The DeLorean didn't have questionable engineering, it just got lots of hate on launch. Overpriced and under-powered compared to its competition. The original design would have wow'd, but what came out was a pretty body with not much to back it up.
Here is an extract from the December 1981 Issue of
Car and Driver reviewing the Delorean.
“It pleases us no end to announce that John Zachary DeLorean has no reason to mount a rescue attempt for this brainchild. DeLorean and his new factory have done quite a splendid job of producing his car from the ground up. The bugs it bears lie at the easy-to-eliminate end of the scale, and with 3000 DeLoreans -- and counting -- built by late summer, it is obvious that the car is now ready to account for itself.”
The review went on to compare the Delorean with some of its competitors as follows:-
“Growling around the DeLorean you will find the Ferrari 308GTSi, the Porsche 911SC, the Datsun 280-ZX Turbo, and the Chevrolet Corvette, each representing a very different answer to the same poser of a problem, that of how to get the most driving and viewing pleasure out of a given number of modern dollars. With prices ranging from $17,500 to $56,650, the DeLorean's $25,600 fits right in the middle.”The Delorean was finally ranked 4th ahead of the Corvette but was the slowest in the outright speed tests. It just did not cut it in performance.
Four recalls of early production models in 1981 & 82 highlighted the engineering faults.
The main compromise was the location of the engine.
John Delorean wanted to fit his golf clubs in the car behind him so the engine and transmission was moved back beyond the rear axle against the wishes of Colin Chapman (Lotus) who was now lead engineer on the project and wanted a mid engine configuration.
At the outset, there were extensive waiting lists of people willing to pay up to $10,000 above the list price; however, after the collapse of the DeLorean Motor Company, unsold cars could be purchased for less than the retail price.
Below is the review by
RoadandTrack at the time which again appears very fair.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/classic-cars/reviews/a27099/1982-delorean-dmc-12-road-test/Here is a recent Review
https://youtu.be/gzTe3dIfv-cAn American car with a Swedish motor and a French gearbox put together by an Irishman was always going to be a problem.
Imagine doing it today – Donald would go off like a frog in a sock......
Acknowledgement – “DeLorean, Stainless Steel Illusion” by John Lamm – The Newport Press
