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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
Father of the GTO, the start of the muscle cars era, a visionary of the industry.
Good driving John. -
Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
As I recall, John Z was the "head honcho" at Chevrolet when I bought my Chevelles and my 1969 Corvette. Consequently, an important "icon" in my automotive "formative years" has passed on.
Still, John Z lived to a "ripe old age" even with all of the stress and turmoil in his life. So, that's an accomplishment in itself. Plus, I think he had some other "risk factors" in his life.
Actually, 80 years old IS a ripe old age. At least, it is until your 79.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
I believe John DeLorean was in charge as the '68 Corvette came into production and was the one who ordered it to be treated like any other production car, which resulted in terrible quality for the first part of the production run.
I may be wrong on that, and I'm sure there are others here who have personal experience and can clarify that.Comment
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
Yea and when they do, you'll here what a SOB he really was. The ones who knew him are on east coast time just wait till this AM for " the rest of the story".
KevinComment
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that's really a tastless empty comment
My God, the guy is dead. I wonder if they said all the same things about Tucker, Bricklin, Cunningham, Muntz, Cord, etc. too?Comment
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Re: that's really a tastless empty comment
Geoffery, one additional comment for your post. Unfortunately for some gullible investors, Malcom Bricklin is alive and well and back at his old tricks. He is currently trying to enist 250 dealers, at 15M a pop, to sell a vehicle made in China. He plans to have the first cars in dealers hands in early 2007, although all he has is drawings for the present moment. The company that is to manufacture these for him is the Chery Manufacturing Co.
BTW, before I made these comments I guess I should have asked if you were in line to invest in this venture.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Still on that list of "investors" Papa Smurf? *NM*
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
No, DeLorean was still General Manager of Pontiac in '68 at the time when '69s were going into production. He became GM of Chevrolet in 1969 and quickly planted the seed that led to the Cosworth Vega.
DeLorean was a brilliant engineer, but probably an even better marketing guy, and he loved hot cars. He was aggressive and could be ruthless, and he certainly was controversial.
There is a DeLorean biography from a eighties. I think the title is "On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors". I recall one passage where a guy who DeLorean had screwed in financial deal said something on the order of if he came into town and wanted to get together for dinner, he'd go.
DeLorean had that kind of charisma, but his life reads like a Shakespearian tragedy.
May he rest in peace.
DukeComment
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
I did a bit more checking and found John DeLorean arrived at Chevrolet on Feb. 1, 1969. He started a vigorous program to improve what was conceived as terrible quality at Corvette, which as most know the '70-'71-'72 Corvettes were much nicer than the '68 and '69.
He also shut down the mid engine Corvette program XP-882 and attempted to change Corvette over to a shorten Camaro chassis, which was fought from several sides.Comment
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
Mike -
The '68 Corvette launch was almost two years before DeLorean moved from Pontiac to Chevrolet.Comment
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
Mike -
I was on the mid-engine Corvette development team as the Manufacturing/Assembly guy; what really killed the program was a squabble with the beanies over the major investment required for two new Corvette-only transverse transmissions that would never recover their investment; it costs as much to tool up a new transmission (especially an automatic) as it does for a new engine.Comment
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
I found that he started on Feb. 1, 1969. I was thinking about the shuffle that occurred prior to '68 production where several changes were made. But I found that he was after that.Comment
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Re: John DeLorean Dies at 80
What I found reported was that John DeLorean was not going to have such an expensive project drop into play right after he took over. So while the beanies were no doubt squabbling, he didn't fight them much, if any from articles of the time.
Now 20/20 hindsight shows that had they done that, they would have been in excellent position with transverse transmissions for Citation, Fiero, and a host of GM cars. Being that the articles of the time named the XP882 or resulting car as a 1975 Corvette, and since they often slipped a year or two, having a transverse transmission in 1976 would have only been 2 years ahead of the transverse transmission that arrived in 1978, and was insufficient for any car of any horsepower or sporting appeal. So in hindsight, which was the better move?Comment
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