B. Atkinson
Helped build the last right-hand gullwing door to be built at DMC in Northern Ireland.
Pull Strap Bezel
The backside of the door pull strap bezel (the plastic interior cover where the pull strap comes out of the door) can sometimes come off. The is likely because one or both of the retaining clips on the back side have falling into the door. “Spire nuts” or other clips could be used, but a small nut and bolt would also work.
Ready Player One Experience on Hollywood Blvd. – March 2018
[su_embed_google_photos_album_plugin googlesharelink=”https://photos.app.goo.gl/vLvHbcfY5keUvmRA8″] In early 2018, the Ready Player One movie created a maze and movie memorabilia experience on Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA, which also included an RPO DeLorean (VIN #06235.) An Interactive ‘Ready Player One’ Pop-Up is Coming to Hollywood and Vine Next Week /Film Enters The Oasis at Hollywood’s ‘Ready Player One’ Challenge Ready Player One Challenge Pops Up in Hollywood How This Interactive Maze Immersed Guests in the World of ‘Ready Player One’ [su_google_photos_pro album_id=”AF7RCjFFv4Mmzn7I2JwDlOfCjeueC2UPghnm_XUdY9US2N_DIN94sxwt39u2hyJWm9z8kkAy2w_M”]
Barrie Wills
Barrie was the last employee of the DeLorean Motor Company, Ltd., He spent 50 years in the automotive industry.
DeLorean Interior Sound Level Test
Most of us don’t think too much about sound levels in the DeLorean because we’re just enjoying driving the car. But we thought it would be interesting to ask the DeLorean community to do a little test and collect some data on interior sound levels. If you feel comfortable doing so safely, we hope you’ll install this decibel app on your smart phone, and get an average reading while driving the car. Step 1: Install the decibel meter (Android | Apple) Step 2: Using the app, get the AVERAGE decibels, using these conditions: Drive at 65mph, on the freeway. Windows are up/closed. Radio is off. Vent fan is set to 0 / off. With the app open and measuring, hold the phone directly above the shifter, at the same height as the A/C vents. Take note the AVERAGE decibels, then fill in the form below (and, if possible, email a screenshot to contact@DeLoreanDirectory.com with the VIN.) [su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”DeLorean Interior Sound Level Test Results” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””][/su_spoiler][/su_accordion] DeLorean Interior Sound Levels
Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser
Tried, and true… the liquid Bar Keepers Friend soft cleanser does a great job finishing the stainless. You can also use the powered stuff, but the premixed bottles make the already work-intensive process a bit easier. Only work on “small-ish” areas at one time, as the liquid often dries faster than you want, which means more work to clean it off. If you start one the right (or left) half of the hood, always work WITH the grain (obviously,) by either wetting the surface, then squirting on a healthy amount of BKF, and giving it a good, deep clean. You can also squirt it right onto a wet cloth and work one area at the time, between wash-downs. Keep in mind – after you do a good cleaning with the BKF, you’ll still want to wash the car afterwards, and/or use some stainless steel cleaner to bring out the final shine. It’s quite amazing how much better the stainless looks after BKF.
3 Deloreans on a Farm
Found on a website called “CarsInBarns.com” these three DeLoreans are somewhere in Ohio. There’s no contact info for “Ian” or any other details. If you have any info, contact us, or add comments to the Discussion section below. “I first spotted these rotting Deloreans about a year ago. Then earlier this week, I saw them again and thought of your site. I know they aren’t exactly ‘American Muscle Cars’, but when was the last time you saw an abandoned Delorean? Well, here’s three of them! The whole property looks abandoned, in fact I’ve never noticed anything change or move during the many years I’ve been driving by this property. – From Ian in Ohio” Discuss
They All Look The Same… But they Aren’t
by Gordon Carpenter (DMC #10987) & Dara Solo More than 50 DeLoreans attended the 2018 DeLorean Convention and Show at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles Illinois. While glancing at all of these gleaming beauties, one might say ‘They All Look The Same’… But they Aren’t! I took it upon myself to find and photograph the ‘Custom’ of every DeLorean at the show, and ended up taking over 300 photos! Personalizing your DeLorean while maintaining the key design elements has always been my passion. I was happy to discover that many of the participants at the 2018 DCS have been very creative in adding their own unique touches. Here are a few that caught my attention… VIN 01115 Owner Unknown (can anyone help here?), gave 01115 an interior makeover that grabs your attention like no other. The seats have been recovered with a soft, velvety, textured material. The Binnacle, dash center console, and shift boot have all been recovered in a red vinyl. The center console instrumentation has been redesigned to include a Double DIN stereo head unit, bright stainless steel knobs to control the AC, the stock manual shift ball has been replaced with a stainless steel knob, and the ashtray has been transformed to a cup holder. Last but not least, the steering wheel and turn indicator housing were painted red to match. From any angle, this interior is beautiful! VIN 05180 Owner: Dennis Schlieckau outfitted 05180 with custom luggage from www.HillsAliveLuggage.co.uk that goes perfectly with the DeLorean styling. Dennis elected to remove the spare tire and position the first piece in the now-empty well. Then two identical primary luggage pieces, beautifully tapered to fit our unique trunk, are positioned above the circular luggage piece. Hills Alive added a