[DML] Ethical Sports Cars...

["Josh Haldeman" <jhaldeman@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi Al,

 

It sounds like you haven't yet read JZD's book, "On a Clear Day You Can See
GM".  Go pick up a copy.  I think I just saw the paperback version on Amazon
for around $2.50.  It will answer your question about the ethical sports car
idea.  Basically he wanted to build a car that the company could stand
behind.or at least that's where he started.  What developed is another story
entirely.  For that one, read "Hard Driving" by Bill Haddad as well as
DeLorean's Autobiography.  Those two combined, give you kind of an overall
sense of the company's history.  
 
".With a frame that rusts as badly if not worse than its contemporaries."  

It does?  I think epoxy coated steel was a lot better than the cheap frame
paint I find on even some of today's cars.  DeLorean at least gave you some
measure of protection against the elements right from the factory.and on the
late 82's and 83's, he even added factory undercoating over the epoxy!  I've
run into relatively few DeLoreans that have terrible condition frames.  They
do exist, but most cars have just surface rust here and there.  I'm not
saying epoxy coating steel is a method without flaws, but it's a lot better
than most of the DeLorean's contemporaries.

A twin turbo model would have definitely been worth more than the base cars,
if put into production.but what if the company also sold aftermarket engine
upgrade kits?  Kind of like what Island Turbo and others already did in the
80's and 90's?  If you were on a budget, and couldn't afford the more
expensive twin-turbo, then maybe you could buy a kit for less and do it
yourself.  We'll never know how the company would have handled that.but if I
ever get my time circuits working, I'll be sure to go back and rewrite that
particular part of history so we can find out.  (hehe)

-Josh

VIN 5102
VIN 15964
VIN 11289
VIN 909

 

  _____  

From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Nelson, Allan
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 12:23 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [DML] Re: Further Thoughts on Angle Drives

 

David's comment here got me thinking. What made these cars the
"ethical" sports car that was the popular buzz word in the day? Please
don't take this message as hostile or antagonistic. I have been a
DeLorean fan as long as I can remember and truly like them. I am
sincerely curious to know what features or practices were intended. I
know the car that ended up being built was far from that which was
initially envisioned so perhaps many of these ideas were dismissed in
favor of getting the car to market as less over-budget as possible.

I've read that the car was supposed to last much longer than the typical
"throw-away" vehicles of the period. With a frame that rusts as badly
if not worse than its contemporaries, that doesn't seem to hold up.
Plus I have seen many knowledgeable people on this list saying that many
of the systems and components are 25 years old and were never intended
to last that long. Also, as David suggests, "just to get through the
warranty period" doesn't seem any more ethical than any other car
company.

I've also read that model changes weren't supposed to occur very often
and make the previous years dated or obsolete. Wasn't a twin-turbo car
in the works to be released for production in 1984 or so? Seems to me
this would have made the previous non-turbo cars relatively obsolete and
worth much less on the used car market.

Again, not trying to slam the car, company or anybody. I do not wish to
offend with my questions or comments. Just trying to gain more
knowledge of these unique cars and perhaps stir some interesting
discussion (not flame wars).

Al


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