DeLorean sports car back to the future... and back from the dead

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DeLorean sports car back to the future... and back from the dead​


The rebirth of DeLorean Motor Company has been given the thumbs-up by one of America’s biggest showbiz personalities.


Top US chat show host Jay Leno — who is also an influential motoring journalist across the Atlantic — has said the revamped sports cars, originally made in Belfast, are the business.

“The car looks even better in reality than it does in pictures,” said multi-millionaire Leno, who owns a fleet of exotic sports cars himself.

The NBC star added: “It certainly looks cool and it’s fun to drive... and when you’re going down the road everyone wants to look at it. It’s unique — and everyone has a reaction to it.”

The car — with its trademark gull-wing doors and stainless steel body — became iconic after its starring role in the time-travelling Back To The Future movies.

But, as Northern Ireland knows only too well, the DeLorean predates Doc Brown and Marty McFly’s crazy adventures.

Politcally one of the most controversial cars of all-time, the eponymous DeLorean DMC-12 was built in a factory in Dunmurry following huge Government investment aimed at revitalising the Troubles-torn west Belfast area.

Production officially began in 1981, but quickly came to an end after the company, founded by ex-General Motors whizzkid John DeLorean, went bankrupt in late 1982 following its creator’s arrest on drug trafficking charges. in the United States.

“A lot of people in Northern Ireland put their hearts and souls into the vehicle — and they got hurt,” said Leno, 59.

Some 9,000 DeLoreans made at the huge Belfast plant — and rather too hastily, it seems.

Build quality was generally poor, the car (made principally for the US market) was underpowered and therefore a lot slower than it looked — and while the stainless steel looked pristine in American showrooms, it soon attracted hundreds of grubby finger prints from curious onlookers.

Now, though, thanks to Liverpool businessman Stephen Wynne, the car is being built the way it probably should have been in Dunmurry three decades ago. And, with spare parts for around 500 other cars having been made here before the plant closed, repairs are no longer an issue.

Now based in Houston, Texas, car-mad Wynne and his team have been able to fix up the chassis as well as replace up to 80% of worn or damaged wings and body panels and improve the wiring.

“The original DeLorean company did not fall apart in Belfast because it was a bad car; it fell apart because of bad management,” Leno wrote in the Sunday Times.

“Now, they are literally being made as good as new.”

It’s not all good news for potential owners, however — with only two models currenty being built every month the waiting list is getting longer — and Leno’s endorsement is likely to extend it.

When that wait finally comes to an end, cutomers can expect to part with $57,500 (£36,889).
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Source: Belfast Telegraph

Yay
 
Awesome news. This needs to be done for the Lotus Cortina and Austin Healey 3000 as well. Although the original Delorean was no performance icon the basics are all there and a modern version with a lightweight V6 could be very cool. I lusted after one as a kid and then BTTF came out and it was obvious the car would gain a cult following and become unaffordable. Now there'll be an all new second hand market for 'em!
 
akachan ningen said:
What a ripoff. You can get a Cayman S for that kind of money.
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Well, sort of. Base price on a Cayman S is 61,000 so it's a wee bit more expensive. I would totally take a Delorean over a Cayman S though if it was all redone and fast. Then dress it up like the time machine, much more bad ass than a run-of-the-mill Cayman.
 
When I grew up, there was a guy who had a Delorean in the neighborhood. To make it even more awesome, he drove it very rarely so I only saw it like 5 times in 10 years...and I was looking for the BTTF car every damn time we got in the car.

