No, I haven't lost my mind and started buying other makes for my collection, the Vector M12 is running Lamborghini Diablo engineering below its bodywork, even the V12 engine has been borrowed from the Diablo of that era.
Back in 1995 Vector Automotive was owned by Megatech, an Indonesian company that at that time also owned Automobili Lamborghini SpA, and while the Vector W8 was powered by an intimidating US-built V8 twin--turbo engine, the new M12 would be built around the Diablo mechanics and the 5.7-Liter V12 engine, hence the link with Lamborghini, and the reason why I've added this model to the collection, it's a Lamborghini Diablo with a different dress on.
The Vector M12 would be built between 1995 and 1999, and while the Lamborghini Diablo didn't sell too bad, with nearly 3,000 units between 1990 and 2001, the Vector M12 didn't do well at all, just 17 units were ever built, and that even includes a few prototype cars and a race car conversion, production of the Vector M12 halted completely in 1999 as Automobili Lamborghini SpA was acquired by Audi AG at that time, and Vector would have to start paying for the Diablo parts.
I'm not sure why the Vector M12 didn't sell well back in the Nineties, it sure didn't have something to do with the price, back in 1995 the MSRP on the Vector M12 was $189,000 while the Diablo VT at that time came with a starting price of $242,000, but I guess owning a Lamborghini was still more appealing to people than owning the less-well known Vector in the Nineties.
This is also my first BoS Models in the collection, they don't do Lamborghini models, so I haven't been able to add one of these Best-of-Show models to my stable yet, but when I saw this gold metallic Vector M12 being listed at a nice discount I just couldn't resist adding a piece of Lamborghini related automotive history to my collection.
I do have to admit it isn't a top of the line collector's item, the large intakes come with sealed grilles, the paint isn't as perfectly applied as we've seen from MR, and this is also a sealed model, nothing opens, so we can't really admire the interior of this Vector M12, mostly because the windows have a rather dark tint to them, which is correct with the real cars mind you.
All in all, this BoS-Models Vector M12 isn't too bad, and I'm quite happy I've been able to add it to my Raging Bull collection, where I have her on display next to an AUTOart Lamborghini Diablo, they make a very nice pair indeed.
Exterior | 9/10 | |
Interior | 8/10 | |
Engine | 6/10 | |
Accuracy | 9/10 | |
Overall rating | 8/10 |