Vector Aeromotive, founded in California in 1971 by Gerald “Jerry” Wiegert, promised a revolutionary product: A futuristic American-made machine that would incorporate advanced, aerospace-derived materials and manufacturing methods and offer all-conquering performance. Vector’s first concept, the W2, debuted to great acclaim in 1978, but it would take over a decade for limited production to begin. Critically short on funds by the early 1990s, Vector accepted investment from MegaTech, an Indonesian firm that would later purchase Lamborghini. This backfired on Wiegert when MegaTech—having acquired a controlling stake in Vector—ousted him from his own company, then moved the operation to Florida. This iteration of Vector developed a new model, the M12, which was closely related to the Lamborghini Diablo and used a V-12 from the Italian automaker. Seventeen were built before MegaTech sold Lamborghini to Audi, cutting off Vector’s engine supply. This might have been the end of the road for Vector if not for entrepreneur Randy Welty, as well as former Lotus board member Tim Enright, who purchased Vector from MegaTech in the mid-1990s. This led to the development of what would be the last functional Vector: the SRV8 prototype. THE LAST VECTOR Developed under the stewardship of Welty and Enright, the SRV8 was an ambitious attempt at charting a new course for the faltering automaker. Built on a repurposed preproduction M12 chassis, its engine was all-American—a 5.7-liter Chevrolet LS1 V-8—though this was mated to a Porsche five-speed manual gearbox. The SRV8 retained the marque’s signature wedge shape, but in keeping with late-1990s trends, its edges were softened, and static headlamps took the place of earlier pop-up units. The prototype even wore patriotic new red, white, and blue badging featuring the Statue of Liberty on the nose and wheel center caps. Ultimately, the SRV8 could not save Vector, and the company ceased operations not long after the prototype’s debut in 1999. Though Jerry Wiegert attempted to restart Vector production until his death in 2021, he reportedly never produced a functional vehicle; thus, the SRV8 prototype remains the last completed Vector automobile. Retained by the Welty family after the company’s closure along with a selection of other Vector vehicles, the sole SRV8 was eventually given to Randy’s son, Jake, as a 16th birthday present. The younger Welty would keep the car until 2025, when it joined the collection of the consignor. It remains in essentially as-built condition, displaying only 864 miles at time of cataloguing. Vector remains one of the great might-have-beens of the supercar world, with the SRV8 prototype representing the end of a saga that captivated enthusiasts for decades. This is an unrepeatable attempt to acquire a unique and fascinating all-American exotic, the sole example of its kind ever produced.