The De Lorean was intended to bring prosperity to Northern Ireland where it was built with the primary market place being the United States. Before production began a host of engines were considered including a Wankel Rotary which was dropped after its manufacturer, Comotor ended production. Focus then turned towards the V6 Cologne engine which again never materialized. Consideration of the Citroen CX 2 litre engine was given but dropped due to it being underpowered, though there was some suggestion that a turbo would overcome power deficiencies. However, Citroen itself botched the notion and engineers finally settled on the V6 engine from Peugeot-Renault-Volvo (PRV). However, installing the PRV unit did necessitate relocating it to the rear from the mid-section. Clearly, such dynamic changes to the original concept required re-engineering and help was sought from Lotus Cars. Alterations were numerous and included a steel backbone chassis plus other manufacturing techniques used by Lotus themselves.
On October 1982, the British taxpayer threw DeLorean a £77 million lifeline, but it wasn't enough to save his Belfast car plant. DeLorean was a 57-year-old American entrepreneur with film-star looks and a genius for self-promotion. He had big dreams for his car plant, but it wasn't meant to be.
John DeLorean was a brilliant engineer who had a meteoric rise in the U.S. automobile industry, eventually leaving General Motors to set up his own company. His story is one of ambition, determination and success against all odds. He was an egotistical narcissist who refused to conform to the dress code of the conservative GM. But he had a dream — to build his own cars. He wanted to make something that was truly unique and special, something that would stand out from the crowd.
In Belfast in 1978 he sold to Northern Ireland a concept of an ‘ethical’, long-lasting dream car that would be safe, economical and rustproof. A sporting coupe for two would have a stainless steel body plus the attractive feature of gull wing doors for easy access. The British government saw De Lorean as something of a saviour who offered them the chance of a distraction from the sectarian violence in the province.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, injected £54 million — over half the total start-up costs — to build a modern car factory in Dunmurry, a suburb of West Belfast known for its high unemployment.
In 1982 prior to DeLorean’s arrest by the FBI, the Conservative Government made the announcement it was closing the car plant. By then, the UK had spent £84 million into the production of the De Lorean car. De Lorean himself was prosecuted for cocaine trafficking. However, DeLorean's claim of entrapment was accepted by the jury, and he was acquitted, narrowly avoiding prison. However, the De Lorean motor car was dead and De Lorean himself became a bankrupt.
Delorean died in 2005 of a stroke at the age of 80.
