BTTF observations, rants, etc. (Console switches don't align? Voila! Problem solved)

[Alan]

So - by that logic an Art Collector should be a Painter?

Well said.

[DMCVegas]

My question goes out to those who did buy the car because of the movie.

If BTTF used a 1981 Ford Mustang as the time machine, would you be the proud owner of a 1981 Ford Mustang?

What about a Ferrari? Would you buy one of those?

How about a Yugo????

Honestly in terms of people who bought DMC-12 because of BTTF, I think it would have been about the same as people who bought Trans Ams because of Knight Rider or Smokey and the Bandit. Both of which are relics of some of Detroit's worst years, and probably would have been long forgotten about had it not have been for those franchises.

But the DMC-12 has the advantage though with it's own uncommon looks, engineering, and history as well. I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet that DeLorean values would be lower, and a lot more would still be sitting unrestored in garages and the like. Now I remember seeing the DeLorean as a small child, and I was mesmerized by it. I remember the one that got me hooked back in 1989 that I saw in the wild (unique as it was thanks to a custom body kit, I've never been able to track it down). It's not that I don't like BTTF, I love it as a movie. But the movie car didn't seem real to me. It was like the Batmobile, or something like that. Cool looking, but not real. But seeing a DeLorean on the highway? WOW! That was totally different from the sleekness, the front end, and the patterns the spinning wheels make. It didn't even occur to me until years later that these were the same cars.

Being as unbiased as possible here, I think that if to say most "movie" cars, be it a Trans Am, a Ford Torino, or whatever, if the movies that they were connected to did NOT exist, or at least if someone didn't know about them, they wouldn't have as much appeal as a stock DeLorean does to someone who has never seen BTTF. And I have met people, strange as it seems to me, that have NEVER seen BTTF, and they still we're just mesmerized by my car. Lots of future owners out there on the road.

So yeah, I think that BTTF is appealing, and has certainly helped the marque a great deal by bringing owners into the ranks by making them aware of the car. And a lot of credit is due for that. But I think only a small amount of owners buy a DeLorean because they want the car from BTTF, so much as they want a DeLorean that happened to star in the movie. Still though, thanks to that movie, allot of you are here now. And while we don't have to cosplay, we should at least give a nod.

To add a little bit to what DMCVegas said, it might be a bit arrogant, but I always feel slightly better than the ferrari or mclaren owners I see. I still get excited to see the cars, but I cant help but think "well, you spent a lot of money to have something nice" I don't know exactly how to word it, but it's not the same as owning. Anyone with money can buy expensive things, but my delorean cost less than a new camry.

You know what that feeling is for me? RELIEF! Seriously. I've caught shit for saying that the DeLorean was my dream car, but I don't care. It's my dream. And you know what is awesome about finally getting your dream car? The race is over! I'm not pining over anything else. I'm not having to buy a new car because mine is outdated (Looking at you, Ford SYNC!). I'm not in a perpetual pissing contest over who has a better car. I'm not worried about getting my dream car before I die. I'm not worried about attending shows. I'm not worried about tools or parts. I'm not worried about $5,000 tune-ups. I'm not worried about specialist mechanics. I'm not worried most of all about what other people think and how I measure up to them. "Oh, you own (insert car here), but you're always comparing it to the new models? Sucks to be you!" Who the hell can live like that? Shit, Ferrari has an approval list of people who have to ask for permission to buy their cars. I didn't have to ask anyone permission to buy my car, and there is certainly no DeLorean out there that I'm "not good enough to own" if it came up for sale. But I'm perfectly happy with mine.

I feel better than the owners of other marques because I don't have to put up with the bullshit that they do. I am free in ways that they can never imagine when it comes to cars. Grass greener on the other side? Nope! It's all scorched earth compared to my lawn! I'm living happily ever after, and they're not. THAT is why I feel better, or rather more at peace with my classic car ownership than others. And let me tell you, I'm already on my 16th car, and the DeLorean is still the only one of the lot I would choose if I had to pick only one to drive for the rest of my life. How many people can ever be that happy?