When I was really small I just flat out assumed that we lived a few houses down from Marty McFly. :lol
 
daw840 said:
Well, sort of. Base price on a Cayman S is 61,000 so it's a wee bit more expensive. I would totally take a Delorean over a Cayman S though if it was all redone and fast. Then dress it up like the time machine, much more bad ass than a run-of-the-mill Cayman.
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This man never drove an european car.
 
rcrnfd.png
 
Cereal KiIIer said:
Then, please, don't say you would take a DeLorean over an Alfa Romeo.
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Unfortunately never driven an Alfa. BMW, Mercedes, Porsche I have driven, used to work at a car dealer. However, it's not all about how the car drives. The Delorean is awesome looking car, now that they have re-done the inner workings of the car I would get a shit ton more enjoyment rocking the time machine than any Euro car (well, except like a Ferrari or Lambo, but that's a whole different price range.)
 
daw840 said:
Unfortunately never driven an Alfa. BMW, Mercedes, Porsche I have driven, used to work at a car dealer. However, it's not all about how the car drives. The Delorean is awesome looking car, now that they have re-done the inner workings of the car I would get a shit ton more enjoyment rocking the time machine than any Euro car (well, except like a Ferrari or Lambo, but that's a whole different price range.)
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I was especially speaking about the Alfa for the look.

2dt6ft4.jpg


This is sex on wheels.
 
Cereal KiIIer said:
Then, please, don't say you would take a DeLorean over an Alfa Romeo.
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But there are tons of crap Alfas. I'd happily take a DeLorean over a 156, 145, GTV, in fact most Alfas after the Zagato craziness of the early 90's (except the 8C of course).

If we're talking 1950-1980's Alfa then yeah, keep the DeLorean, mine's a Guiletta.

Edit: As the pic above shows, Alfa are losing it a bit. Is that a bigger Mito? Do not want.
 
Cereal KiIIer said:
I was especially speaking about the Alfa for the look.

2dt6ft4.jpg


This is sex on wheels.
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As this is a completely subjective matter, I mean no offense to you. That is quite possibly one of the ugliest things I have ever seen.:lol
 
I'd imagine people with original DeLoreans must feel bitter-sweet about this news. Like they are reprinting a once "limited edition" piece of art.
 
SmokyDave said:
But there are tons of crap Alfas. I'd happily take a DeLorean over a 156, 145, GTV, in fact most Alfas after the Zagato craziness of the early 90's (except the 8C of course).

If we're talking 1950-1980's Alfa then yeah, keep the DeLorean, mine's a Guiletta.
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Alfa Romeo cars are awesome, dont shit on them. There are some high level cars (GTV, 8C, Spider and Brera) which are intended for yo mothafuckars dirty rich. And some for the common people (147, 159, Mito, Giulietta 2010).
 
Yazus said:
Alfa Romeo cars are awesome, dont shit on them. There are some high level cars (GTV, 8C, Spider and Brera) which are intended for yo mothafuckars dirty rich. And some for the common people (147, 159, Mito, Giulietta 2010).
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I like the bit where you ignored my appreciation for classic Alfas and tried to convince me I'm wrong for thinking the new ones (all bar the 8C) ain't so hot.

giuliaGTAb.jpg

Now that is an Alfa.
 
SmokyDave said:
I like the bit where you ignored my appreciation for classic Alfas and tried to convince me I'm wrong for thinking the new ones (all bar the 8C) ain't so hot.

http://www.giulianomazzuoli.com/alfa-romeo/giuliaGTAb.jpg[/IMG
Now [B]that[/B] is an Alfa.[/QUOTE]



god yes, [IMG]http://bernardong80.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/alfa_romeo_8c_competizione.jpg

just look at it

*cries*
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Corky said:
god yes, http://bernardong80.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/alfa_romeo_8c_competizione.jpg[IMG]

just look at it

*cries*[/QUOTE]

Now that's sexy. Just change the front end slightly, I have never been a fan of the triangle Alfa seems to have on every front end.
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Oh awesome. This will go nicely with my louis vuitton trash bag!
 
They should go back and redesign it as an FEV, truly make it a car of the future.

\/ \/ \/ One of the original OXM guys had one. Can't remember if it was Frank or Ryan. They were always teasing him about it in the mag.
 
So want a Delorean. Doesn't one of the Gaffers here own one? Personally I'd take it over an Alfa...but that's because the top 3 of my favorite cars are the Ecto-1, Delorean and General Lee :P
 
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