 1200 hp on pump gas.

All smog legal in CA.

some of the tech. improvements on the Avtech cars was adjustable areodynamics, and more interior options/computers etc. Most of theimprovements were visually, and beneath the skin.

[philip]

The cars are really low and wide so I assume they could really corner, but you were in trouble if you forgot to fasten your seatbelt.

[novass]

The cars are really low and wide so I assume they could really corner, but you were in trouble if you forgot to fasten your seatbelt.

I thought the same thing the first time I saw that bench seat. I think these are the same two Vectors that visit the Cars and Coffee (aka Crystal Cove) show around here quite often. Damn, I wish I could have gone to Monterey this time around :(

[nthfinity]

thats one hell of a sighting. they look awesome but that interior is a joke. absolutely 0 side support from those seats.

actually, thats not true. They do have a side bolsters that comes out when driving, and retract for ease of entry/exit

however, they are still not as good as the 2 seat standard equipment of the W8.

For comparison purposes... what looks like the most luxurious interior?

Jaguar XJ220
http://www.ferraris-online.com/cars/JA-XJ220-220705/images/P029Web.jpg
McLaren F1
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/McLaren/mf1_r_interior.jpg
Bugatti EB110
http://www.carchaos.com/bugatti/110gt/110gt_interior.jpg
Ferrari F40
http://www.motorintro.com/clasicos/_imagesclasicos/ferrari%20f40/interior.jpg
Porsche 959
http://www.edge-inc.net/images/cars/959lethr.jpg
Vector W8
http://galeria.forocoches.com/data/4831/vector_w8_int.jpg

Tell me which looks the best?
(hopefully no red x's)

[gangajas]

The interior of the Vector doesn't look that bad, but that upholstery is a joke.

[philip]

When I saw the center seat, I made my choice.

[Zot09]

Damn, I wish I could have gone to Monterey this time around :(

Maybe we could make a California/US JW meet in Monterey for next years Concours?

[nthfinity]

maybe something cool like Speed Week at Daytona...

[philip]

Here are the really really short vids of the two W8's. Sorry they are sideways, duh what was I thinking.


http://img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mov00925tu9.flv
http://img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mov00923ba5.flv

[novass]

Damn, I wish I could have gone to Monterey this time around :(

Maybe we could make a California/US JW meet in Monterey for next years Concours?

I'm down for that! :D