snap-on bag to utilize the space opposite the gas fill protrusion. All four pieces fit perfectly in the trunk space! And there is more… Behind the two passenger seats, two more suitcases expertly fit on the parcel shelf! I estimate that Dennis and his wife could easily take a 3-week vacation and never have to visit a laundromat on their travels! VIN 10205 Owner: Matt Slaw has a great example of a fully painted DeLorean. I love painted DeLoreans as much as I love the Stainless body. In every case I have observed, the front and rear fascias blend better with the body panels on painted cars, creating the illusion of a wider stance. While listening to a recording of a John DeLorean interview, presented by John Lamm at the 2018 DCS Tech Talks, we learned that painted DeLoreans were definitely on the horizon, maybe as early as the 1984-85 production run. This fire engine red paint job is amazing from any angle, and I am sure that it would have received two thumbs up from John DeLorean! VIN 03513 Owner: Kolin Brown has decorated his car with cool vinyl graphics from a collection of automotive sponsors, giving the car a NASCAR vibe. Additionally, this DMC-12 sports a ‘ground effects’ kit that completes the race car package. VIN 10270 Owner: Luke Sandel drives 10270 on RAYS Volk TE37 wheels that are very popular with performance enthusiasts. Custom wheels for a DeLorean are not a simple task considering how unique the dimensions of stock DeLorean wheels are! I know, as I have been searching for my ‘holy wheels’ for a decade or more! The wheels chosen by Luke are especially interesting because of the contrasting style and color. Even with 10mm wider tires (205 and 245), approximately 4 lbs. per wheel of weight savings is realized. Luke has upgraded 10270 with a single water-cooled Garrett T3 ‘Mr. Turbo’ feeding the stock Delorean engine. At 6 pounds of intercooled boost, Luke is experiencing approximately 170 HP at the wheels. At the heart is a Megasquirt 3 sequential EFI system, providing boost control and safety monitoring of air/fuel ratio, boost level, and engine knock. Boost begins at 1800 RPM providing seamless power during any driving condition. For long range trips, 30+ MPG is obtainable at 70MPH. VIN 06138 Owner: Diane Bailey’s 6138 has a trunk that is worth seeing! The carpet has been replaced with a well-fitted piece of plywood sporting a large DMC logo. Then you will notice that the whole trunk has been coated with a ‘LineX – Rhino Lining’ style coating. What a beautiful surprise for a part of the DeLorean that is usually overlooked. VIN 10410 Owner: Nathan Schmucker rolls 10410 on four custom wheels that we may be seeing a lot more of. These wheels are just like the stock 14”/15” front/rear DeLorean wheels, except that they are 17”/18” in diameter. DMC Houston currently offers these ‘Billet’ wheels on a ‘custom-made and non-cancellable order’ basis. Nathan has swapped the stock DeLorean engine for a Toyota 2JZ Supra engine, a 3.0 liter turbocharged inline 6 cylinder that delivers an amazing 400hp at the wheels! Affectionately known as “2JZD”, it was owned by Nathan’s father, the late Cliff Schmucker. Cliff made many upgrades including a computerized engine management system, a digital RPM relay, 11” vented and slotted brake rotors, upgraded gas shocks and adjustable rear lower control arms. Even in a room full of DeLoreans, this car is an attention-getter! VIN 10574 Owner: Dennis Adams’ 10574 rides on four customized DeLorean wheels. Dennis shared that he first stripped the wheels of all paint, then powder coated each entire wheel. Later he had each wheel machined to expose the bright metal shown in the photo and finish each wheel up with a thin clear coat. The black paint of the DeLorean body and the wheels are stunning together. VIN 07104 Owner: Eric Weber has an amazing stereo/audio system installed in 7104. The amplifier is the largest I have ever seen and occupies a good portion of the trunk. Behind the seats and beautifully installed in a sculpted cabinet, are two speakers obviously capable of handling the output of the amplifier in the trunk. I can only imagine the abilities
DeLorean project unfairly maligned
September 20, 2018 | Belfast Telegraph / PressReader The Venice Film Festival review in the Belfast Telegraph September 15 (Cocaine, Catastrophes, and Crazy Cars: the battle to make the John DeLorean biopic Driven) is disappointing. It appears to overdose as a critique of the DeLorean car, manufactured in Dunmurry in the ’80s, in preference to focusing on the movie itself. Better the story itself than the facts, it appears, following in the wake of Bruce Gardyne’s statement in the House of Commons, under the protection of parliamentary privilege, that John DeLorean was a “conman”. As many of your readers, who were former employees, know, 6,500 cars of the total manufactured of 9,080, shipped almost exclusively to the USA, remain in use 36 years later – across the world from the west coast of North America to New Zealand. That is a remarkable statistic which is testament to John DeLorean’s aim to develop the ethical car. Whilst my 2015 book, John Z, the DeLorean & Me – Tales from an Insider, sets out to correct the many myths, it is critical of my former chairman. It does, however, lay the blame for the bad press towards the DeLorean project in the UK fairly and squarely on the seeds sown by Bruce Gardyne. BARRIE WILLS Former CEO of DeLorean Motor Cars Ltd Warwick
303 Aerospace Protectant
303 Aerospace Protectant is quite amazing. It brings back the ‘black’ of the rubber and plastic on the DeLorean, and protects it at the same time. It’s especially noticeable when you give your louvre / sunshade a good spray-down, then LEAVE IT for a day or two to soak in, then wipe it down. Although it isn’t cheap, it’s a great product that many DeLorean owners recommend. Made by 303 Products