Will They Never Learn?

One tidbit that escaped my attention at the recent New York Auto Show was a display of humankind's never-ending optimism.

Or stupidity, depending on your perspective.

Because if there's a way to make a horrible car even worse, someone will find a way.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thanks to an Alert Reader (Dave Barry isn't the only one) may I present:

The DeLorean Electric.

The original DeLorean should have been called 'Hubris' - an awful car which ended in a variety of disasters, for investors, for employees of the Irish factory, and of course for Mr. DeLorean himself.

Not to mention for the 9,000-odd people who were saddled with these pieces of junk.

But like owners of Edsels who've been trying to convince the world for over five decades that their cars are valuable simply because they are rare - conveniently forgetting that there are a million very good reasons why they were rare to begin with - DeLorean owners have convinced themselves that they're on to something.

Folks: when they make a comedy movie franchise - not just a movie; a FRANCHISE! - based on your car, that should be a clue.

Stephen Wynne - and no, that's not the Las Vegas Steve Wynn-without-an-e - is a Liverpool-native-now-Texas-based mechanic who repairs and restores DeLoreans. He has ended up with a large collection of new-old-stock and used parts, and has also acquired the rights to the corporate name.

He decided that what the DeLorean needed was an electric powertrain.

The 400 volt AC induction motor produces some 260 horsepower, which is claimed to shove the car from rest to 100 km/h in about five seconds, with a top end of 200 km/h.

Much more than the 88 mph (141 km/h) Marty McFly and Doc Brown needed to go Back to the Future.

The battery can recharge in just 3.5 hours.

Oh wait - you don't have 240-volt / 70 amp service at your house?

Then it'd be more like 14 hours.

For a 160 km range.

Sure, Steve.

Wynne says he chose the particular battery supplier because of its name.

Flux Power.

I wouldn't even dare to make that up.

Not quite 'Flux Capacitor', but close enough. (Thank you again, Alert Reader.)

Wynne says he'll have 70 of these cars available in 2013, for $95,000 (US) a pop.

With the level of self-delusion prevalent amongst DeLorean owners, he might just sell some.

But Steve, fair warning: watch out for the Feds trying that ol' "cocaine bust entrapment" gambit.

Maybe I'll buy one myself and see if I can go back to 1955.

Then I could be the one who discovers 'Johnny B. Goode.'

Makes as much sense as an electric DeLorean...

 

Comments

[Jack]

You've probably never even seen a real DeLorean, let alone driven one. I can only conclude you must have diarrhea of the mouth, because all I hear is a bunch of bullshit coming from you.

You like to trash the DeLorean name, saying there are all these reasons why they're bad and failed, yet you CONVENIENTLY leave them out. Maybe because the car is not as bad as you'd like others to believe. The main reason were the emissions restrictions which forced Mr. DeLorean to go with a stock PRV engine instead of a more powerful custom built engine. You might wanna check on several of the sports cars that came out around that time, this was not an issue unique to DeLorean. Oh, and the recession that was going on in '81? Yeah that also had a lot to do with it. But you wouldn't put that in your article because it doesn't help you slant the view to fit with your bias that these cars failed because they are POS.

Were you a teen back in the day and had your girlfriend stolen by a guy who owned a DeLorean because you sure have a lot of hate for a car you've probably never actually experienced.

[Bill Lane]

I take offense at your attitude about the DeLorean. I am one of those "9000 saddled with these pieces of junk." I bought my DeLorean new in 1981 and I have had 31 years worth of fun with it. Yes, the car had problems, but I have also had several American made vehicles, Ford, Chevrolet and Chrysler, that have had just as many problems that should have never left the factory with all the flaws!

I don't drive my car very often but when I do, it always turns heads and results in many questions about the car and Mr. DeLorean.

Each to his own! I guess thats what makes the world go around.

Bill Lane