911 vs. DeLorean

[zevenbergena]

In a little bit of a battle of words with a guy at work since both our cars are in a 'semi-project' state, mine getting a top end rebuild and his sitting in a barn at the moment: is there really even a comparison?
He does not strike me as an overall car guy, he's been sitting on his DeLorean for about 7 years now, but he swears that DeLoreans were the fastest production car at some point? And that there's no way my little 911 could ever run down his car.
I politely conceded that it may be possible he'd outrun me in a quarter mile, but I would probably destroy him on a roadcourse.
Is this entirely unfounded and am I making a complete arse of myself? I figure I've got to have a somewhat sizeable weight advantage and a better suspension design, but I don't know anything about DeLoreans and we can't get a fun comparative test drive in, so I figured I'd probe the Pelican genius for insight. Stock '80 SC vs. stock DeLorean.

[petrolblue83911]

neither are terrribly fast, neither was the "fastest of its day"

[the]

Your friend is completely delusional!

Deloreans are not fast. Fastest production car at one point?!? LOL. Not even close.

A stock 1980 911SC will wipe the floor with a stock DeLorean in EVERY performance category. You could put a 2x4 under the 911's accelerator pedal, and it will still do it.

Coincidentally, I was looking at an old Road & Track the other day, they had a performance test with a 911SC, a Delorean, Ferrari 308, etc. They tested and timed everything: Acceleration, braking, slalom, road course, etc. I'll post it up for you tonight.

[the]

Originally Posted by petrolblue83911

neither are terrribly fast, neither was the "fastest of its day"

911SC was very close to being the fastest U.S. legal production car in the US for most of its term. 0-60, quarter mile and top speed.

What cars do you think were faster back then?

[jasonlee]

+1 Deloreans are not fast, and they handle like a pinto. Unless of course the driver was all coked up.

[JeremyD]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Lorean_DMC-12

[zevenbergena]

Originally Posted by the

Your friend is completely delusional!

Deloreans are not fast. Fastest production car at one point?!? LOL. Not even close.

A stock 1980 911SC will wipe the floor with a stock DeLorean in EVERY performance category. You could put a 2x4 under the 911's accelerator pedal, and it will still do it.

Coincidentally, I was looking at an old Road & Track the other day, they had a performance test with a 911SC, a Delorean, Ferrari 308, etc. They tested and timed everything: Acceleration, braking, slalom, road course, etc. I'll post it up for you tonight.

Yeah, it's been my experience that this guy talks awefully big, but I wanted to be sure before I persisted also.

Please post the article if you wouldn't mind! I forgot to ask but would be very intereted. Love those original road test articles.

[Rot 911]

Engine:
Rear mounted, liquid cooled - Light Alloy V6, 2.85 Liter - Single overhead camshaft - C.I.S. mechanical fuel injection - Cylinder Bore 91mm - Stroke 73mm - Displacement 2849 cc - Power Rating 130 SAE NET HP @5,500 RPM - Maximum Torque 208 Nm @ 2,750 RPM - Compression Ratio 8:8:1 - Transmission (5 speed manual, 3 speed Automatic)

Drivetrain:
Engine location: Rear-mounted.
Transmission: 5 speed, fully synchronized or 3 speed automatic
Final drive Trans-axle/dbl. universal. half-shafts, ratio: 3.44:1.

Weight: 1233kg (2712 pounds) with full tank

[calling911]

Originally Posted by zevenbergena

Yeah, it's been my experience that this guy talks awefully big, but I wanted to be sure before I persisted also.

Please post the article if you wouldn't mind! I forgot to ask but would be very intereted. Love those original road test articles.

I wouldnt let this get any further. Punch him in the teeth and be done with it

EDIT: Make sure you ask him to step outside the building so you can't get fired.

[porschenut]

In 1980 a Lamborghini Countach was probably the fastest. Or maybe a Ferrari 512 BB.

[myamoto1]

your "buddy" is right. DeLoreans are the fastest produciton car of their era... he just left out the qualifiers. they were the fastest car built in Ireland and sponsored by a coked up american auto engineer.

[calling911]

Originally Posted by myamoto1

your "buddy" is right. DeLoreans are the fastest produciton car of their era... he just left out the qualifiers. they were the fastest car built in Ireland and sponsored by a coked up american auto engineer.

Yeah, but they do fly.. saw that in a movie.

[charlesbahn]

Interesting discussion of the Delorean power plant from a completed EBAY listing

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1981-Delorean-Coupe-Rare-Turbo-5-Speed-Restored_W0QQitemZ280288513370QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20T rucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?h ash=item280288513370&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A13%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

The Delorean's engine, while reliable and long lasting, was underpowered for this size (2800 pound) car, so many owners sought out ways to improve power after it's introduction. The factory even prototyped several Turbo models, but never released them for sale, due to the short time the Deloreans were produced in Ireland in the early 80's. The after market jumped on this power issue and quickly released a specially designed purpose built Turbo kit for the Delorean that added the needed power to the PRV V6 engine. The result was outstanding, and the resulting power output made the Delorean's power to weight ratio much better, and improved the driving experience greatly. The Delorean Turbo aftermarket kit used a Rayjay/BEA turbo that was used extensively in the aircraft industry. The kit is professionally and purposely designed for the Delorean, using specially designed aluminum castings for the plumbing and makes the car look so good that it looks like it came from the factory with a Turbo. This rare but greatly needed option added significant power to the V6 Volvo engine, and made the car really respond like the American market had come to expect from an imported sports car. This option easily adds $4000-5000 to the value of the car over the value of a non-turbo Delorean, and makes the driving experience much more fun. It brings the power up make this very sporty looking car perform like it looks. Bottom line - If you buy a Delorean without a Turbo, you will likely be disappointed in the performance


EDIT: which car will be the most valuable in 50 years- the Delorean, in my opinion.

[myamoto1]

well I guess based on the movie, we know it'll do at least 88mph

[calling911]

Originally Posted by myamoto1

well I guess based on the movie, we know it'll do at least 88mph

Yeah, but lets be honest.. it needed minor modifications.. and a flux capacitor.

I still say one good punch and this is over.

[the]

Originally Posted by porschenut

In 1980 a Lamborghini Countach was probably the fastest. Or maybe a Ferrari 512 BB.

Probably, but not in the US. Neither were US legal production cars at that time.

[1982911SCTarga]

There was no substitute for a 911SC.

Brian

[MT930]

A friend of my dad had a manual DMC it was a cool car because it was different, sort of exotic in the early 80's. It was completely lacking in performance, even disappointing really!. A ill running 911SC would smoke one easily.

[Buckterrier]

Don't know why the answer is a punch. The bigger and more subtle humiliation would be facts. Cold Hard Facts. Gather them and go up to him, hand him the paperwork and say, "Here read this on your next break". Let us know how you make out.

[carnutzzz]

I seem to recall 8.2 seconds to 60 for the Delorean.

Weak.