> Robert Greenhaw wrote: > > I have heard a disturbing rumor that our beloved DeLorean > DMC-12 was actually a concept of General Motors that John > DeLorean created while still at GM in the late '60s, early '70s. John DeLorean did not design the DMC-12. Not at GM and not at DMC. DeLorean had a dream, a vision, that did indeed begin before he left GM. His vision was to build a car that COULD compete with the Corvette. His dream was to build a car that WOULD compete with the Corvette. Unfortunately his dream became a nightmare and his vision became clouded. The original model of his vision was the BMW. His vision was poo-pooed by GM because the sort of car he wanted to build would not generate enough volume or meaningful profits. He was too much of a maverick to suit GM top brass. As General Manager of Chevrolet he had a Chevrolet Caprice limousine built for his personal use. When the brass found out about it they ordered the car destroyed. Three years later he left. He was heir apparent to the throne. Pursuing his dream and vision very shortly after he left GM he began a calculated canvass of GM dealers about their enthusiasm for a car that might be built by the man that had already helped make a lot of them rich. This resulted in DeLorean losing any more perks he had coming to him from GM because he had an exit agreement that he wouldn't pursue working for any other car company. That cost him dearly personally. About a year later he persuaded Bill Collins to leave GM and join him in his new project. DeLorean set some design parameters and Collins set about designing a car that would incorporate those parameters. When Collins finished the fundamental design it was time to find someone with the talent and resources to produce the final styling. Working within DeLorean's design parameters and Collins' fundamental design, Ital Design of Turin, Italy headed by Giorgetto Giugiaro produced the first design of the DMC-12 and built the first full scale model that later was turned into the first DMC-12 prototype (not the Fiat X 1/9) built by Kar Kraft of Detroit in 1976. BTW, NONE of the instrument panels design possibilities by Ital Design was digital! Any questions? There's gonna be a pop quiz later. Ed Thompson (#6419 since 1982)