DeLorean Trivia

1. When was the first prototype of the De Lorean DMC-12 completed?

From Quiz Delorean DMC-12

Answer: 1976

It was created by William T. Collins, the former chief engineer at Pontiac.

From Quiz The DMC Legend

Answer: John Zachary DeLorean

John DeLorean was a high-management level employee at the General Motors Company, before he left to pursue his own interests in the automobile industry. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funds, pressure from the British government, and alleged drug dealing/smuggling, DeLorean was forced to end his dream. He was to make a comeback into the automobile world with a new car as well as a watch company. Unfortunately, none of those new dreams saw the light of day as he passed away in the year 2004.

From Quiz The DeLorean DMC-12

Answer: 1981-1983

There were three years of production for the DeLorean DMC-12 car, which were 1981-1983. The DeLorean Motor Company originally scheduled production of the DMC-12 to begin around 1979, but delays put off assembly of the cars until 1981. The company went bankrupt in 1982, so 1983 was the last year of production for the DMC-12.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: American Express

American Express sponsored the Gold DeLorean promotional campaign for its "Goldcard" holders. The Gold DeLoreans were featured in the American Express Christmas catalogue in December, 1979.

From Quiz Delorean DMC-12

Answer: 12 months or 12,000 miles

The cars also came with an available, 5 year, 5,000 mile service contract.

From Quiz The DMC Legend

Answer: Rear-wheel drive

The rear-wheel drive system usually involves an engine in the front of the vehicle, but had to be slightly re-thought due to the fact that the engine of the DMC was in the back of the car. A driveshaft, connected to the rear tires, controlled the rear-wheel drive system. Some advantages of the rear-wheel drive included a smaller turning radius, superior handling in normal weather patterns, and a low cost to make and maintain. The disadvantages, however, include less traction on non-dry surfaces, and excessive skidding. To compensate for the skidding, John DeLorean made the rear wheels on his car larger to make some extra weight, that prevents skidding.

From Quiz The DeLorean DMC-12

Answer: Northern Ireland

After scouting such locations as Texas and Puerto Rico; Dunmurry, Northern Ireland was chosen as the location of production for the DeLorean DMC-12. One of the reasons for the choosing of this particular site was to stimulate the dwindling economy by creating jobs. In a little over two years, DeLorean Motor Company built a state-of-the-art factory in an old peat bog in Dunmurry and began production on its cars. Although production was based in Ireland, the DMC-12 was primarily intended to be sold in the United States.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: 24-Karat Gold Plating

The gold on the Gold DeLoreans is actually 24-Karat Gold that has been electroplated onto the stainless steel panels, which came standard with the DeLorean cars. The cars are so detailed that the gold plating was not only featured on the stainless steel panels, but was extended to the rims and tailpipes of the cars.

From Quiz Delorean DMC-12

Answer: 3

The manual transmission came with 5 gears.

From Quiz The DMC Legend

Answer: The trunk

The trunk could have posed some trouble for the first time Delorean owner as well because unlike most standard cars, the DMC's trunk was on the front of the car. Since the gas tank was in the front, the engine was in the back. Its fuel efficiency was estimated to be around twelve liters per one hundred kilometers.

From Quiz The DeLorean DMC-12

Answer: DeLorean Motor Company

John Z. DeLorean, the father of the DMC-12, was born in the motor capital of the world, Detroit, Michigan. He worked for nearly 20 years as a successful engineer for Chevrolet, Pontiac (DeLorean designed their GTO), and General Motors. As he envisioned building a sleek new sports car, DeLorean left his position as vice-president of General Motors in 1973. After gathering up $175 million in funds, he formed the DeLorean Motor Company in 1974.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: 100

DeLorean Motor Company made a deal with American Express to produce 100 gold-plated cars to be sold in the catalogue.

From Quiz Delorean DMC-12

Answer: Dunmurry, Northern Ireland

Although Detroit is where most American cars are built, the Delorean was built a couple miles out of Belfast in a neighborhood named Dunmurry.

From Quiz The DMC Legend

Answer: Stainless steel

The stainless steel of the car was a respectable feature. Stainless never had the risk of rusting, and all it needed to stay shiny was a good cleaning. The problem of the design was revealed when the car was forced to undergo a crash test. At 40 miles/hour the car crumpled into a furrowed mass of metal. That happened because of the fact that stainless steel could not have crumple zones added to its design.

From Quiz The DeLorean DMC-12

Answer: Giugiaro

Italian car designer, Giugiaro designed the stainless steel outer shell of the DeLorean DMC-12. The type used was Grade-304 brushed stainless steel, which had a life-expectancy of 25 years. Although smudges and fingerprints were hard to get off, and waterspotting occurred after washing, DeLorean boasted that stainless steel had one advantage: "Got a scratch? Buff it out!"

