DeLorean: The Rise, Fall and Second Acts of the DeLorean Motor Company

by Matt Stone

Glory, scandal, downfall, fame, and rebirth—discover the dramatic story of the rebel auto industry titan behind the stainless-steel-bodied, gull-winged sports car we all know and love from Back to the Future.
 
The tale you thought you DeLorean recounts the life and career of John Z. DeLorean, from his successful career with General Motors, where he was instrumental in launching the Pontiac GTO and jump-starting the ’60s muscle car phenomenon, to the founding in 1975 of the DeLorean Motor Company and its 1981 launch of the now-iconic sports car bearing his name.
 
Although a decidedly American car and company, the DeLorean story blends an interesting cocktail of Italian design, British financial backing, and a built-from-the-ground-up factory in politically fraught Belfast.
 
The story turns, beginning in 1982, as DeLorean is entrapped in a drug sting and the company goes into bankruptcy. Though John DeLorean was acquitted ultimately, the original DMC was done all too soon. 
 
After the Los Angeles drug-trafficking trial, John DeLorean worked tirelessly, for the rest of his life, to revive his car, his name, and his company—unfortunately with limited success.
 
Unexpectedly, the DeLorean car gained a new following based on its starring role in the 1985 movie hit Back to the Future (and its two sequels). Since DMC’s bankruptcy in 1982, several entities have continued efforts to revive the brand for modern times, today’s marketplace, and new audiences. 
 
Rather than consignment to the dustbin of automotive history, the DeLorean has achieved pop-culture status and remains well recognized, with growing appreciation today.
 
Dispelling common misconceptions about DMC, DeLorean gives you the complete story in one handsomely designed volume illustrated throughout with historic images, period ads, and contemporary photos. Whether you are a car enthusiast, an automotive historian, or a pop-culture fan, you are sure to enjoy the ride.

192 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I am more than a bit conflicted about this book. On the one hand, it has enough text to be informative and the images are fine. But on the other hand, I didn't find the images compelling or unique, the information wasn't sorted well, text/biography information more about the car itself and its affect on pop culture than on the DMC company, and there were odd tonal moments throughout (e.g., strange humor additions/wording that never landed). At the end, I certainly didn't feel like I had a better understanding of the DMC company.

The book has a brief biography of Delorean himself - obviously, there has been enough written on his history without needing to rehash it. We do get information about the company - a history of how it came about, publicity photos, concept sketches, and brief information about the people working there. But all too soon that discussion is over and it is back to exhaustive discussions about the car's specs. The author doesn't attempt to analyze much about what was happening at the company other than they didn't sell enough cars so they went bankrupt. I felt like I didn't have a decent picture of what was happening/what happened. The rest of the book is about pop culture references (e.g., Back To The Future), various car clubs, and the interest in a DMC version 2. But even there, the info was brief (e.g., we're told Delorean's daughter is trying to revitalize the brand but nothing more on her efforts there).

The images were ok - advertisement reprints, promotional photos, concept sketches, lots of photos of comparable or inspirational cars like Lotus and Porsche. I don't know that there was anything super interesting or unique in there. I did note that there were times that we were given descriptions of items and that I was wishing for photographs (e.g., of the site in Belfast before construction of the factory) or times when images were just randomly thrown in (e.g,. a photo of Delorean and his wife in the 1980s in a section about the future of the company or rather boring repeated photos of DMC car parts in storage). It felt like there was a lot of lost opportunity there.

Finally, I was frustrated by the presentation of the topics. For example, after the section about the end of the DMC company, there is then a whole chapter about the making of the Back To The Future car and its use in the movie. Then suddenly we're back to the production era when there was a special promotion to make a gold version for AMEX - discussing how the car was manufactured in the plant. That felt far more relevant to the production era than to how the car was used in media or the car clubs springing up.

In all, this felt more like a light and breezy ode to the car by a car guy rather than an informative piece about the company or a fancy coffee table book. I suppose Delorean owners will enjoy having images collected in one book, information about car clubs and places to get parts so it is a good purchase for them. But I was expecting and hoping for either a prettier book or a more informative one. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Richard A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has been fascinated with the DeLorean ever since falling in love with Back to the Future as a kid, this was an interesting read.

It's more of an overview of the man, the company, and the car (along with some looks at what could have been/could be), and doesn't really explore any one thing in super fine detail, but this is a great first step if you want to know more. Admittedly a lot of the technical detail about the car's engineering kinda went over my head as I'm not much of a car guy in general (though I got the general gist), but otherwise I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I'd give it more of a 3.5/5 if it was possible to do so.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read, found this book at my local Ollie’s bookstore for a cheap price.
I recognized the author, as well — I grew up with the goateed Matt Stone writing for Motor Trend, if I remember correctly.
Plenty of pictures, decent Second Act section and a good history of a legendary man and his dream of building a car that ultimately became a cult car.

Made me want to start reading more car books.

[Mae B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid read. Loved all the pictures.

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, good read and fascinating photographs. There is no mention on JZD issues with Zora Duntov and Corvette and Camaro/Firebird f-body program and the silly idea he had nor the mention the goat was a nickname among the others mentioned for the gto. Despite these issues that bothered me and the mention in negative tone I perceived of The Iron Lady. I enjoyed reading it and glad I own it. I learned a lot. I can wait to re-read even though not a fan of the "new" de loreans i.e. e.v. presented. Nice coffeetable book.