Re: [DML] Delorean parting out parts available

["therealdmcvegas" <DMCVegas@xxxx>]

Many, many points taken in your response. With a vehicle that has sunken 
down into damp earth, then yes, I can see the damage that can occur. 
Chassis, suspension, fluid lines, etc. I can wholeheartedly understand at t=
hat 
point why one would consider parting the car out. Now couple that with the =

extensive mechanical, and cosmetic damage, and yes, I can then understand 
why you choose to part the vehicle out. Even moreso in how you described 
how the vehicle was removed by violently jerking it out of the mud with a 
chain wrapped around the front end, rather than appropriately digging the c=
ar 
out of the ground. Yes, I can understand now. I don't fully agree, but I ca=
n 
understand.

However, in the initial posting that was notifying everyone that you were g=
oing 
to be parting the car out, the current condition of the car was omitted. So=
 
everyone here was probably picturing the same senario that I was: A car tha=
t 
was simply parked, and let to sit in someone's garage, or driveway. Nor 
especially the fact that since it was previously know that this car was 
earmarked to be a parts/donor car from the start. I myself was figuring tha=
t this 
was simply a car that was ready for a simply on-chassis restoration. And th=
at 
rather than take the time to restore it, you were going to chose to part it=
out.


> You missed the point. This car was purchased as a parts car with the hop=
e 
of 
> marrying it to another good one. I had potential buyers for the parts be=
fore 
> I even looked at it knowing it was trashed. Once I got it home I began to=
try 
> to find a way to get it back on the road because the little DeLorean 
> Leprechan inside was saying SAVE ME SAVE ME. Even the folks from 
Europe wanted in on 
> it but after discussions and such it was determined it is not in the card=
s. I 
> wanted a project car and was hopeful my initial evaluation was wrong. I=
t 
> wasn't. I have passed on many.

To be honest, I take more comfort in actually knowing that at least a good =

effort was put forth in trying to save the car, rather than simply saying t=
hat 
sacrificing one car is going to help save others. Maybe I've got this total=
ly 
incorrect misconception, but with the effort being put forth by so many, I =
just 
don't see what parts are so rare that they must be obtained from parts cars=
. 
Torsion Bars? Ok, I can kinda see that. But even then, DMCH has said that 
their reproduction is possible, and may one day be implemented if the need =

becomes so. I'm not going to attack anyone, but I am curious as to what 
specific parts are needed from this car, that the others need so that they'=
ll be 
kept on the road? And why don't any of our vendors have them?

 
> In another part of your comments you said you don't give up on a patients=
 
> 
> Ever hear of Hospice.

What else can I say, but "touché" You are correct that there is a point in =
which 
something is beyond saving. And that the best thing to do is to let that 
something depart with dignity. In this case, dismantling the vehicle for 
salvagable parts, rather than simply crushing it.

But then again, as so many have pointed out, this is only a car after all. =
You're 
right, and I agree. A person has a finite lifespan. This same rule doesn't =
apply 
to a vehicle. Thru replacement parts, a car does indeed have the ability to=
 
have a longer, normal service "life" than a person. And can of course be 
brought back much more easily from "the brink".

Now, like I said, I don't believe that a car needs to be parted out unless =
it has 
some sort of catastrophic, irreversable damage to it. Accident, fire, etc..=
. 
Agreeably, major electrical damage in the form of vermin, and other pests 
chewing on the wiring harness is no small undertaking. Nor is it a cheap on=
e 
comming in at around $1,800 or so just for the bulk of the harnesses, if yo=
u 
were to actually replace them completely. So I can see how both the work, 
and price just compounds itself, and makes a restoration more, and more 
grim. But like I say, I'm a diehard, eternal optimist that every car is abl=
e to 
come back, if matched with the right owner. If that means that the car has =
to 
wait, then it waits. Now by saying this, I don't mean that someone should 
become the saviour of all DeLoreans out there. I am in no way, shape, or fo=
rm 
suggesting that a person should purposfully purchase a car simply to "save"=
it 
for the perfect person to come along. Quite the contrary. I feel that if th=
e car is 
in that bad of a shape, that the person who owns it at the time should sit =
on it 
until that right person comes along.

But also, bringing a car back doesn't mean concourse, nor does it even mean=
 
"original" for that matter! As has been mentioned before, and brought up by=
 
Ron, customization is the absolute way to go for a car like this. Electrica=
l 
bugs? A little bit of wire, and a whole lotta patience can go a LONG way. 
Chassis toasted? Perhaps a bit outside of the norm, but why not commission =

a lightweight, tubular chassis? Siezed motor? Why not now try looking into =
a 
nice alternative engine that has been proven by others whom have done the 
conversion? Wasted interior? Try something radicly different! All one needs=
to 
do is pick up a current custom car magazine for inspiration. Weather it's a=
n off 
the wall Hot Rod, or a tricked out Sport Compact, the things that one can 
accomplish are unlimited, amazing, and sometime, less expensive, with bette=
r 
lookng results even depending upon one's own tastes! All that's needed is a=
 
strong will, fueled by an intense passion, and you've got an unstoppable 
formula. If you put you mind to it, you can accomplish anything! (now where=
 
have I heard that before? :p ) There are many options available for almost =

every car, and I stick firm by my belief that they should all be considered=
. 
Sometimes, it just takes the right person to show up at the perfect time.

In the end though, I do have to hand one thing over to people who do 
dismantle cars such as this one. And I'm not just speaking for DeLoreans 
either. You've got to give credit. While I don't totally agree with parting=
the car 
out, at least Ken here has a well intentioned goal ahead of him that he's g=
oing 
to reach. Unlike the previous owner of the car, whom was obvously let the c=
ar 
slip into this condition. Undeserving, uncaring people like that always mak=
e 
me sick. No matter what kind of car it is. An accident is one thing. If it =
was on 
purpose, we wouldn't call them accidents after all. But the individual who =

actually destroyed this car thru neglect is the one whom I personally am ma=
d 
as hell at. Just as we have debated here about when a car is too far "gone"=
, 
we must all remember as well when to give up our good running cars for the =

sake of the car itself. If for some reason I was no longer able to drive an=
d 
enjoy my car, such as when I'm old, and can no longer drive, then yes, I wi=
ll 
pass my car on to the next owner whom the car is deserving of. The car is o=
f 
course more important than my own vanity.

And for everyone whom has suggested that if I believe so strongly in restor=
e 
this car, that I should purchase this, or every other basket case car that =
comes 
along to "prove" my point. My car was a classic example of a car that sat, =

became neglected, and the owner (who inherited it BTW) was the typical, 
"Yeah, I'll get around to fixing it one day" type, yet always refused to se=
ll it to 
everyone whom made an offer for it. And in the mean time, it just started t=
o rot 
worse, and worse. Until the timing was right: He gave up, and I happened to=
 
be the first to come along. So, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I can onl=
y 
handle one restoration/recovery at a time. But I do indeed practice what I =

preach.

-Robert
vin 6585 "X"