[mr_maxime]

There are still plenty of other cars I'd love to have, even that smokey and the bandit trans am. Then again never seen the movie but that black and gold has always appealed to me since I was a kid. The delorean would still be my favorite though. Being relatively cheap and so outrageous, I really don't mind personalizing it. You mess with most cars and people really start getting upset. I guess being the BTTF car, people are a bit more accepting of a modified delorean. I still think it'd be a cool car without the movie, but its probably a good reason why so many people get excited when seeing it and I love to see them get excited.

[Delorean Industries]

The days ahead will not be kind in general. This was the generational "climax" of the car and exploited rightly so. With no disrespect to what others have built business wise within the community aside from my normal blatant factual full frontal assaults big will soon be a thing of the past. At first few key players will cash out and or hand down to the next generation. These people even if involved now will only remember the good times and will have trouble becoming "fluid" from a business stand point as an image has been created. One I will not debate here ethically or morally but this is America and snap chat is valued at 16 billion somehow. So if a defunct car brand can be questionably whored out this successfully then I guess this is capitalism defined.

Owners have always asked why I haven't aggressively pushed on a franchise scale with premium services. Simply because the cost would net no gain. Sooner than later I personally would end up where I am now. Which is fluid with flexibility across the country, parts sales/services world wide and a global approach to going and working just about anywhere. Quote me on this in five years.... Ten for sure.


As much as I hate to say it Swingle was right years ago with his assessment of the marques longevity. Essentially in the end one guy will have some parts in a pole barn behind his house kinda deal. Think Bricklin type end of things. He was right but a variable has been introduced since this was said.While unless someone pulls the trigger and knocks me out of the running due to a number of things including age etc I'm the front runner slated for that fate by default. But there is another..... Realistically if Cam out there on the left coast can balance surfing and NOS parts sales that will be a pole barn business possibility too. But eventually the cost vs reward of that will go away. Once certain things are gone the cost of reproducing to a shrinking market will outweigh doing so without established long term manufacturing contacts. Innovation will take the lead and win based on the cost of doing business aspect alone.

By no means saying that Rob will not pass the torch as it is not my place to comment on his long term company goals. Other than that in the states there are no other contenders. What ever is left of this community will be stuck with an outspoken innovating ass hole from the mid west and a left coast surfer dude.

[DMCVegas]

I mean, honestly think that's a fair assessment and all. But the one factor that has greatly changed now is DMCH. I think that their long-term goal now is to simply become a low-volume turnkey car manufacturer, with the DMC-12 benefiting from that. Or at least as long as it can. They lost the Kappa Platform to Tauro, so right now all they've got is the DMC-12. Who knows what they will conscript next in terms of a platform/brand. But I think that will keep things going for the DeLorean for some time to come.

Eventually anyways, I mean one day we're just never going to see one again on the road though, certainly. But I don't think that day is going to come as quickly as some might think.

[Delorean Industries]

There isn't a market for the quality of product that would result from attempting within the scope of what those involved are capable of.

[DMCVegas]

Welp, that scope is about to get a pretty wide-angle.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?11...-s-Widow/page5

[Delorean Industries]

I was by no means touching on the subject from a legality stand point. You can tell a kindergartner with crayons its alright to draw on the wall. The permission to do so doesn't net you a Picasso by default. When the kindergartners previous attempts at drawing were nothing to speak of as the skill to draw is not there. What is being given the permission even worth.

[ccurzio]

a global approach to going and working just about anywhere.

I'm looking forward to this, Josh. I'd kill to get you to give my car a good run-through and knock out the gremlins.

[Victor]

As far as modification are concerned, wouldn't it be nice if there was a business doing the kind of work Singer is doing for Porsche? Greatly improving the car without destroying its soul.
Maybe there is not enough Delorean out there to do so...

But do not fear a lost of interest of the car. Its design itself mixed with the stainless body is really standing the test of time (outatime!). And will remained or always returned more or less like a wave. The film help for sure but it would be nice to see a Delorean in another great film unrelated with BTTF (the kind of like you see with a Steve McQueen Bullitt or just a cameo in a very good movie _ but different from The wedding singer, definitely!

I feel the value of Deloreans will still hold and hopefully increase in the future, with or without the BTTF references.