until some other time,

Seth

DeLorean began working in the 1950’s as an engineer at the Packard Motor Company and then moved to General Motors. It was during his time at GM where he was credited with developing the Pontiac GTO, the first real ‘muscle car.’ He rapidly rose through the corporate ranks at GM, becoming the youngest general manager before becoming the youngest head of Chevrolet. He had by this time developed a reputation for his corporate innovation as well as his flashy and jet set lifestyle.

In 1973 he resigned from GM and formed his own company with a major investment from the British government, as well as some celebrities. He opened his factory in Northern Ireland and in 1981 began producing his dream sports car the DMC-12. They sold for the then high price of $25,000. Not enough cars were sold and the company was soon in trouble. On the 19th October 1982, the British government announced the plant would be closed. The same day DeLorean was arrested on charges related to drug trafficking in Los Angeles.

Several months before his arrest, DeLorean had been approached by a former drug smuggler turned informant for the federal authorities and the two men had a series of discussions about a possible deal involving drug smuggling and money laundering that would potentially save the ailing business. During the highly publicized trial that followed his arrest, DeLorean always maintained that he had been set up by the government. He was acquitted in August 1984. At the age of 80, DeLorean died of a stroke on March 19th 2005.