http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonS ... 6-sun.html
NEWARK, New Jersey -- John Z. DeLorean, who left a promising career in Detroit to develop the gull-winged sports cars featured as a souped-up time travel machine in the Back to the Future movies, has died. He was 80. DeLorean died late Saturday at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, of complications from a recent stroke, said Paul Connell, a funeral director handling arrangements.

DeLorean was among just a handful of U.S. entrepreneurs who dared start a car company in the last 75 years. Nearly all faded away, but his crashed spectacularly amid U.S. federal drug charges.

'DEEPLY SADDENED'

"Obviously, we're deeply saddened by the passing of an incredible, talented car person and loving family member," said DeLorean's nephew, Mark DeLorean.

A Detroit native, DeLorean "broke the mould" of staid Midwestern auto executives by "going Hollywood," and pushed General Motors Corp. to offer smaller models, auto historians said.

While at GM, he created what some consider the first "muscle car" in 1964 by cramming a V-8 engine into a Pontiac Tempest and calling it the GTO, fondly dubbed the "Goat" by auto enthusiasts.

"John DeLorean was one of Detroit's larger-than-life figures who secured a noteworthy place in our industry's history," GM chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said yesterday in a statement.

DeLorean was a rising if unconventional executive at GM who many believe was destined for its presidency before he quit in 1973 to launch the DeLorean Motor Car Co. in Northern Ireland. Eight years later, the DeLorean DMC-12 hit the streets.

Its hallmarks, such as an unpainted stainless-steel skin and the gull-wing doors, have been ignored by mainstream automakers. The angular design, however, earned it a cult following, and the car was a time-travelling vehicle for Michael J. Fox in the popular Back to the Future films of the late 1980s.

But the factory produced only about 8,900 cars in three years, estimated John Truscott, membership director of the DeLorean Owners Association. That figure is dwarfed by the major automakers, who sell more than a million vehicles a month.

DeLorean's company collapsed in 1983, a year after he was arrested in Los Angeles and accused of conspiring to sell $24 million US worth of cocaine. DeLorean used an entrapment defence to win acquittal.

The British government lost the equivalent of $94 million US over its heavy subsidies for the plant in West Belfast. DeLorean was later cleared of defrauding investors, but continuing legal entanglements kept him on the sidelines of the automotive world, although his passion for cars did not abate.

After declaring bankruptcy in 1999, he said he wanted to produce a speedy plastic sports car selling for only $20,000.

'STILL MODERN'

"We are striving to bring the performance of a million-dollar Ferrari, McLaren or Mercedes to younger people of modest means," DeLorean said.

The namesake car he created in the early 1980s featured a rear-mounted, aluminum 2.8-litre V-6 fuel-injected engine that produced 130 horsepower and went 0-60 m.p.h. (about 97 kmh) in less than eight seconds. Independent four-wheel suspension, a broad stance and front wheels smaller than the rear set made for tight handling.

"Twenty years later, it's still just as modern as anything coming out of the factories now," Truscott said.

   

Man, that's a shame. He started a car company and it crashed, arrested on drug charges and also was banned from eneringthe UK, and was bankrupt. He did not have it good at all.

   

He had it good enough to get his hands on 24 million dollars worth of coke dude...when some one like him goes bankrupt it's not his money he lost just his investors...his was nice and safe in an off shore account.
The cat lived life large.

   

The Man and His Dream:

   

WTF...!!!???

LMAO

   

I wish i had a DeLorean

   

Every body wanted a DeLorean back in the 80ies. At $25 000 each, it was lots of money back then...

   

   

ROFTL

LOVE IT!

   

Perfect! Maybe send that to New Jersey

   

Great pic, Mario!


The DeLorean was a great looking car, but my understanding is that other than the pretty design it was pretty much motorised dung.

   

I only knew of one deLorean in my small town, he still has it I think and when I once asked him how much he liked it he replied with a broad grin, Well I've a fair number of British sports cars over the years and being a Brit it breaks my heart to admit the Irish have delivered the best I've had to date. I hoped he might offer me a quick spin. He didn't. The link will take you to what I believe was a sweet investment in it's day and well a fun drive don't change.

http://www.delorean-owners.org/legend/index.html

   

I personal feel he was taken out just like Tucker.