Re: delorean is a complex machine

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxx>]

Caveat: I am very fond of my DeLo. Like all cars in the stable, is
unavailable for resale until executor closes my estate. That said:

Louie may be picking up on several comparision issues:

DeLo interior and fittings are less substantial than domestics 10
years earlier. Feel somewhat "cheap" in comparison. 

PRV itself has significant access issues compared to older domestic
blocks. Is also more sensitive to vacuum leaks, fuel system anomolies,
etc. DeLo engine compartment is cramped compared to a Javelin or AMX
(hey, it's my post, I get to pick the comparison muscle cars). 

Third party mechanics are generally more reluctant to touch a DeLo
than a domestic. Yes, the technology is fairly conventional (torsion
bars notwithstanding), but they don't seem willing to find out. Must
be frustrating when their services are needed.

Cost of DeLo parts is undeniably higher than older domestic parts.
Much higher. (OEM spec, not performance). I maintain 4 70's Lincolns
for cost of 1 DeLorean. Are also no junkyard options. 

Welded up DeLorean frame can't touch a good old fashioned cast frame
(careful with this one -- Mustangs are unibody. All AMC's are unibody.
Even suicide door Lincolns are unibody). DeLo body is fairly
impervious to the elements, but frame is not.

Overall cost of DeLo ownership is higher than older domestics. Initial
purchase is higher. Insurance and property taxes are higher. Resto
costs are higher. Even a really nice domestic can cut $20,000 rule 1/2
to 2/3.

I recommend DeLorean ownership. Is especially satisfying to drive an
honest to goodness historical piece. Nevertheless, are many times I
look its little silver roof to the Lincolns in the background and say
to myself "thank God for Ford Motor Company".

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, kKoncelik@xxxx wrote:
> In a message dated 5/22/2003 4:50:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> louie@xxxx writes:
> 
> > The DeLorean is NOTHING at all like a good old simple American
muscle car 
> > for the '60s or '70s. They're overly complex and EXTREMELY fickle
little 
> > machines.
> 
> I would beg to differ with this a bit
> 
> Although it is different it is far less complex than a lot of other
cars. I 
> am restoring a Jaguar and that is far more time consuming, expensive
and 
> complicated than the DeLorean. In addition I recently disassembled and 
> reassembled 2 DeLoreans and in one case in Chicago fired up a car
that had 
> been sitting for 5 years and it started on the first turn of the key
and ran 
> smoothe. My Jag never cooperated that nicely and after 4 years of
on again 
> off again restoration is still not running (mainly due to time)
> 
> In restoring cars the DeLorean because of the plastic an Stainless
take out 
> one of the most time consuming parts of the restoration (body work) 
> As long as the frame is solid the work to restore the rest is mainly
a good 
> cleanup and polish.
> 
> As far a sthe engine goes I have seen many messed up DeLoreans
mainly by 
> shops that don't know what they are doing. Recently I took a car
considered 
> to be a basket case to Dave Bauerle and in a matter of a few hours
he put 
> back all the vacuum hoses and took off all the bypasses and turned
the key 
> and it ran perfectly.
> 
> Your best bet it to put it back the way it belongs if it doesn't
work find 
> out what was missed because it does work if everything is right and
if you 
> prepare properly.
> 
> I find it interesting and can usually troubleshoot or can explain
the problem 
> well enough to one of the service centers to fix it.
> 
> I had a wire harness problem (my own fault for it in the first
place) and Don 
> Steger figured it out over the phone in minutes. 
> 
> Our car may not be a 60's muscke car with an engine attached to a start 
> switch but it is nowhere near as complicated as some of the other
cars out 
> there.
> 
> Ken
> vin16684
> restored concours entry 3720
> restored 1880
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]