Built a revolutionary design that looked like nothing else on the road. Stainless steel body, gullwing doors, Italian styling created massive buzz. John DeLorean's rockstar persona and marketing genius attracted Hollywood investors like Johnny Carson and Sammy Davis Jr.
DeLorean ran the company remotely from his Manhattan penthouse, never spending a night at the Belfast factory. Custom engineering on nearly every part drove costs through the roof — the car launched at $25,000 instead of the planned $12,000. Inexperienced factory workers produced quality issues. Then the 1981-82 recession hit, interest rates soared above 20%, and luxury car sales collapsed.
Bankruptcy in 1982 after just one year of production. Only 9,000 cars made. DeLorean arrested in FBI cocaine sting trying to save the company. Acquitted on entrapment defense but reputation destroyed. Back to the Future later made the car iconic.
