Correction, The PRV engine was not available in the Volvo 240. Happy Thanksgiving DMC Joe / DeLorean Services / <dmcjoe@xxxx> Web Site: <http://www.deloreanservices.com> ---------- > From: William T Wilson <fluffy@xxxx> > To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [DML] Re: D questions! > Date: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 8:03 PM > > On Wed, 24 Nov 1999, Tony Petrarca wrote: > > > 1. Can someone explain the Volvo connection better? I find many people > > refer to the powerplant as a Peugot/Renault/Volvo engine, and that a > > number of car parts can be found through Volvo dealerships? > > The DeLorean PRV-6 was used in cars made by all three of those > manufacturers. 760 and 240 Volvos of the era are the most common, though > the Peugeot 505 and Eagle Premier used it too. However, the DeLorean > version of the engine differs slightly from those used on the other cars, > so the engines are not identically interchangeable. Volvo calls the > engine the B28F. There are other versions of the PRV engine. > > The PRV engine was chosen for a variety of reasons. First, JZD wanted to > use a European made engine. The logistics are simpler when the engine > manufacturer is near to the assembly plant. Secondly, the American car > companies didn't like JZD very much and didn't want to sell him engines. > But had the DMC-12 actually been made in Puerto Rico, I wouldn't be > surprised if we would have DeLoreans with Chrysler engines in them. :} > > The PRV had several advantages. It was a lightweight engine that was > produced in very large quantities. It had good fuel economy. It was > already emissions-certified in the United States. And, this particular > version of the PRV was an extremely reliable engine (not all PRV versions > are of the same quality. So if someone tells you they heard the engines > were garbage, they are thinking of some other PRV version). It did have > one disadvantage, which was the cost. I believe DMC had to pay almost > $5000 apiece for the engines. > > JZD originally considered several other engines, including GM, Citroen, > and Mazda wankels (none of which worked - GM over licensing, Citroen > over... uh... I don't know why, and Mazda over volume and logistics), > Citroen and Ford 4-cylinder engines (both of which were simply not > powerful enough) and I believe, also 4-cylinder Volvos. Unfortunately, > the combination of weight, emissions, and fuel economy eliminated V8 and > large V6 engines from consideration. The PRV was, given the alternatives, > the best choice at the time. > > > 2. I am interested in driving a D to get a better feel for it. It's one > > That's a little trickier. The best thing you can do is find someone who's > selling one and ask to test drive it. The problem is that many (most) D > sellers will want "serious inquiries only." I know I would. > > It should be relatively easy to get someone to give you a ride. Most > DeLorean owners love to show off their cars (which look even better in > person than they do in pictures). You'll get a pretty good feel for the > car just by that. But I don't think, really, the test drive is going to > be the deciding factor. For a car like the DeLorean, it really shouldn't > be. Owning a DeLorean is about wanting to put in the time it takes to > maintain the car well, about owning a unique car with historical value, > and about enjoying all the attention you get. The car is comfortable and > easy to drive enough that anyone who wants one ought to be able to put up > with it. > > > day? I WILL own one one day, but would like to know how they drive. > > I'd ask my neighbor who has one, but he doesn't drive his (bad idea!). > > Why not? If he doesn't want it, maybe he'll give it to you. Sound like a > deal? :} > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Before posting messages or replies, see the posting policy rules at: > www.dmcnews.com/Admin/rules.html > > To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: > moderator@xxxx > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -- 20 megs of disk space in your group's Document Vault > -- http://www.egroups.com/docvault/dmcnews/?m=1 >