Car Developer John DeLorean Dies at 80

[84porsche]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=7&u=/ap/20050320/ap_on_re_us/obit_delorean

This automotive genius will be missed.

[Oh Haha]

WOW. This is a sad day, indeed.

[MotoSook]

One less innovator in the world. RIP.

You guys should read his book, and get his take on the scandal surrounding DMC. It's a pretty good read and it provides some insight into the Detroit executive culture...some of which was verified by people that have worked in the industry.

[juanbenae]

i saw a documentry on the building of the delorean car. it was actually done during the developement real time. the film followed him around from meeting with marketing people, engineers, investors, and some goverment that substidised the entire effort because the car was to be constructed there. if i recall an early shipment of cars was lost when a frieghter sunk in the atlantic.


stormbergs will be pissed when he see's this, you know how he covets breaking death announcements.

[Joeaksa]

Sad to see another one go...

Joe A

[dd74]

Very sad. The man was definitely an innovator in the industry, and the DeLoreans themselves not half-bad cars; they just needed more guts.

I'm surprised he lasted this long. The whole FBI sting, trial and his eventual demise took a lot from the man. If at all, he showed the desperate straits a man can come to keep his dream alive.

I also think DeLorean designed the GTO.

[cegerer]

Yeah, he was kinda the father of the American muscle car.

[Jay Auskin]

Man, back in the days when an engineer could make a difference in the company....

John definitely did it. I wonder if he thought he was creating a legend when he said, "I think we can fit a bigger engine in here." (not verbatim, but you get the idea).

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Oh Haha
WOW. This is a sad day, indeed.

Agreed...Goat owners, past and present, should be in mourning now. Without John D., muscle cars would never have existed...

[MikeSid]

I read that one of his patents includes the overhead cam engine. That doesn't sound right to me. I thought that design would have pre-dated him by a few years - unless he was really young when he came up with it. Anybody know?

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by MikeSid
I read that one of his patents includes the overhead cam engine. That doesn't sound right to me. I thought that design would have pre-dated him by a few years - unless he was really young when he came up with it. Anybody know?

While at Pontiac, he introduced a Lemans model that had an OHC straight 6. If memory serves, it was the first Detroit OHC offering to the public. Maybe that's what the AP story was referring to?

[RickM]

Yup, he was the father of the Goat. Bad news.

I believe he was living in a Morristown, NJ apartment. Not the worst place in the world but quite a contrast to his mansion in Bedminster with Christina Ferrari at his side.

[dd74]

He was also on the fast track to becoming head of GM, but left to pursue the DeLorean. I'm sure if the DeLorean had gone on to be more of a success, it would have been quite a fast car. I've heard of V8 swaps for the car and twin-turbo apps that can make it truly move.

[CJFusco]

From what I hear, the 'Big Three' pretty much set out to destroy DMC once JZD set out on his own... pretty much pulling a "Tucker" on the poor guy.

If this gorgeous car was allowed proper development, we would probably talk in terms of Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo/Aston/Lotus/DeLorean when we measure a sports car's abilities.

[dd74]

Originally posted by CJFusco
From what I hear, the 'Big Three' pretty much set out to destroy DMC once JZD set out on his own... pretty much pulling a "Tucker" on the poor guy.

If this gorgeous car was allowed proper development, we would probably talk in terms of Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo/Aston/Lotus/DeLorean when we measure a sports car's abilities.

True, without a doubt. There's still a few running around L.A. The car always attracts attention. I know this: being in the collectible market, and knowing what happens to artwork when the artist who created it dies (remember Nagel?), the DeLoreans are going to skyrocket in value.

[StevoRocket]

Now some facts for a change.....

John Dallat
12th February 2004

DALLAT - "DE LOREAN - A SCANDAL TO OUT SHAME ALL SCANDALS"


Former member of the Public Accounts Committee at Stormont John Dallat (SDLP) has described an Audit Office Report on the De Lorean project as a scandal to out shame all scandals.

He said:

"Everyone did well out of this project except the taxpayers, the creditors and the poor workers who were exploited in a most shameful way. The lawyers did particularly well! It surely is the scandal to out shame all scandals. The money lost would have built that new hospital in the West with money left over, it would have re-laid the rail network or completed the motorway to Derry, which never got beyond Randalstown."

He continued:

"For each of the 9,000 gull-winged car built the taxpayer forked out £6,000 while the De Lorean auditors Arthur Andersen spent £20 million pounds recovering £20 million pounds - in effect recovered nothing for the public purse and taking nearly 20 years to do it!"

This surely was 'Back to the Future' - De Lorean style!

"While the loss to the Exchequer was shameful it cannot be measured against the cruel blow to the dedicated workforce, many of who had previously trained as craftsmen at Antrim Crystal and lost their jobs when that project went belly up. Neither can it be forgotten that many of the 600 unsecured creditors who were owed £14 million got a mere pittance of £150,000 or 4.1p in the £."

He concluded:

"While the charismatic John De Lorean went back to his American ranch, the workforce joined the dole queues and many of the creditors went to the wall it would be interesting to know what became of the 'Think Tanks' in government and at the Industrial Development Board who checked out Mr De Lorean's credit rating and evaluated this project, recommended it for funding. Were they promoted? Did they go on to get their knighthoods? Where are they now?"

[dd74]

And Henry Ford never exploited workers or cheated on the company's taxes? The world 'round is familiar with DeLorean's questionable business practices. The topic here is his prowess as an auto designer and innovator, not his business acumen or lack thereof.

[StevoRocket]

Friday 19 February 1982
The DeLorean Motor Company was put into receivership. [The remaining jobs were lost when the factory in west Belfast closed in May 1982. The government had provided public funds of £80 million, most of these were lost with the collapse of the company.]

Some genius!

[StevoRocket]

More facts

Overhead camshafts........

Ets Ballot SA, Paris, France 1921 - 1932

The marine engine manufacturer Ernest Ballot founded a company in1906 and his reputation led to a demand for automobile and commercial vehicle engines from the rapidly expanding French motor industry. His customers included the established prestige companies Delage, La Licorne and Mass. As the automotive side of the business became dominant the company was reformed in 1910 with two prominent members of the automobile manufacturing establishment on the Board, Adolphe Clement-Bayard and Fernand Charron.

During the first world war the company manufactured Hispano-Suiza V8 aero-engines under licence and gained considerable experience at the same time.

The first cars were built in 1919 with engines designed by Ernest Henry the legendary inventor of the twin overhead camshaft and 4 valves per cylinder layout whilst he was working for Peugeot in 1912. These straight-8 Ballot racing cars were entered for Indianapolis in 1919 with 4.9 litre engines and the French Grand Prix.

[StevoRocket]

So just what did he "innovate"?

Stainless steel body finish? - Oh, that was a real innovation - after all - look how many are made that way today!