How fast can a Delorean go ? 120 Mph
21 DeLorean Facts :
1. The DeLorean DMC-12 was the vision of automotive industry executive John DeLorean, who worked for Chrysler, Packard, Pontiac and Chevrolet before setting up his own company in 1973.
2. The car was built in Dunmurry, a suburb of south-west Belfast, with the first car rolling off the production line on January 21, 1981.
3. Approximately 9,000 were made before production halted in early 1983. Only 16 official right-hand-drive cars were ever produced.
4. The car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ital Design (who also designed the Lotus Esprit and the original Volkswagen Golf).
5. The body panels weren’t painted, as they were made from the same brushed stainless steel used in the catering industry.
6. However, three cars were plated in solid gold. The original plan was to build 100 as part of a Christmas 1980 promotion for American Express gold card members. Only two of the $85,000 cars were sold, but a third was also built with spare parts, in case one of the other two was damaged.
7. The engine was a version of the 2.7-litre V6 that was developed jointly by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo. It was also fitted in the Renault 30.
8. The official 0-60mph time for the DMC-12 was 8.8 seconds.
9. The #DMC-12 was so named the because it was originally priced at $12,000. However, by the time it came to market, the car had a suggested retail price of $25,000 (you could option an automatic transmission for an extra $650).
10. A total of six DeLorean cars were used for the making of the Back to the Future movies, along with one built entirely out of fibreglass for scenes in which the car had to fly. Only three of the cars still exist, plus the one that was destroyed at the end of the trilogy’s final film.
11. The doors have space-age tech developed by the defence industry, Grumman Aerospace developed the doors' torsion bar (which helps with the lifting and lowering) and did most of the manufacturing under cryogenic conditions to ensure longevity. When not working on the DeLorean, Grumman made things like the Apollo Lunar Module and the F-14.
12. The government used DeLoreans to test airbags, DeLorean originally intended the DMC-12 to be an extremely safe vehicle -- in fact one of the top contenders for the car’s name was DSV, "DeLorean Safety Vehicle." The company even donated two of the early prototypes to the NHTSA for airbag crash tests.
13. Before starting his eponymous company, John Z. DeLorean was one of GM's brightest stars, He headed up Pontiac in the 1960s, where he was responsible for the birth of legendary cars like the GTO and Firebird, before running Chevrolet in the early 1970s and making a few enemies at GM along the way.
14. The car’s shape was penned by legendary designer Georgette Giugiaro, Even if you’ve never heard of Giugiaro, you know his other works: the BMW M1, Yugo, Lotus Esprit, and Lexus GS all came from his mind, to name just a few.
15. The chassis was engineered by Lotus founder Colin Chapman. Well, it was actually re-engineered by Chapman, because the first design used unproven techniques. The chassis shares much of its components with the Lotus Esprit
16. The engine? Straight out of a Volvo. DeLorean went through a couple of engine plans, including a rotary engine like you’d find in a Mazda RX-7, But ultimately, a version of a V6 developed by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo found its way into the rear. Surprisingly, plutonium- and garbage-powered nuclear reactors were never taken into consideration.
17. There are three gold-plated DeLoreans. As part of a campaign with American Express, a couple of 24k gold-plated cars made it into the wor ld, and both are in museums today. A third was eventually made from the spare parts of the first two
18. The "A" hero DeLorean time machine used throughout the entire film series was painstakingly restored by Temporal FX and is on permanent indoor display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.
19. The DeLorean time machine which was once outfitted for stunt work with train wheels for Back to the Future Part III is now on display at Universal Orlando next to Doc Brown's time traveling train from Back to the Future Part III.
20. The third remaining time machine was retrofitted with 1950's white-wall tires in Back to the Future Part III, and is now in private hands.
21. The time machine which was hit by the train at the end of Back to the Future Part III was the "B" main stunt car used throughout the trilogy. To create this effect, the special effects crew cut up the car and frame, rigging it with explosives. The wrecked body panels were reassembled after filming, and the DeLorean was suspended from the ceiling for a number of years at the Planet Hollywood Honolulu restaurant in Hawaii (closed in 2010).
