Yesterday morning I was up at 6:15 AM to make a three and a half hour drive up to Bellevue, Washington (outside Seattle) for a DeLorean tech session. I rode with a friend of mine who owns one and it really was a blast. We only got one stupid flux capacitor joke and one redneck who wanted know 'how we owned one'. It's a car...you buy them just like you bought your truck with the huge mud tires. At our pit stop, I was talking with a guy who knew they were stainless steel. That's a refreshing change as most people think they're aluminum.

The car at left arrived looking like that. It's a work in progress. The trailer at right was never actually a DeLorean.


No need for an ashtray? Make the best-looking iPod dock ever!


Somebody showing off his new stereo system.


This poor thing needs a good $20,000 worth of work and is awaiting its fate which is presently in the balance. It doesn't look good for its future, though.


The interior reeks of mold, the headliner is falling down, and mice are living in it.


The gullwing doors do require intermittent adjustment to keep them operating properly...










John DeLorean's signature on one of the cars' glovebox covers.


The front of the shop.


These guys are attempting to figure out how best to remove two cooling fans that have become jammed against the shroud. They wound up pulling the radiator halfway out. Note the horns hanging off their mounts are not the factory horns.


The car I rode up in is the one at left.


*Insert time travel joke here*

 

You were upset that someone made a flux capacitor joke, yet you drove up in a car that has a plate which reads "FLUXIN" ? lol

nice pics...

 

^ - I was just going to point that out...

 

I'm aware of that. Like I said, it's not my DeLorean but when I get mine, I will not have a BTTF themed license plate.

People think they're funny when they say stuff like that because they never see a DeLorean so they never get to say it. But when you are in one, you run into a bunch of people like that so it gets said over and over again. It gets old pretty fast.

 

I think DeLorean should thank Back to the Future. Pretty much the only reason why people are interested in that car...

 

Must refrain from joke...

 

Not really. Most of the owners I know like the car for the car and there are some that hate its relationship to the movie. Personally, I never saw BTTF until after I saw a DeLorean in person. I fell for the car before I saw it in the movie.

BTTF did bring the car into the eye of the public and if it weren't for the movie, it would be far more obscure today so in that respect, the DeLorean does owe its present status to the films.

 

Some of us old folks watched the car and story unfold in real time. I was a big fan of John Z. and hoped that he could pull the whole thing off. The car was a disappointment when it finally became available.

I think it's a great looking car but doubt that I'd want to own one. The car company has quite a colorful history. Good luck on getting one and keeping it in good shape for a reasonable price.

 

Looks like an awesome experience, Portland!

Glad you got to go, and to ride up there in the real deal no less.

 

There's one around here, I get to see it a few times a week in passing. It's a cool sight, not something I'd lust after though. Maybe it's because I absolutely hate BTTF. Nonetheless, it's a very significant car. Nice opportunity there, and great pics Andrew

 

+1

I enjoy the story of how the car came about and the colorful history of the company itself. DeLorean sure was a tragic figure, starting out as a gifted engineer to selling watches out of his apartment when he died.


PortlandRL:

I hope you get one eventually. Maybe they didn't live up to expectations, but they are an interesting car.



Terry

 

Surprised you didn't mention the Family Guy episode where Stan and Steve bond while on an interstate search for a passenger side door for the DMC-12 Stan rebuilds in his garage.

We borrowed Back to the Future 1 and 2 from the library last weekend. The movies didn't put the DeLorean in the most favorable light-- coulda been a Pacer, a Ferrari or any other car with a pile of junk (or is300eater's refrigerator) lashed on the back.

 

I love how the black Delorean is under a car cover...it's not going to get any dirtier than it already is...

 

always cool cars and dmc story

 

Thanks, man. JZD was a man who refused to think inside the box. His mind was always moving, always trying to do something new or make something better.

Thanks, stogie. For me the attention the car gets is still special to me but eventually it will wane and become tiresome. The fact I already become irked by BTTF comments might not be a good sign. It's actually a very comfortable cruiser. Winds up to 75 no problem.

