Re: [doc] DMC and conspiracy theories (long)

[Martin Gutkowski <webmaster@xxxx>]

Chris,

James has been a DeLorean nut long before working for Houston - he did start the DML after all :-)

Martin

Chris Parnham wrote:

> James,
> I didn't know that you were that interested, or involved in the DMC history,
> I assumed it was just your business. If you are not careful you'll turn into
> a proper "DeLorean anorak", like many of us!
> I must admit I had not considered the "security services", swapping info of
> JZD, prior to his arrest, but I guess it must have happened. I suppose one
> question is why the FBI selected JZD as a target in the first place.
> Another chapter for my ( our) book perhaps?
>
> Regards
> Chris P
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Espey [mailto:james@xxxx]
> Sent: 27 September 2002 17:10
> To: doc-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [doc] DMC and conspiracy theories (long)
>
> I can understand the sensitivity to the 'conspiracy theories', and I imagine
> it must be doubly difficult for the UK owners, getting it from both the
> Americans who blame the Conservative government for the downfall of DMC, as
> well as the UK citizens, who think of DeLorean as a 'carpetbagger'.
>
> These days, I am more interested in the history of the original company, but
> am afraid that as more time passes, the truth becomes more and more cloudy.
> In spite of the fact that I truly believe JZD (at least the JZD that I have
> met a few times) is a really nice guy, in regards to the downfall of the
> original DMC, he was his own worst enemy. However, its' clear that the
> British government was informed by the FBI that DeLorean was the subject of
> a drug investigation, which may have influenced their decision in some way
> to cut off funds to the company. Think of the embarrassment should the
> Conservatives be associated with financing a company that was partly
> financed by drug money. I also do not doubt for an instant that so intense
> was the desire of the US agents involved to "get" a high-profile name like
> "DeLorean" that they would feed misleading information in order to "cut-off"
> any help that might have been forthcoming from the government OR any private
> sector investors, as well.
>
> I think that anyone who really reads the books relating to the company, and
> excerpts from other books ("Cork on Cork" by Kenneth Cork and "Balance of
> Power" by Jim Prior are two that come to mind) will see that there was some
> behind the scenes activity. One can certainly see the skullduggery involved
> in JZD's trial by the prosecution.
>
> A question that often comes up, with several theories bandied about, is
> exactly who made the decision to sell the dies as scrap? My understanding of
> the time was that the American arm of DMC had some title to the machinery,
> tooling and equipment actually in the factory, and the UK government had
> some title to the land and buildings. In effect, this would allow JZD as the
> majority shareholder in the American company, to move the equipment to any
> building in the world (any city/state/country looking for jobs for their
> citizens) and re-start production, leaving the Conservative UK government
> with insult added to their already significant financial injury.
>
> JZD certainly intended to re-start production of the car SOMEPLACE. Looking
> through the files here from KAPAC and speaking with people involved back in
> the 1983-1984 timeframe, the plan was to use the remaining inventory to
> build more DeLoreans, whether they be stock cars or the rumored Firestar
> 500. I have read telexes here from Marvin Katz (KAPAC) trying to locate and
> purchase the dies, specifically the left front fender die, from the
> receiver. I have an article from the Detroit Free Press on this subject
> dated 20 Oct 1985, as well.
>
> I would love to hear the thoughts and any documents which validate or
> invalidate any of this from the UK club members...
>
> James
>
> PS - As an aside, it's no secret that JZD has no love for the DOA, and a
> discussion that took place at the DOA Expo in Oregon which was relayed to me
> seems to explain part of this. It seems that in the mid-1980's, about the
> time that JZD was searching for the dies and sending divers to look for
> them, he approached a DOA board member at the time about joining in a
> lawsuit against the UK for scrapping the dies, as that action allegedly
> created insurance, repair and future value problems for all DeLoreans. The
> board member rebuffed JZD, and to this day, JZD is reluctant to have any
> dealings with the DOA or their events. This is all second-hand information,
> but comes to me from a reliable and trusted person closely involved with the
> DOA and the board member in question, who is still active on the DOA board.
>
> > From: "Chris Parnham" <cp@xxxx>
> > Reply-To: doc-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 10:11:01 +0100
> > To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Cc: "Doc-Uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <doc-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: [doc] RE: [DML] Re: Downfall of the DMC?
> >
> > Its very refreshing for me to read such considered and thoughtful replies
> to
> > this often referred to subject. Living in the UK I get very sensitive to
> all
> > the " conspiracy theories" often put about on this subject.
>
> DOC UK Website: www.delorean.co.uk
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>
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