The fiberglass hover-converted time machine toured the world and was later on display in The World of Cinemagic:
Back to the Future Special Effects Stage show (1991-2001) on the lower lot at Universal Studios Hollywood. Reportedly, it was dismantled when the Back to the Future portions of this show ended in 2001. Universal Studios commissioned the creation of at least four additional DeLorean time machines to promote the sequels and the opening of Back to the Future...The Ride. These time machines along with other vehicles from Back to the Future Part II were part of Universal Studios' international Back to the Future World Tour in the early '90s. Wish to know more about DeLorean's and the franchise click below for external references :
Some Fun questions and answers regarding Back to the Future and the DeLorean DMC-12
Who Designed and Built the Delorean - “ #JohnZDeLorean “
Is the #Cybertruck connected with the DeLorean - “ No, the only thing that is similar is the Stainless Steel Panels”
Where was the #DeLorean Built - “ Northern Ireland “ on the twin brook estate
Is there a film about #JohnDelorean - “ There is a new film called #FramingJohnDelorean which depicts and centers around one of the FBI agents informants, featuring #Alecbaldwin
What the DeLorean Speed in 0-60 and top speed - “ 8.5 seconds and 120mph “
Is there a model DeLorean I can build ? - “ Yes #Eaglemoss make a detailed 1/8th Scale DeLorean “
Did I hear there is a new Delorean ?- “ Yes there is a new DeLorean being built visit www.delorean.com “
Is the Back to the Future #Musical in #ManchesterTheatre linked to the Franchise - “ Yes it’s been taken from #Robert Zemeckis and #BobGale screenplay and features music and lyrics from Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard.
* Who played Marty McFlys Girlfriend ? “ #Lea Thompson then in Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III #Elisabeth Sue
Is there a Back to the Future Game ? ” Yes there is a Back to the Future Monopoly Game “
Will there be another Back to the Future film ? - “ No as Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis beleive the three films complete the story, so no reboot “
Can I buy a set of #AirMags - “ Yes, there are two versions of the Nike Mag Back to the Future Nike shoes - One that lights up and One that actually has powered laces “
What famous song did Marty McFly play on stage ? - “ #JohnnyBGoode “
When was Back to the Future made ? Well … :
Back to the Future was released on 04.12.1985
Back to the Future II 24.11.1989
Back to the Future III 11.07.1990
* Was there a carton series made ?- “ Yes there was an animated series from 1991 to 1992 “
What is the device that makes time travel possible in the DeLorean ? - “ That is called the #FluxCapacitor “
The 2019 film #AvengersEndgame does make reference to the 1980’s Back to The Future film
Who Played Doc Brown Character ? “ #ChristopherLloyd “
Who made the Hoverboard ? - “ #Mattel “
The 2018 film #ReadyPlayerOne featured a DeLorean as the main car in the film, and also has references to the Back to the Future films
Appearances
The Earth Day Special (Non-canonical appearance)
Back to the Future: The Animated Series (Note: It does not appear in the episode "A Friend In Deed", however, it is mentioned by Marty and Verne.)
The Simpsons Ride (Non-canonical appearance)
Star Trek/Legion of Super Heroes #5 (Non-canonical appearance)[1]
A Million Ways to Die in the West (Non-canonical appearance)
Deer in the Headlights (Music video for artist Owl City) (Non-canonical appearance)
LEGO Dimensions (Non-canonical appearance)
Ready Player One (film) (Non-canonical appearance)
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Delorean’s History Timeline
1956 - John Z. DeLorean’s 12½-year career at Pontiac director of advanced engineering
1959 – DeLorean became Assistant chief engineer Pontiac
1961 - Chief engineer Pontiac
1965 - General manager of Pontiac now leads the domestic industry in engineering, styling, and merchandising
Age 40 DeLorean became a GM vice president, the youngest general manager in the corporation’s history.
1969 Run Chevrolet, the largest and most important of GM’s automotive divisions
1972 Group Vice President, responsible for the entire car and truck group, with salary and bonuses totaling $650,000 a year and a $25,000 annual expense account.
