[DML] Re: Concour Manual (and more)

[James Espey <james@xxxx>]

This is one of those instances that there does happen to be some
documentation for. A memo from DMCL (De Lorean Motor Company Limited, the
manufacturing arm of the company in Northern Ireland) to DMC (De Lorean
Motor Company, the distribution arm of the company in the US) states that
900-some cars were shipped with flap-less hoods AND locking gas caps. It is
unclear exactly when they begain using non-locking flaps.

As to whether or not you would lose points for it...that depends. As the
concours have never been done in the past with this much attention to
detail, we were lenient in the judging, and anything questionable, we gave
the benefit of the doubt to the competitor.

Someone on the list a few weeks ago described a concours car as not just
being how the car rolled off the factory assembly line, but how the
**perfect** car came off the the assembly line. Should a car without a
gasflap have a locking gas cap? Logically, no. In the future, will this be
a deduction, in spite of the memo that says some cars were built that way?
Possibly, but I don;t expect it anytime soon.

There is some internal discussion here at DMC as to how we can encourage
participation in the event while still encouraging people to drive and
enjoy the cars. Multiple classes (concours, drivers, and modified) are one
way under consideration. Obviously we make money by selling parts. If
people don't drive the cars, there is no need to buy parts.

I competed in the old DOA concours in Nashville in 1996. My car at that
time was nowhere near competitive in comparison to the cars that were in
St. Louis. I've decided that it's not realistic for me to attempt to
compete unless I am willing to not drive the car. Right now, I'd rather
drive it. Should I get another one in the future, I may get back into it.

James Espey
DeLorean Motor Company
Houston, Texas

281/568-9573
800/USA-DMC1
http://www.usadmc.com

At 9:01 AM -0500 10/19/99, mdeluca@xxxx wrote:
>First I want to say that James did an incredible job putting the
>handbook together!I have a question about the gas cap (page 7 of 14-fig
>-26). I own vin 3113 built Sept 81. I don't have a gas flap hood but I
>do have the locking gas cap and it's keyed to the ignition thus it has
>to be the correct part. Is it safe to assume that a judge would realize
>this if my car were being judged or is that something that I would lose
>points for?
>What vin did they go from the flap to the non flap hood? Does any one
>know what vin they stopped using the locking gas caps?
>
>Mike D.
>Vin 3113
>NY Lic DLORIANN