A collection of DeLorean-related dates. If you have a date to add, submit it here.
DeLorean Timeline
DeLorean Timeline
John DeLorean named Group Executive at GM
John DeLorean named group executive at GM – 1972
Sources:
JZD leaves General Motors
John DeLorean leaves GM.
Source: General Motors Heritage Center
DMC founded
DeLorean Motor Company was founded.
Sources:
Proto-2 built by Kar Kraft
Proto-2 built by Kar Kraft in Detroit, MI, and first tested in Nevada.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 110
DMCL Factory Ground Breaking Ceremony
DeLorean Motor Cars Limited (DMCL) factory ground breaking ceremony takes place in Dunmurry, West Belfast.
Sources:
Zoe Davis starts working on technical illustrations
Zoe Davis starts working on detailed technical illustrations.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 120
DeLorean Phase II Build begins
Phase II Pilot Build commenced in Dunmurry
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 123
Legend Industries Twin Turbo contract
Legend Industries awarded the contract to engineer, develop, and manufacture 5,000 DeLorean Twin Turbo systems.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, 348
US Emissions Testing commences
US Emissions testing commences.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 116
First DeLorean rolls off the production line
The first production line DeLorean is VIN #500.
Source: “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 148
Torsion bar patent filed
Sources:
First DeLoreans readied for shipment
The first DeLoreans are moved to the dockside at Belfast Harbor, preparing for shipping to the USA.
Source: “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 302
1,000th DeLorean employee
Patrick Fitzpatrick became the 1,000th DeLorean employee.
Source: “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 335
DMC Road Tests completed
DMC12 durability and road tests are completed.
Source: “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 125
DeLorean patent filed
Sources:
Third DeLorean shipment from Ireland
Third shipment of DeLoreans loaded at Belfast Harbour
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 310
1,000th DeLorean rolls off the production line
1000th DeLorean rolled off the production line
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 335
Legend Twin Turbo order increased
Legend Twin Turbo purchase order increased to 7,500.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 348
Shipping Strike between Britain & Northern Ireland
Source: “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 385
DeLorean Factory layoffs
1100 DeLorean employees (out of 2600) are declared ‘redundant’, and layoffs follow.
Source: “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 386
Receivership Announcement
8,580 DeLoreans produced as Receivership is announced.
Source: “John Z, the DeLorean, and Me“, page 185
Receivership at DeLorean
Source: NY Times
Receivership Terms Announced
The terms of receivership are announced.
Source: “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 388
First DeLorean sold in the UK
First official sale of a DeLorean in the United Kingdom, at the Culloden Hotel, Northern Ireland.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 406
First Gold DeLorean completed
The first Gold DeLorean was completed.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 373
John DeLorean arrested in Los Angeles
John DeLorean arrested at the Sheraton Plaza La Reina Hotel in Los Angeles.
Sources:
DMC factory closed
DMC factory closed.
Patent for stainless steel outer body
Colin R. Spooner receives US patent for stainless steel outer body over fiberglass reinforced inner body.
Sources:
- “Celebrating the Impossible“, page 215
- Google Patents
John DeLorean acquitted
Sources:
“Back to the Future” opens
“Back to the Future” opened in the USA.
Sources:
Texas-based fake-DMC purchases the NOS parts
“A Living Legend” – September 18, 2005
“Wynne talked a friend into investing, and in 1997 they acquired the entire warehouse and contents, in Columbus, Ohio, for less than $1 million. The retail value of those parts, Wynne says, is $35 million.”
John DeLorean dies
John DeLorean died
Source: IMDb
Fake DMC announces “New” DeLoreans
The company that bought the leftover NOS parts from DMC factory announce that “new” DeLoreans will soon be built.
Source: FoxNews.com – August 21, 2007 – “Texas Entrepreneur Set to Start Building DeLorean Cars”
DeLorean Time Machine goes on display
DeLorean Time Machine ‘A car’ from Back to the Future goes on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
OUTATIME documentary released
OUTATIME: Saving the DeLorean Time Machine was release.
Sources: