[DML] Re: I have a factory demo car?

[James Espey <james@xxxx>]

> No cars ever left the factory painted because there were no
> facilities to paint them on site. However, this does not mean that

True.

> some cars could not have been "Factory Authorized" to be painted. I
> do have to agree that there must have been at least 1 car, if not a

None of the factory documentation shows vehicles in the possession of 
DuPont, though they do show vehicles in the possession of companies 
like Legend Industries, ABC Television, Olsen Engineering, DOT, GM 
Harrison Radiator, and Smokey Yunick. I would put forth the 
possibility that only panels were used for paint research.

> couple of others that were used to test paint. But just like the RHD
> cars, and the twin turbo prototype, all work must have been completed
> off site by private companies. I forget who had the photos, but there
> were pictures on someone's web site of the KAPAC warehouse in Ohio
> from when DMC Houston had an open house. In one of the photos, there
> was a right front fender which was striped with all paint colors that

No one really knows whether or not these were "all paint colors that 
Lotus used". In fact, it's not paint at all on that particular 
fender, but an adhesive tape in various colors. There *IS* a right 
rear quarter panel in the warehouse that is painted with a red tinted 
clear coat, as described in SSI. Once again, no one now knows the 
origin of this panel, or how it got painted.

> Lotus used. Also, in Stainless Steel Illusion, there is a picture of
> a late prototype DeLorean that was painted orange by Lotus. The car
> is shown in one of thier hangers near a few Espirits. So this would
> be proof that at least 1 car was painted, though both of these

The orange car you mention was a "mule" with fiberglass panels 
utilized to facilitate testing of the prototypes rather than wait for 
stainless panels to be made available. This is also mentioned in SSI. 
Photos of this car will be on our website in a few days.

> examples were done by Lotus. To take this one step further, (correct
> me if I'm wrong) painting cars was considered as a last resort. It
> was realized that some might want thier cars to be another color, but
> paint wasn't as resistant as Stainless Steel. Dupont was also working
> on anodizing, or caoting the SS various colors like red, blue, and

I have never heard or read anything regarding anodizing the SS panels.

> green. The problem was that the coating would bubble & peel in humid
> enviorments. Weather a car with this feature exists, I don't know,
> but I am curious... In closing, while you could call it a "Factory
> Painted" car, "Factory Authorized for Painting" might be a more
> accurate term.


James Espey
DeLorean Motor Company
Houston, Texas

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