Preston Tucker beat the odds and design/developed a product superior to what the big three were producing before they teamed up to crush him.
Although John Deloreans company failed, some would consider it a success in that the product was good (eventually) and the high numbers of cars on the road today back that up.
Gerald Weigerts company Vector Areomotive, was one that was high on concept, high on technology, bad on timing and awful with management. The cars that they produced over the years are legendary in the automotive world, but not all legends are good. The most famous being of the unfinished vector that was sold to Andre Aggassi, who returned it in short order after it caught fire on the highway.
However, when the car was on, it was ON. Amazing angular design that evolved with the times (it was the 80's) and performance that was heralded by journalists. The car had an attitude that made the outrageous top speed claims of 220+ mph seem reasonable.
Twin turbo, aluminum block v8, 3 speed automatic tranny, aluminum and fiber honeycomb chassis that was bonded and riveted together, Liner slide gauges patterned after jet fighter gauges, etc. The car had so much potential. It could have been Americas supercar.
There are many sites telling the tale of Vector's rise and fall, This being a particularly detailed one.
On a personal note, I'm a major fan of this car and the concept behind the company. When I was 10 I wrote Gerald a letter telling him so and asking for advice on how to create a car company. He never responded. Extremely disappointing.When I did get to meet him 17 years later, I shook his hand a little tighter than I should have.
He noticed.
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