Saw this little diddy in the Belfast Telegraph, thought you all would be interested. Shannon Y 16506 ----------------------------- http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=613257 Driving back to the future By Marie Foy 21 February 2005 A Belfast teenager has joined a select group of people. Thomas McAuley is one of only 50 people in Ireland to have a fabulous De Lorean sports car. He bought the dream classic over the internet when he was just 16 years old and thinks he is the youngest-ever Irish owner. The unique gullwinged car gained international fame when it appeared in the in the Holywood blockbuster Back to the Future starring Michael J Fox. Thomas, who is now 17 and studying for A-levels, paid £4,500 saved up from his part-time job for the machine. Sadly, he won't be able to get insurance to drive his new motor until he is 21 but, along with his brother Eamon, plans to spend the next few years restoring it to its former glory. Thomas said: "It really started when I went to a few car shows in the old De Lorean factory in Dunmurry were they were built. "Then I saw Back to the Future a few years ago and decided I wanted to try and get one. "I even got a ride in one from another Belfast owner and that gave me the inspiration to go for it." And the Andersonstown Road teenager added: "It is an amazing car. I couldn't believe it when I finally got it. But when I looked around it I wondered what I had got myself into. "It had been left lying in a shed in Texas for the last 10 years with no maintenance whatsoever. It was in a right state." Thomas bought the 1981 car by auction in April and it was shipped to Belfast, arriving in June. "I got it to fix it up. It has already had quite a bit of work done to it but it needs thousands more spent on it. "It is a great car but you have to be crazy to have one. It is very expensive. I save a bit and then spend it on the car, but it is a labour of love." Thomas, who hopes to study geography at university, said: "By the time it is perfect I will be old enough to drive it." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give the gift of life to a sick child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's 'Thanks & Giving.' http://us.click.yahoo.com/5iY7fA/6WnJAA/Y3ZIAA/HliolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> DOC UK Website: www.deloreans.co.uk Unsubscribe: doc-uk-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ** Unless otherwise stated, all messages posted to the group are assumed public and may be printed in the club magazine ** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/doc-uk/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: doc-uk-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/