What is a DMC DeLorean?
A: The DMC DeLorean is a rear-engine two-passenger
sports car manufactured
and marketed by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company.
Who designed the car?
A: It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.
It was noted for its gull-wing doors and what?
A: Brushed stainless-steel outer body panels.
The DeLorean was also noted for a lack of what?
A: Power and performance incongruous with its looks and price.
Though its production was short-lived, it became widely
known after what?
A: After a DeLorean was the time machine in the Back to the Future films.
When was the first production car completed?
A: On January 21, 1981.
How many DeLoreans were estimated to still be on the
road as of 2015?
A: 6,500.
Originally, the car was intended to have a centrally
mounted what?
A: Wankel rotary engine.
Appearing in October 1976, the first prototype was
completed by whom?
A: American automotive chief engineer William T. Collins, formerly chief
engineer at Pontiac.
The prototype was initially known as what?
A: The DSV-1, or DeLorean Safety Vehicle.
As development continued, the model was referred to as
the DSV-12, before changing to DMC-12, the "12" deriving from what?
A: The target list price of $12,000 upon release.
The Ford V6 engine would soon be abandoned in favor of
what?
A: The complete drivetrain from the Citroën CX 2000—deemed a more reliable
choice.
The 1,985 cc (121 cu in) I4 engine from Citroën was
ultimately deemed what?
A: Underpowered for the DeLorean.
When Citroën learned of DMC plans to turbocharge the
engine, Citroën suggested that DMC do what?
A: Find another engine.
What engine was eventually selected?
A: The fuel-injected V6 PRV engine (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo).
As a result, the engine location had to be moved from
the mid-engine location in Prototype 1 to a what?
A: Rear-engine location in Prototype 2, a configuration which would be
retained in the production vehicle.
A black steering wheel with a fat center was intended
to hold an airbag and the driver had a full set of what?
A: Stewart-Warner gauges.
A central warning system would check various fluid
levels and even warn of what?
A: Low brake pad thickness.
These and other changes to the original concept led to
what?
A: Considerable schedule pressures.
The design was deemed to require almost complete
re-engineering, which was turned over to whom?
A: English engineer Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars.
In order to train the workforce, a small number of
pre-production DeLoreans were produced with fiberglass bodies and are
referred to as what?
A: "Black cars" or mules.
When was the DeLorean Motor Company placed into
receivership?
A: In February 1982 and filed bankruptcy on October 26 of that year.
Who purchased the unsold DeLoreans and partially
completed DeLoreans still on the assembly line and assembled approximately
100 cars to finish the remaining production?
A: Consolidated International on December 24, 1982.
Prior to the release of the DeLorean, there was a
waiting list of what?
A: Eager buyers, many of whom paid over MSRP.
However, that exuberance subsided very quickly and
production output soon far exceeded what?
A: Sales volume.
October 1981 was the highest month of sales for DMC
with how many vehicles sold?
A: 720.
Despite this, instead of reducing production, John
DeLorean did what?
A: He doubled production output, further adding to the backlog of unsold
cars.
By the end of 1981, DMC had produced 7,500 cars but had
sold only how many?
A: 3,000.
In March, telegrams were sent to all 343 dealerships
requesting what?
A: That each buy six cars to help save the company.
How nay dealerships purchased cars as a result?
A: None.
By the end of May 1982, production at the factory was
what?
A: Shut down.