DeLorean had all the chances to become the most popular American car, surpassing Chevrolet, Ford, and other brands. Its "father" was John DeLorean himself - a genius of car manufacturing. The design was developed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and the technical filling - by the first-class engineer Bill Collins. But three years after the release of the first car, the factory was closed. Why did this happen?
Dream of an "ethical sports car"
In 1973, John Zachary DeLorean left his position as Vice President of General Motors to fulfill his dream of creating an "ethical sports car": safe, durable, and, most importantly, affordable. A year after his resignation, he founded the DCM company and invited the best specialists to develop a prototype.
DeLorean called his car the car of the future, which goes beyond imagination. What was so special about it?
- "Gull-wing" doors.
- Acceleration to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds.
- Engine power of 200 horsepower.
- Wedge-shaped body made of stainless steel and fiberglass.
The DeLorean DMC-12 body deserves a separate discussion. Externally, it seems to be entirely made of metal. In fact, its basis is reinforced fiberglass. Stainless steel was used for cladding - 300 panels per car. Panels for the cult car were made of food-grade stainless steel grade SS304. It is used to make kitchen countertops for restaurants and utensils. Fiberglass caught DeLorean's attention for a reason. It is as strong as steel but does not rust. Fiberglass is not only used for the body but also for bumpers and some interior elements. Stainless steel was chosen for its exceptional anti-corrosion properties. Stainless steel lasts longer than galvanizing, which other car manufacturers still use. This material fully meets John DeLorean's idea of creating a durable and environmentally friendly car that does not need to be replaced every 10 years. The only question is the price. Stainless steel is significantly more expensive than galvanizing, making it economically unprofitable to make cars out of it. However, DeLorean also took this into account: the distinctive metallic color that set the DeLorean DMC-12 apart from other cars is simply explained. The car was not painted! The absence of a whole production stage balanced the production cost. In addition to models with unpainted bodies, three gold-plated copies were also released: the third was assembled from spare parts intended for the repair of the first.
All that remains is to do
Initially, John DeLorean wanted to make his cars in Puerto Rico. There were already agreements on this matter. But then he received an interesting offer from the British government, which determined the course of history. In the 1970s, Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain, suffered from unemployment. To solve this problem, the government decided to provide DeLorean with a place in Dunmurry, near Belfast, reduce his taxes, and provide $120 million for the construction of a factory. Within a year and a half, the factory was built. The plan was to produce 30,000 cars per year. In 1981, the first DeLorean DMC-12 rolled off the assembly line. In three years of the company's existence, no more than 9,000 copies were produced. The first problems and law games The $120 million grant and a large number of workers played a cruel joke on the car. There were indeed enough workers, but they were unskilled. The assembly of cars was accompanied by errors. In addition, the technical filling changed. DeLorean wanted to invite experts from BMW to refine the car, but they asked for a higher price. The British company Lotus, which agreed to a more modest fee, made significant adjustments. Thus, it was necessary to install an engine with a power of 130 horsepower instead of 200. DeLorean also miscalculated with the price. He wanted to sell cars for $12,000 - that's why the number 12 is in the brand name. But the cost of the car after production was $25,000, and after three years, it rose to $34,000.
Despite all this, the appearance of the DeLorean DMC-12 in the USA was highly anticipated. But after the first sales, the first dissatisfactions began. Buyers were dissatisfied with the quality of assembly, low power, and slow acceleration to 100 km/h. The company had to look for contractors who would take on the refinement of the car in the USA. And this again led to costs. The DeLorean DMC-12 was a disappointment for Americans: some demanded guarantees, others canceled orders. In general, the company suffered losses. To save it, $20 million was needed. The final blow to the company's reputation and sales was the arrest of John DeLorean in October 1982. He was accused of smuggling. The case was loud, but in the end, John was acquitted after two years. When he was released, his company was no longer there.
Sunset in reality, popularity in the movies
In 1983, the DeLorean DMC-12 ceased production. It seemed like the story of the promising brand had ended. There were 2,000 copies left in the Dunmurry warehouse that no one needed. Until 1985. The interest in the car was revived by the movie "Back to the Future." Initially, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale did not plan to use a real car in the frame. According to the script, Doc Emmett Brown was supposed to travel through time using a laser installation installed in the office. Then they wanted to replace it with a refrigerator, and only after that did the director decide that the time machine should be a car.
The choice fell on the DeLorean DMC-12. Despite the car's questionable reputation, Zemeckis and Gale appreciated its futuristic design. The wedge-shaped form, the shiny stainless steel body, the gull-wing doors - these details determined the director's decision and made the DeLorean DMC-12 a cult car. After the release of the film, the remnants from the warehouse were sold - there were many people willing to recreate the movie version of Doc Emmett Brown's time machine. Zemeckis and Gale received a letter from John DeLorean thanking them for continuing his dream. Currently, the DeLorean DMC-12 can be purchased. And it will not be a used car but a new assembly. This is done by the team of Stephen Wynne, who bought all the drawings and documents for the cult car.
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