The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car originally manufactured in Dunmurry, a suburb west of Belfast, Northern Ireland by John DeLorean’s DeLorean Motor Company for the American market in 1981-82. Most commonly known as the DeLorean, it was the only model produced by the company which would go into liquidation as the US car market went through its largest slump since the 1930s. The DMC-12 features gull-wing doors with a fiberglass "underbody", to which non-structural brushed stainless steel panels are affixed. A modified version of the car became iconic for its appearance as a time machine in the Back to the Future film franchise.
The first prototype appeared in March 1976, and production officially began in 1981 (with the first DMC-12 rolling off the production line on January 21). During its production, several features of the car were changed, such as the bonnet (hood) style, wheels and interior. Approximately 9,000 DMC-12s were made before production halted in late 1982. Today, about 6,500 DeLorean Motor cars are believed to still exist.
Texas entrepreneur Stephen Wynne started a separate company in 1995 using the "DeLorean Motor Company" name and shortly thereafter acquired the trademark on the stylized "DMC" logo as well as the remaining parts inventory of the original DeLorean Motor Company. The company, at its suburban Houston, Texas location, completes newly assembled cars from new original stock (NOS) parts, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and reproduction parts on a "made to order" basis using existing Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plates. Technically, there are no "new" DeLoreans, only remanufactured original cars.
(Wikipedia)
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Die DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) war das Projekt des ehemaligen General-Motors-Vizepräsidenten John DeLorean, einen Sportwagen herzustellen. DMC wurde 1975 gegründet und 1981 wurde im nordirischen Dunmurry damit begonnen, ein Serienmodell mit einer Karosserie aus rostfreiem Stahl zu fertigen.
Die von Giorgetto Giugiaro gezeichnete Keilform und der matte Glanz der gebürsteten unlackierten Edelstahlkarosserie des Flügeltürers verliehen dem ersten und einzigen Modell „DeLorean DMC-12“ eine moderne und einzigartige Erscheinung. Die Produktion musste allerdings bereits nach 21 Monaten und etwa 9200 hergestellten Fahrzeugen wieder eingestellt werden.
(Wikipedia)
By Georg Sander on 2009-08-31 06:22:08