1981 DeLorean

It was in January 1974 that the John Z. DeLorean Corporation was established in Detroit, its eponymous founder having steadily climbed the ladder from engineer to general manager within the American motor industry and recently resigned from General Motors. He soon laid plans to produce his own limited production and technically advanced sports car: designed by Giugiaro, and based on his 1970 Porsche Tapiro concept car, it was distinguished by gullwing doors, a brushed steel finish and a chassis made from ERM, a patented lightweight composite material owned by a DeLorean subsidiary.

Following formation of the DeLorean Motor Corporation in October 1975, a complex series of capital-raising exercises generated the funds necessary to produce the first prototype twelve months later. Finances, though, were stretched and after several international possibilities a factory was set up in Belfast in association with the Northern Ireland Development Agency. Prior to...