John Z. DeLorean & Cocaine

John Z. DeLorean was an up and coming automotive force after designing the GTO. Becoming Vice President of Pontiac in the early seventies, DeLorean envisioned new dreams. He wished to compete against the big three automotive companies, and start his own car company.





The first model was to be called the DMC-12.( known to everyone as the famous time machine DeLorean from the Back to the Future movies) Intended to be a safe and sleek sports car, DeLorean aimed to begin production by the late seventies. Due to money raising and the building of the factory in Northern Ireland, the DMC-12 did not begin production till early 1981. Forced to make decisions to save the company, DeLorean was entrapped by the Government for cocaine trafficking. Acquitted of all charges years later, DeLorean was forced to close the company in late 1982.





After producing 8,500 vehicles, the dream came to an end. DeLorean is still haunted by this ordeal by ongoing money conflicts between lawyers and the government of Ireland. In his seventies, DeLorean resides in New Jersey attempting to peacefully live in retirement. It is speculated that he is working on a new car, but time will only tell.





Too much is talked about the failure of DeLorean, and not about the accomplishments of DeLorean. To consider what he almost pulled off is amazing. Mr. DeLorean built a state of the art factory, began mass-producing vehicles, and was completely independent of other manufacturers. It would have only gotten better had financial troubles not defeated him. I will always consider DeLorean a respectable individual who made one of the greatest cars ever. I thank him for this.