Re: THINK - Ideas for a "new" DeLorean?

[srubano@xxxx]

The same material you are refering to has been used on the American 
car Saturn since the company first opened shop some years ago and is 
still used in production. Actually if you go to a dealership they 
actually beat on the car with their fists and kick the panels in to 
prove the strength of it...makes you kind of cringe when they do it 
but it's still fun to watch the panel pop back to it's original 
form. :)

Steve

--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Stian Birkeland" <delorean@xxxx> wrote:
> 
> 
> If the DeLorean were to be re-produced (same styling), then it 
would be possible to offer a "cheaper" DeLorean without the 
expensive stainless steel panels. Someone at some time suggested 
fibreglass panels (painted) as one possibility in order to make 
variations of the car but based on the same platform.
> 
> But now, there are another material that could be of interest - 
its called Thermoplastic here in Norway.
> 
> Its being used in the production of the Norwegian(!) Electricity 
Car - THINK! 
> Although the styling is not of a sports car, the car has actually 
been designed by LOTUS in England!
> 
> Go to: www.think.no for more info!
> 
> THINK is now owned by Ford Motor Company, and I believe they have 
started to sell THINKs in California already.
> 
> The advantage of thermoplastic is that it is a solid, strong, re-
usable and environmental friendly material. Also, it can take a 
beating. I remember a commercial for THINK where they hit the front 
fender with a hammer! No damage! Believe it or not!
> 
> So - let this be a suggestion to DMC Houston (they do have all the 
spare parts and are the only ones that have the opportunity to make 
a new DeLorean if there is a market for it). I think that as time 
goes by, more people would want a "new" model 2001 based on the 1981 
DeLorean. DMC Houston has the mold for the glassfibre underbody, 
and panels made out of thermoplastic would be cheap to produce. 
Hey, maybe you could use the glassfibre underbody mold to make an 
underbody of another composite material ( Kevlar/carbonfibre comes 
to mind). This would all make the car very light-weight, which in 
turn would make the car faster, even with the standard PRV-V6.
> 
> My suggestion are open and free for anyone to use :-)
> Opinions please! E-mail me privately :-)
> 
> Best wishes
> Stian Birkeland
> Norway
> 
> VIN # 06759
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]