RE: [DML] Ethical Sports Cars...

["Nelson, Allan" <abnelson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Josh!

 

I only mention the frames because after reading this list for many years
now (8+), that seems to be the single biggest problem with these cars.
Granted the TAB failures can be potentially as unsafe/catastrophic but
those can be remedied relatively easily.  Given how relatively few
DeLoreans exist, I have been surprised about how many people have had to
make significant repairs or complete frame replacements.  For a company
(Pearce) to actually manufacture a SS frame for a very low population of
cars indicates that there is a need.  From what I've read on the list,
the epoxy cracks and will actually trap moisture, road salt, etc.
against the (ungalvanized) steel and accelerate the rust.  I have also
read on the list that the undercoating applied to the later cars
(1983??) was done at dealers or QACs to actually mask the surface rust
that had formed while the cars languished at the docks in Ireland and/or
the QACs themselves.  It has been some time since I read that so maybe I
am mistaken.

 

Thanks for the book recommendations!

 

Al

 

________________________________

From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Josh Haldeman
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 12:55 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Ethical Sports Cars...

 

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


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