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: 2

Out of the original 100 gold cars commissioned by American Express, only two were actually made by DeLorean Motor Company.

From Quiz Delorean DMC-12

Answer: 170 hp

John Delorean originally wanted the car to have 200 horsepower but eventually settled for 170.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: 1981

The year model for the Gold DeLoreans was 1981, and the cars came off the assembly line in late 1981. DeLorean Motor Company produced car models 1981-1983 before it went under in late 1982. DeLorean never made 1980 models, the earliest was 1981.

From Quiz Delorean DMC-12

Answer: 130

This version had less horsepower because to be sold in the U.S., the car needed to have parts like catalytic converters to reduce emissions. This drastically dropped the horsepower.

From Quiz The DeLorean DMC-12

Answer: DeLorean Safety Vehicle

The original concept for the DeLorean DMC-12 was a sleek sports car that was stylish, yet equipped with state-of-the-art safety features. And so, the DMC-12 was originally to be called the DeLorean Safety Vehicle. However, when the prototype was introduced in 1979, the name "DeLorean Safety Vehicle" was scrapped and the car was renamed the DeLorean DMC-12, with the initials "DMC" appearing on the radiator grill.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: $85,000

One of these Gold DeLoreans cost (US) $85,000! This was a stark contrast to the Gold DeLorean's less-costly stainless steel counterpart, which cost (US) $25,000. In order to buy the gold car from American Express, there was a required (US) $10,000 deposit.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: $1,000 a month

In addition to paying the 85,000 dollars for the car, one could expect their car insurance payments on the Gold DeLorean to be $1,000 a month. Repair costs on the Gold DeLoreans were also rediculous; a door ding could cost as much as (US) $24,000 to repair!

From Quiz Delorean DMC-12

Answer: July 30, 2007

This will be a very limited production, only about 20 a year. Each car's base price is roughly $53,000.

From Quiz The DMC Legend

Answer: Mr. DeLorean's signature

Due to some horrible timing, John DeLorean was arrested for drug-trafficking the exact day that he could have saved his car company. He had acquired the money legitimately and had 24 hours to pay and keep his company alive. All that was between the demise and survival of the company was Mr. DeLorean's signature. Unfortunately, the signature was never given, and the company folded in 1983.

From Quiz The DeLorean DMC-12

Answer: Cost of the car

The name DMC-12 was chosen for the car to reflect its inital projected cost. The "12" represents (US) $12,000; which is what the DMC-12 was originally priced to cost so it would contend directly with the Chevrolet Corvette, which at the time cost (US) $12,000. However, due to the inflation of the British pound, the actual sale price of the DMC-12 was increased to (US) $25,000.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: 4

In addition to the original two Gold DeLoreans made by the DeLorean Motor Company in 1981, two more Gold DeLoreans were assembled in the United States using spare parts from the first two Gold DeLoreans, which brings the grand total to four Gold DeLoreans. However, the original two Gold DeLoreans are considered to be superior to the others that were assembled from the spare parts.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: Saddle-brown & Black

The two original Gold DeLoreans that were produced had saddle-brown and black leather interiors. Black and Gray leather were standard on all DeLoreans, and saddle-brown would have been also listed as a standard interior color on later production models, had DeLorean Motor Company not gone out of business. So the 1979 prototype of the DeLorean and one of the original 1981 Gold DeLoreans are the only cars that have saddle-brown interiors.

From Quiz Gold DeLoreans

Answer: Texas and Nevada

The two original Gold DeLoreans currently reside in Texas and Nevada. VIN 4301, the black interior Gold DeLorean sits in a display case in a bank in Snyder, Texas. The owner of this Gold DeLorean bought the gold car in 1981 for (US) $85,000 and is selling it for (US) $175,000. VIN 4300, the saddle-brown interior Gold DeLorean is on display at the National Automobile Museum as part of the Harrah Collection in Reno, Nevada. I have even had the pleasure of seeing this rare beauty in person on several occasions.

From Quiz The DeLorean DMC-12

Answer: Design of the hood

Although the "speeds" of the transmission and location of the battery (behind the passenger seat) remained constant on all production years of the DeLorean DMC-12, the hood design varied greatly, among other things. The early 1981 production models had a gas flap built into the front hood directly over the fuel access in the trunk, so the car could be refueled without opening the hood. But this was discontinued due to the fact that the hood with the gas flap sometimes cracked during casting, which was becoming costly. All 1981 production models also had indentations in the hood which ran parallel to the length of the car, but 1982 and 1983 models had smooth hoods. Other differences included location of the antenna, different audio systems, location of the interior clock, and the lettering "DeLorean" on the hood (which appeared mostly in the 1983 models).

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