1973 April, seemingly at the pinnacle of his success, DeLorean resigned. His own explanation was that he quit, frustrated with GM’s monotonous products and insular culture
DeLorean spent a year as president of the National Alliance of Businessmen and One of the biggest successes of his tenure at Chevrolet was the new Monte Carlo
1975 “DeLorean Motor Company” was incorporated
1976 - October DeLorean and Collins had a running prototype, built by Triad Manufacturing Co.
1977 Early - DeLorean allowed the press to see and sit in the prototype
1977 Floated in mid ‘77, was 2,000,000 shares at $5 each
1977 Early, he learned that the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was very interested in establishing an automotive plant outside Aguadilla, on the site of the former Ramey Air Force Base.
1978 DeLorean made a similar pitch to the Republic of Ireland’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA)
1978 - Spring - DeLorean approached the Northern Ireland Development Agency (NIDA), proposing the establishment of a DMC factory in Ulster that would create at least 2,000 jobs in the region.
NIDA chairman Sir Kenneth Cork was skeptical, but Roy Mason and Northern Ireland Minister of State Don Concannon supported DeLorean’s proposal and a deal was reached in only 46 days.
1978 - Late July the British government agreed to give DMC
£16.5 million (about $31.7 million) in Loans and
£27 million (about $42.2 million) in Grants, plus an additional
£17.8 million (about $34.2 million) as an Equity Investment in a new holding company
72-acre (29-hectare) marshland in the village of Dunmurry in west Belfast. The package brought DMC’s total capitalization to a claimed $156 million.
1979 - Early, DeLorean commissioned Giugiaro to update his now four-year-old design for the DeLorean DMC-12, redesigning the side windows, quarter panes, and vents as well as adding the rear louvers.
1981 January 21st First true production cars rolling off the line
1981 -Early, DeLorean told Autocar that the Dunmurry factory’s maximum capacity was 30,000 units a year, BMW-rivaling volume in those days.
1981 DMC entered ‘81 with an $18.6 million shortfall.
Dick Brown had lined up more than 340 U.S. dealerships, many of whom were accepting deposits of up to $5,000.
1981 inflation and exchange rate fluctuations had pushed the DMC-12’s U.S. retail price to $25,500,
1981 saying the company would soon be selling 30,000 cars a year, DMC was losing money at an alarming rate
DMC was also obliged to pay the British government £185 (nearly $400) for each car sold, cutting into the company’s per-car margins.
DeLorean, meanwhile, was living as lavishly as ever with an annual salary of $500,000 and a generous expense account.
1981 -October Gibson went to Tory MP Sir Nicholas Winterton with charges that DeLorean was diverting company funds for his own use. All the while, the factory kept churning out more cars. With no customers,
DeLorean Motor Company of America simply stopped paying for cars. By the end of the year, the American company owned DMC Ltd. around $10 million for cars already delivered,
DeLorean pressed the British for even more money: another £35 million (about $70 million). Since the Conservative Thatcher government was understandably nervous about the £77 million-odd (approximately $154 million)
1981 February 19, the British forced DMC Ltd. into receivership, appointing Sir Kenneth and Paul Shewell as the official receivers
DeLorean no longer in control of DMC Ltd.’s operations. Unless he could come up with another $20 million to pay off its outstanding debts, the company was doomed.
1981 The Dunmurry factory manufactured around 7,500 cars but DMC sold only about 3,000 of those, while the rest piled up in Belfast.
1982 DeLorean spent the spring and summer playing for time
DMC of America’s offices in Irvine, California, had trouble even paying the utility bills.
1982 February DMC was more than $800,000 in arrears on its interest payments and suppliers like Renault were making threatening noises.
1982 October DeLorean told the receivers that the insurance broker Minet Holdings was prepared to loan him $100 million
Sir Kenneth told him that would be acceptable, but only if DeLorean put at least $20 million of his own money into DMC Ltd, to remain in the company even if the deal fell through.
DeLorean offered $10 million, which he claimed that Virginia-based Financial Services Inc. was prepared to loan him. Sir Kenneth judged that acceptable and set a deadline of October 20 for the transaction.
1982 Evening of October 19, 1982, he was arrested in a Los Angeles hotel room for conspiracy to distribute more than $24 million of cocaine.
