DeLorean legacy

By: JEFFREY GOLD

NEWARK - While only about 9 000 of his namesake cars were ever built, John Z DeLorean's place in auto history was assured as soon as his gull-winged sports cars rumbled off the assembly line.

DeLorean was among just a handful of US entrepreneurs who dared

start a car company in the last 75 years and he helped shift

Detroit toward smaller, more efficient autos until his career was

derailed by federal drug charges.

DeLorean died 10 days ago of complications from a recent

stroke.

 

He was 80.

 

"John DeLorean was one of Detroit's larger-than-life figures who

secured a noteworthy place in our industry's history," GM Chairman

and CEO Rick Wagoner said.

 

"He made a name for himself through his talent, creativity,

innovation and daring."

 

While apt to be remembered popularly as the man behind the car

modified for time travel in the 'Back to the Future' movies,

DeLorean left a powerful imprint in automaking built on unique,

souped-up cars.

 

At GM, he created what some consider the first "muscle car" in

1964 by cramming a V-8 engine into a Pontiac Tempest and calling it

the GTO, fondly dubbed the 'Goat' by auto enthusiasts.

 

He quit GM in 1973 to launch the DeLorean Motor Car Co.

 

Eight years later, the DeLorean DMC-12 hit the streets.

 

Its hallmarks, such as an unpainted stainless steel skin and the

gull-wing doors, have been ignored by mainstream automakers.

 

The angular design, however, earned it a cult following.

 

DeLorean's company collapsed in 1983, a year after he was

arrested in Los Angeles and accused of conspiring to sell US$24

million of cocaine to salvage his venture.

 

He used an entrapment defence to win acquittal in 1984, despite

a videotape in which he called a suitcase full of cocaine "good as

gold".

 

"The deadliest sin is pride," DeLorean told The AP, proclaiming

his faith as a born-again Christian.

 

"I was an arrogant egomaniac."

 

- Nampa-AP

 

-----

 

DeLorean died 10 days ago of complications from a recent stroke.He

was 80."John DeLorean was one of Detroit's larger-than-life figures

who secured a noteworthy place in our industry's history," GM

Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said."He made a name for himself

through his talent, creativity, innovation and daring."While apt to

be remembered popularly as the man behind the car modified for time

travel in the 'Back to the Future' movies, DeLorean left a powerful

imprint in automaking built on unique, souped-up cars.At GM, he

created what some consider the first "muscle car" in 1964 by

cramming a V-8 engine into a Pontiac Tempest and calling it the

GTO, fondly dubbed the 'Goat' by auto enthusiasts.He quit GM in

1973 to launch the DeLorean Motor Car Co.Eight years later, the

DeLorean DMC-12 hit the streets.Its hallmarks, such as an unpainted

stainless steel skin and the gull-wing doors, have been ignored by

mainstream automakers.The angular design, however, earned it a cult

following.DeLorean's company collapsed in 1983, a year after he was

arrested in Los Angeles and accused of conspiring to sell US$24

million of cocaine to salvage his venture.He used an entrapment

defence to win acquittal in 1984, despite a videotape in which he

called a suitcase full of cocaine "good as gold"."The deadliest sin

is pride," DeLorean told The AP, proclaiming his faith as a

born-again Christian."I was an arrogant egomaniac."- Nampa-AP -----

---