Les Jones: The DeLorean

March 17, 2005

Misc > The DeLorean

The DeLorean wasn't released until 1981, but it was a product of the '70s - a sports car with a stainless steel body and gull-wing doors, the ultimate life in the fast lane accessory. The DeLorean was pioneered by John DeLorean, a playboy and former GM executive who spearheaded the Pontiac GTO. It's now best known as Marty McFly's time-travelling car in Back to the Future. A DeLorean painted red makes an appearance in Jackie Chan's Rumble in the Bronx.

In 1982 the FBI busted John DeLorean for conspiring to smuggle $24 million worth of cocaine. The company folded in 1983 after building about 8,500 cars. DeLorean was acquitted when a judge determined the FBI had entrapped him. His wife divorced him in 1985, and he declared bankruptcy in 1999. He's trying to start a line of watches and a new line of cars in Europe.

There's a DeLorean show every couple of years. The last one was in Pigeon Forge last year, and I missed it. Damn. I could have seen the DeLorean show and Buford Pusser's Death Car all in the same day.

For DeLorean information, Tamir's DeLorean page is a work of passion. You can also read the FAQ or visit the DeLorean Motor Company's official site.

St. Patty's Day/Seventies Week Double Crown

I just remembered the DeLorean was manufactured in Ireland. Double score!

Posted by lesjones

Comments

There used to be one tooling around west Knoxville that I'd see on occasion.

Posted by: SayUncle at March 17, 2005

I love Deloreans, if I ever hit the lotto, I will definetly have one or two!

Used to be a guy lived in my neighborhood as a kid, he had one, man that was sweet. I would ribe my bike up and down his street staring at it.

Posted by: Cinomed at March 17, 2005

The Deloreans were a car before their time. Unfortunately they were rushed to production and had several design flaws. The most common being the doors which need to be taken off and adjusted often. Much of the design problems were not necessarily the cars design but rather substandard parts. With everything that was going on and the need to break into the market, the problems were not corrected as they should have been. It says a lot for the Delorean however that it still turns eyes when it goes by today and not just because it was in a movie.

Bryan

Posted by: Roberson at April 14, 2006