When JZD decided for whatever reason to have the car completly re- engineered from the groud up, the only suitable choice for the job was Lotus. They had the most reasonable price, and were within the best deadline. Even if built in the USA, I would have to say that Lotus would have played a role none the less. But if it had of been built on US soil, I would have to agree that it is very doubtful the DMC-12 would have gotten off the ground. Even if they would have had the same funding, I doubt the workforce would have been as good. It is an American car because the company is American. But it is a totally european design. I imagine and American workforce would have had the same amount of problems adjusting to building a DeLorean design, as the Irish workforce had learning to build cars overall. I know this may ruffle a few feathers, but there would have been WAY more politics and petty issues to resolve in the USA. Even reading a story written by a worker at the Bricklin factory in New Brunswick. When the Bricklin assembly lines started, everyone was eager to build the new cars. But later on when the union came in and started talking to people, they ended up killing a good deal of the workers moral. That slowed down production, and lowered the build quality people put into the cars. Chances are, this too would have happed to DMC in America. Bottom line: No matter what has happened to DMC, nor what could have been, one thing is true. Northern Ireland was not just the best choice, it was the only true possibility for success. Setting aside what happened later on with the British govt., DMC probably never would have gotten off the ground without their funding and early support. -Robert vin 6585 --- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Chris Parnham" <chrisparnham@xxxx> wrote: > IF the car had been built in the USA...... I doubt that there would have > been any Lotus involvement. Without their input, and the British Taxpayers > money, I doubt there would have been a car at all! > > Chris P DOC UK British Citizen