Look Who I Just Bumped Into ...

[internets]

[rocket63]

Who ?

[Bibs]

Anti-gravity MJK! 

 

When was this, next week?!

[Frickin_idiot]

Nice one

[Advantage]

Let's face it, Apple stuff sucks. For those who don't view their screen while laying on their side:

 

 

That's a dapper looking cane Mike is sporting.

[Sparky]

Christ on a bike, Chris is wearing a tie.

[Advantage]

Didn't know the Magistrate's Court functioned on a Sunday.

[internets]

[Bibs]

I'm thinking 2.5/10 max for that tie too...

[Sparky]

And less for the expression.

[ramjet]

I hate to say it Chris, but it is a bad tie.

 

Thought you may have been laying down in the first photo. In the second one, I presume you are a long way from the camera?

[internets]

So for those who are interested this was a Delorean workers reunion in Belfast organised by an old acquaintance of MJK, Barrie Wills who was director of purchasing for Delorean. It was by invite only and various ex Lotus employees also attended.

 

The itinerary was Sunday at the Ulster Folk and transport museum where around 20 DeLorean's gathered, the museum has various exhibits like a prototype stainless chassis, one of the remaining 50,000 mile endurance test cars and one of the Giugiaro DMC styling mockups.

 

Sunday evening was the gala dinner @ the Culloden Estate and Spa Hotel where various DMC employees stayed back in the day and also where some of the auctions were held when the factory closed down.

 

Monday was driving the route used for the endurance testing and Tuesday was back at the factory which is now owned by Montupet who manufacture engine cylinder blocks and alloy wheels. The original test track is still there and untouched so they had DeLorean's driving around that.

 

Some pictures....not posted by an Apple device

 

Me with Colin Spooner..and leave the tie out of this

 

 

 

The styling Mockup...

 

The only remaining endurance 50k mile DeLorean

 

 

Just for Bibs  , some BTTF content 

 

Some Lotus content, Warren King's M100

[Kimbers]

It's dirty!

[mayevora]

I do like that black Delorean - not seen one of them before.

[internets]

It's dirty!

Well he had just driven over from Norfolk, he also told me he was touring Ireland in it this week 

 

I do like that black Delorean - not seen one of them before.

A friend has recently brought that car, it was actually stored in someones garage and didn't move for 15 years not that far away from you Mr May

[mayevora]

A friend has recently brought that car, it was actually stored in someones garage and didn't move for 15 years not that far away from you Mr May

Really?!?! I see a brushed stainless steel one every couple of days around my village so I assume he's local but don't think I've ever seen a painted one in the flesh yet.

[internets]

That's probably Tom, he lives in Chudleigh and has a few Delorean's including the BTTF one above.

[Loose Cannon]

Is painting a DeLorean the "done" thing these days, or are they being restored to original?

 

I always thought they would have sold better originally with a choice of finishes. Imagine if it had been successful, after a few years it would have been galling as an owner to constantly bump into carbon copies of your very expensive car!

 

PS Glad to see Colin Spooner has grown his trademark handlebar 'tache back!

[mayevora]

That's probably Tom, he lives in Chudleigh and has a few Delorean's including the BTTF one above.

Spot on Chris. That's the next village 2 miles up the road from me.

[Mark Blanchard]

I like the styling mock up, Giugiaro at his best.

 

Don't mind them in different colours either, kind of looks better than stained stainless steel.

[ramjet]

OK. Chris, I'll leave the tie alone.

 

What is going on with those eyes? Did someone scare you?

[Loose Cannon]

I like the styling mock up, Giugiaro at his best.

 

 GGs original prototypes were stunning, a shade better than the finished product IMHO. There was a pic on one of the fan sites of on of the prototypes that Lotus thrashed to bits still languishing in a yard at Hethel on it's unique handmade alloys. It wasn't that long ago it was cleared away and scrapped which is a great shame

[internets]

Is painting a DeLorean the "done" thing these days, or are they being restored to original?

 

I always thought they would have sold better originally with a choice of finishes. Imagine if it had been successful, after a few years it would have been galling as an owner to constantly bump into carbon copies of your very expensive car!

Quite a few painted by dealers in the US at the time, none painted at the factory although I believe they were playing with colour tinted transparent lacquer. Also cars have been painted as panels have been damaged so easier to use filler and paint than find someone to knock out the dent. There was a time a few years back when quite a few painted cars where stripped back to stainless though.

 

Spot on Chris. That's the next village 2 miles up the road from me.

He makes a cracking cider too  http://ganymede.meccahosting.com/~a0006d41/Products.htm

 

A few more pictures of the styling mock up

 

 

[internets]

For anyone who might be interested Barrie Willis, who organised the Belfast DeLorean workers reunion, is just about to release a book on his time at DMC. You can register your interest and download the first chapter which talks about the Lotus involvement and has various pictures, including Colin Spooner and MJK.