John DeLorean passes away at age 80.
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John DeLorean passes away at age 80.
A MAJOR figure in automotive history, sadly, passed away today. Out of respect for him, I will not give my usual on-and-on ramblings about all the things he did in detail but just give a brief summary.
He, more than any other single individual, gave us the classic American muscle car in the fall of 1963 by first putting a large 389 c.i. V8 into an ordinary Pontiac Tempest and risking his own job at Pontiac to do so against the dictates of GM management. The resulting car......the GTO..... was hugely successful and spawned an entire decade of big-engined American coupes and ponycars, which crumbled with emission controls and the gas crunches of the 1970's.
Later he served at Chevrolet and then left GM to build his famous stainless-steel gull-winged sports car in Northern Ireland. The plant, unfortunately, was plagued with quality-control and labor problems, and declining fortunes at the company led to the well-known and controversial cocaine charge, of which he was acquitted in 1984 after a public trial. He was converted to Christianity later in life and underwent a huge change in his life and character.
He will be buried Thursday in Troy, MI....a Detroit suburb.
He, more than any other single individual, gave us the classic American muscle car in the fall of 1963 by first putting a large 389 c.i. V8 into an ordinary Pontiac Tempest and risking his own job at Pontiac to do so against the dictates of GM management. The resulting car......the GTO..... was hugely successful and spawned an entire decade of big-engined American coupes and ponycars, which crumbled with emission controls and the gas crunches of the 1970's.
Later he served at Chevrolet and then left GM to build his famous stainless-steel gull-winged sports car in Northern Ireland. The plant, unfortunately, was plagued with quality-control and labor problems, and declining fortunes at the company led to the well-known and controversial cocaine charge, of which he was acquitted in 1984 after a public trial. He was converted to Christianity later in life and underwent a huge change in his life and character.
He will be buried Thursday in Troy, MI....a Detroit suburb.
Last edited by mmarshall; Mar 20, 2005 at 05:57 PM.
I am sad to read about his passing..For all the great things that he accomplished and created his overall career and life is plagued and shadowed with the reason for his DMC demise and drug conspiracy.. May he rest in piece.. 
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Sad to read of John's passing. He was a great force for change in the industry - one of the first to kick Detroit's collective rear end in the direction of performance cars. He was an outstanding engineer - his stainless gull-wing coupe was a brilliant idea subverted by a poor engine and a lackluster assembly plant. His career eventually succumbed to a combination of stress and zeitgeist, he was a major cultural icon of the 80's.
We were delighted to hear of his "born again" experience a few years ago that turned his life around, and trust that John Z is well tonight, resting safely with the Chief Engineer.
We were delighted to hear of his "born again" experience a few years ago that turned his life around, and trust that John Z is well tonight, resting safely with the Chief Engineer.
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Originally Posted by Lil4X
Sad to read of John's passing. He was a great force for change in the industry - one of the first to kick Detroit's collective rear end in the direction of performance cars. He was an outstanding engineer - his stainless gull-wing coupe was a brilliant idea subverted by a poor engine and a lackluster assembly plant. His career eventually succumbed to a combination of stress and zeitgeist, he was a major cultural icon of the 80's.
We were delighted to hear of his "born again" experience a few years ago that turned his life around, and trust that John Z is well tonight, resting safely with the Chief Engineer.
We were delighted to hear of his "born again" experience a few years ago that turned his life around, and trust that John Z is well tonight, resting safely with the Chief Engineer.
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WWJD?
I'd say one of three 15-passenger vans...the extended-wheelbase Ford Econoline, Chevy Express Van or Dodge Ram Wagon.
Why a 15-passenger job? Him, Mary, Joseph, and the 12 Apostles. Peter would probably be riding shotgun most of the time.
( In fact DeLorean right now may be working on a redesign for it )
I'd say one of three 15-passenger vans...the extended-wheelbase Ford Econoline, Chevy Express Van or Dodge Ram Wagon.
Why a 15-passenger job? Him, Mary, Joseph, and the 12 Apostles. Peter would probably be riding shotgun most of the time.
( In fact DeLorean right now may be working on a redesign for it )
Last edited by mmarshall; Mar 21, 2005 at 05:11 PM.
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
A MAJOR figure in automotive history, sadly, passed away today. Out of respect for him, I will not give my usual on-and-on ramblings about all the things he did in detail but just give a brief summary.
He, more than any other single individual, gave us the classic American muscle car in the fall of 1963 by first putting a large 389 c.i. V8 into an ordinary Pontiac Tempest and risking his own job at Pontiac to do so against the dictates of GM management. The resulting car......the GTO..... was hugely successful and spawned an entire decade of big-engined American coupes and ponycars, which crumbled with emission controls and the gas crunches of the 1970's.
Later he served at Chevrolet and then left GM to build his famous stainless-steel gull-winged sports car in Northern Ireland. The plant, unfortunately, was plagued with quality-control and labor problems, and declining fortunes at the company led to the well-known and controversial cocaine charge, of which he was acquitted in 1984 after a public trial. He was converted to Christianity later in life and underwent a huge change in his life and character.
He will be buried Thursday in Troy, MI....a Detroit suburb.
He, more than any other single individual, gave us the classic American muscle car in the fall of 1963 by first putting a large 389 c.i. V8 into an ordinary Pontiac Tempest and risking his own job at Pontiac to do so against the dictates of GM management. The resulting car......the GTO..... was hugely successful and spawned an entire decade of big-engined American coupes and ponycars, which crumbled with emission controls and the gas crunches of the 1970's.
Later he served at Chevrolet and then left GM to build his famous stainless-steel gull-winged sports car in Northern Ireland. The plant, unfortunately, was plagued with quality-control and labor problems, and declining fortunes at the company led to the well-known and controversial cocaine charge, of which he was acquitted in 1984 after a public trial. He was converted to Christianity later in life and underwent a huge change in his life and character.
He will be buried Thursday in Troy, MI....a Detroit suburb.
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