The receivers immediately shut down DMC Ltd, sending its 35 remaining employees home. DMC of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six days later.
1982 October Shortly after shutting down DMC Ltd. the British receivers began sorting through the company’s labyrinthine financial records
1982 November, Consolidated International, the parent company of the Big Lots discount store chain, purchased many of DMC’s unsold cars along with the distribution rights.
1983 Some of the remaining cars were re-serialed and sold as 1983 models, but the DeLorean Motor Company was finished. John DeLorean’s troubles, however, were only beginning.
After 10 days in Los Angeles County Jail, DeLorean was released on a $2.5 million bond,
1984 DeLorean was tried in a Los Angeles federal court in the summer ‘84. He never took the stand during the 62-day trial.
1984 August 16, the jury acquitted DeLorean of all charges
Back to 1978 the deal with Colin Chapman for the re-engineering of the DMC-12 had called for Lotus to be paid through a Geneva-based holding company called GPD Services, allegedly run by two of Chapman’s longtime friends.
DeLorean had transferred $17.65 million to GPD, $5.1 million from DMC Ltd., the rest from one of his U.S. research partnerships. When the receivers investigated, however, they reported that none of those funds had gone to Lotus and that Lotus had billed DMC Ltd. directly for for its engineering services, which totaled about $23 million. The receivers claimed that the GPD money had simply disappeared.
1985 Federal prosecutors in Detroit charged DeLorean with fraud, tax evasion, and racketeering
1986 At DeLorean’s trial in October , attorney Howard Weitzman admitted that his client had received the money from GPD, but insisted that it was a legitimate personal loan from Colin Chapman. DeLorean denied any knowledge of fraud or of the fate of the missing money. Since Chapman had died of a heart attack in December 1982, the prosecution was unable to disprove or discredit DeLorean’s account and DeLorean was acquitted two months later.
The British government was not satisfied with that verdict Scotland Yard’s Special Fraud Office continued its own investigation.
1989 - June British police arrested former Lotus managing director Fred Bushell, who later pleaded guilty to fraud charges.
1992 Bushell was convicted the presiding judge said that if Chapman and DeLorean had been available to stand trial, each would have received at least 10 years.
DeLorean was also faced with a host of civil lawsuits, including one filed by his brother Charles, a former DMC dealer
One of DeLorean’s attorneys, Mayer Morganroth, later sued DeLorean for $4 million in unpaid legal fees.
A plan to build a lightweight sports car in partnership with aviation entrepreneur Burt Rutan came to nothing.
1996 TV interview DeLorean did concede that his great early success had left him with an exaggerated faith in his own omnipotence.
1997 Arthur Andersen settled with the British government for $35 million.
1997 Houston, Texas mechanic Stephen Wynne bought the remaining parts inventory along with the original engineering diagrams and the rights to the DMC name and logo
1999 The firm agreed to pay $27.75 million to other DMC creditors to avoid further lawsuits
1999 His personal finances drained, DeLorean filed for bankruptcy
2000 DeLorean Motor Company’s bankruptcy proceedings were finally settled
2005 March 19th DeLorean died at the age of 80. He was buried in blue jeans and a black motorcycle jacket, playing the rebel to the end.
2006 Former Lotus executive Fred Bushell died on January 14, at the age of 78. Although he ultimately served more than three years in prison, Bushell shed no light on the fate of the missing GPD money. With Chapman, DeLorean, and Bushell all dead, the truth may never be known.
2008 (Late) The company also began selling new-build DMC-12s assembled from a combination of new and original parts
It’s worth noting that despite all the accusations and allegations, John DeLorean was never convicted of any of the crimes of which he was charged.
DeLorean’s achievements were as spectacular as his eventual downfall. To successfully launch a new car company is no small feat; Henry Kaiser, one of the greatest industrialists of the 20th century said.
DMC could have survived; but the missing $17.65 million would have been enough to save it from receivership
DeLorean always said the DMC-12 was just the beginning. Aside from the mooted twin-turbo version, he had been toying with ideas for a follow-on luxury sedan since at least 1979.