They aren't for everybody, that's for sure. It's also probably why their value has remained relatively stable over the years. There was a brief surge in prices when John died four years ago but they have since leveled out. They are on a slight rise, though which is why I want to get in on the ground floor.

The rule for buying one is $25,000. You can buy one for $15k and put ten grand into it or buy one for 25k and have a good, reliable daily driver. Either way, be prepared to spend that magical number.

I think he's doing that to keep other customers from getting upset at the sight of it. I had to pretty much plead with him to show me the car because all he would say is, "It's bad."

I've seen some pretty sorry D's but this one takes the cake.

 

"American Dad" episode, not "Family Guy."

 

Cool. I saw one of those on the road a couple weeks ago.

 

ahh the DMC-12. wanted to own one, but i would worry where to park it, where to service it, and how much insurance would be.

 

I can think of a few better ways to spend $25,000 on a vehicle. It is a novelty though.

 

Has anyone replaced the 2.8L V6 that came in those cars?

I can vaguely remember what the engine was rated back in the day and I believe it was somewhere between a weed whacker and a lawn mower.

 

I believe it was a steaming 130bhp.

Cool photos and writeup. Thanks!

-Mirror

 

That Peugeot/Volvo V6 gutless wonder motor? Wasn't it something like ~130HP for a 3000lb car.

I though Delorean were trying to develop a twin-turbo version to help sales. One of the editors from C&D went to work at DeLorean as a marketing manager. He wrote up a article once about his experience there.

Nice pictures, never a Delorean fan but nice to see folks have a interest and keep them rolling.

 

Here is another 'dream' car from the same general period, similar fate. Some consider it to be the better bet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other...=p4506.c0.m245

http://www.lemonfree.com/36265241.html

 

Ahh the Bricklin, almost makes you wonder if it was the inspiration of the DeLorean. Although this is what I drooled on as a kid when it appeared at our Lincoln Mercury dealer in the early 70's when it showed up.

http://www.lemonfree.com/40709931.html

 

Good thing you stayed below 88.

 

what kind of mods exist for this thing?

 

Surprisingly, quite a bit.

- Stage 1 or 2 engine with upgraded exhaust. Tune it right and it will put over 200 hp to the wheels. I got a quick ride in a Stage 2 that was there and damn that thing hauls!
- Heated and ventilated seats
- Upgraded speedometer (reads up to 140 mph instead of 85 - the federal mandated maximum when the car was new)
- Remote start and door launch
- New stereo and speakers
- LEDs for dash lighting
- Xenon headlight upgrades
- Machine polish/powder coat wheels
- Improved/illuminated window switches

There are more but I can't think of them at the moment.

 

sweet. any turbo kits? more engine mods? i know there was a tt setup that was proto'd

 

You're talking about VIN 502, the Legend Industries Twin Turbo. Had the company survived, the 1983 model year would have seen the factory introduction of the Legend model along with camel color leather seats and even the introduction of paint options.

Keep in mind this car is coming up on 30 years old and you can only tune an engine with such technology (it has mechanical fuel injection) so high. Stage 2 is about as good as it gets right now.

 

Andrew, you the info guy when it comes to the DeLorean, nice pics !!

 

My father still has one sitting in his buddy's garage, awaiting its fate. He refuses to sell it to me or even let me drive it.

 

There was something on the history channel yesterday about deloreans. sort of interesting

 

yall now that delorean went under for being busted for cocaine? funny, i was watching BTTF yesterday..

dont you con me biff!

and if i could have any outrageous car from the era it would be a detomaso pantera gt..

gah so sexy. i will own one.

 

Cool thread! I always thought the DeLoreans were special, it's pretty cool to see so many in one place.

 

Another nice blast from the past. I seem to remember that the 351c ran really hot in that car.

 

There was a whole show on SpeedTv dedicated to Deloreans, showing how they have a bunch of parts in some warehouse and are dedicated to restoring them.

i remember seeing one earlier this year on the road, pretty unique car with stainless and gull wing doors futuristic 80's body styling.

Thats pretty cool you got to ride in one, god knows if i owned one i would Back to the Future that thing in a heartbeat haha.

 

That was a sting operation and JZD was acquitted on all charges, never doing any time.