Descrição
The DeLorean story is far more interesting than any Hollywood block buster.
Because it involves 100kgs of cocaine, a Panamanian bank account, and a furious British government left out of pocket to the tune of £23, 000, 000. That Colin Chapman's and Giorgetto Giugiaro's involvement is by far the least exciting part of this story speaks volumes...
It was back in 1973 when John DeLorean left his successful career at GMC to start the DeLorean Motor Company. His dream was to build a two-seat, stainless steel sportscar with gull-wing doors and a bare, brushed finish in lieu of the more usual paint.
Like all good entrepreneurs - and I think we can agree he was that, at least - he delegated, entrusted the design to Giorgetto Giugiaro and the chassis engineering to Colin Chapman.
This means the DMC-12 is a stunning car that handles very well. That much we can take for granted, given its pedigree. Sadly, the PRV (Peugeot, Renault, Volvo) 'Douvrin' V6 engine was less exciting, endowing the car with only moderately sprightly performance.
But, by hell it was a looker. Even American Express got in on the act, advertising a limited run of 100 gold-plated versions for $85, 000 a pop. In the end, only four were sold, which is kind of the DeLorean story in a nutshell.
He built them in Northern Ireland, thanks to a generous subsidy from the British government. A subsidy worth £23, 000, 000 in total, or about £72, 000, 000 in today's money. (It's just struck me that DeLorean would have probably taken HMG for billions in the past couple of years, wouldn't he?)
Trouble is, he syphoned off half of that to a bank account of his in Panama. At about the same time, he was arrested in the US by the FBI and charged with conspiring to traffic 100kgs of cocaine worth $24, 000, 000. He was found not guilty of the drug charges on the basis he was entrapped but DeLorean the company went into liquidation owing $175, 000, 000 and the subsidy was quietly forgotten.
(He was later indicted with defrauding investors and tax evasion too, and dodged these charges with equal ease.)
Approximately 9, 000 DeLoreans were built between 1980 and 1982, which was a shame for all involved, not least the factory workers who lost their jobs. It was also a shame because they were actually pretty damned good, if you could overlook the somewhat patchy build quality.
Sure, 130bhp is never going to set the world alight in a 1, 233kg car but it handled beautifully and if the 130mph top speed and 8. 8 second dash to 60mph were something of a disappointment then the way it looked more than made up for any pertormance deficits.
Around 6, 500 are thought to still exist, largely thanks an active enthusiast community and a Texas-based supplier who snapped up all the parts stock from the factory when it went bust.
However this particular car is extremely rare being the first off the production line of only 6 RHD that were ever built in the factory. It is thought there are less than 3 RHD left in the world.
I have owned this car for some 10 years, always starts on the button and was serviced just 100 miles ago. The servo and braking system has been replaced together with all 4 tyres keeping its original white writing on the tyre walls.
Everything works and last year I had all the rubbers replaced around the doors which entailed removing the doors to complete the works correctly.
The body work is as per factory specification being bright and brushed.
All leather is in perfect condition together with carpets etc as you expect considering the mileage.
