Re: [doc] Fire at the DMC factory

[ROBLAMROCK@xxxx]

There was indeed a fire at the factory on 5th May 1981 after the death of hunger striker Bobby Sands.  Rioters lobbed some 143 Molotov cocktails over security fences and portable office accommodation caught fire.  It is reported that valuable business equipment along with some records were destroyed but there is no record of any cars actually having been destroyed in this fire.  The local Belfast Telegraph reports that production of the De Loreran sports car - just about to go on sale in the US - was unaffected.  John DeLorean also mentions the loss of technical drawings, so if cars were indeed "torched" then I'm sure we would have heard all about it.
In delving into my archives I can tell you that one of the test cars did catch fire at 4am on a quiet country road outside Glenarm on Monday 2nd March 1981.  (First recorded fire in a DMC).  Fairly extensive damage was done to the car, but nobody was hurt.  Two drivers were testing the car on tough Co. Antrim mountain roads and were returning to base (the factory) when the fire happened.

Robert

> Well its news to me James.
> Robert?  can you cast any light on this one?
>
> Chris P
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jamesrguk [mailto:James_rg@xxxx]
> Sent: 27 November 2002 17:12
> To: doc-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [doc] Fire at the DMC factory
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I work in Colchester and my D has being playing around a bit lately
> and as I am a good friend with one of the mechanics in the council
> garages opposite I asked him to have a look at the engine later this
> week.
>
> Anyway turns out that he was working for the Army in Ireland in the
> 1970's and early 80's and was called out the DeLorean factory when
> there was a fire there. With tensions high anything suspicious or
> thought to be the work of terrorist groups had to be dealt with via
> the army.
>
> He said that he witnessed at least 3 DeLorean cars on fire and
> believes that 8 were lost in the fire. I wondered if this is true, I
> know there was a fire but didn't know that there were cars lost. I
> have no reason to doubt him.
>
> He said it brought a tear to his eye when he saw them destroyed, he
> was there for 6 hours while they investigated the scene and he told
> me that although, in his mind, it was obviously a terrorist act that
> no terrorist group ever admitted to starting the fire.
>
> Weird,
>
>
> James RG