Updates!
I realized I haven't updated this section of my blog (that no one reads
anyway) in over a year. A lot has happened since then.
I sent my DeLorean (#6291) to DMC Houston to have the frame replaced.
(A quick note to anyone buying a DeLorean from a private owner: Have a
mechanic you trust get the car on a lift before you buy it). The
guys at DMC found a lot more wrong with the car that had been covered
up. After many conversations with Steve Wynne about the car, I decided
to cut my losses and sell it for parts. I tried to live the dream, and
it turned into a small nightmare.
It was then that Steve told me about a DeLorean they had just taken in
from an owner in Indiana. This DeLorean was a month older than mine
(built in October of 81) and had the grey interior and 5-speed manual
transmission just like mine. Everything was in great condition and it
only had about 9,900 miles on it. He offered me a trade-in value for my
car, far more than I thought it would be given its condition.
After some deliberation I decided if I didn't take it, I'd never have
the car and my childhood dream would be dead. I agreed to the trade-in
and then I began working with James Espy about all of the details of the
purchase. I continued working with Steve in regard to the work being
done on the car.
They replaced the leather on the seats. While the original leather was
not cracked, it was almost 30 years old and a bit dry. They replaced the
headliners and the radio, and performed a full maintenance on it. They
even took it to some local car shows.
When I took delivery of the car in early September, it had just over
10,000 miles on it.
After a year of owning the vehicle, I've put about 1000 miles on it. And
I've enjoyed every one of them.
[/dmc]
[comment]
[permanent link]
It exists
As part of the DeLorean's restoration, I've been considering a backlit
dash. I had considered sticking with the stock dash with the white light
bulb in front of the gauges, but I thought a red backlit display would
be better for night vision.
Then came the issue of whether or not something like that exists. Turns
out it does. Speed
Hut carries a line of customizable gauges for the DMC-12 as part of
the EL-Glo line.
[/dmc]
[comment]
[permanent link]
DMC Houston
It looks like the DeLorean needs some non-trivial work done on it. The
mechanic I had taken it to found an issue he's not equipped to deal
with. My first call was to DMC Houston where I talked to Stephen.
He was friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. He said he'd work with me
and Dave at their facility in Chicago to figure out what the extent of
the work would be and the best way to approach it. Odds are the car is
going to have to be shipped to Chicago for a few weeks.
[/dmc]
[comment]
[permanent link]
Highway driving
On the way to the mechanic yesterday, I had the DeLorean out on 287
South. Near one of the Boonton exits, a guy in old Stingray pulled up
next to me on my right. I looked over, he looked at me, and we gave each
other a nod. I sped up a bit to keep with the flow of traffic and he
moved as if exiting soon thereafter.
This was my longest trip with the DeLorean thus far, and also the
fastest I've ever driven it. And no, I still haven't gotten it to
88mph.
[/dmc]
[comment]
[permanent link]
It's like I'm 16 again
You'd think I would have learned to drive by now. I've had the DeLorean
for a month now and I'm still a little shaky coming off stop lights and
signs but over all I'm better. I've only driven it a handful of times
and I should really be driving it more often if I want to get better.
I'm thinking of adding a separate section to the site dedicated to the
DeLorean and every step in the process of acquiring it. I found a lot of
useful information on the websites of other owners that helped a lot.
[/dmc]
[comment]
[permanent link]
"Why the hell don't the plugins have proper documentation"
I had to pick up something in Fair Lawn for a friend this evening. It
was later in the evening, well after rush hour but there was still a
good amount of time before the sun went down so I decided to take the
DeLorean out.
I got her out on Rt 80 and she handled beautifully. The turns on the
entrance and exit ramps felt better than in my Pontiac. I was a little
nervous about over-steering because of the rear mounted engine, but it
wasn't an issue.
When I arrived at my destination, I got some looks from a woman walking
her dog and some guys across the street working on something in their
garage/driveway. I had a bit of an issue getting back on to 80 due to a
construction vehicle and an a-hole in a BMW, but everything else was
fine. I'm getting much better at driving it.
On the way home at the 80/23/46 interchange a minivan pulled up beside
me and beeped their horn. I looked over and they gave me a thumbs up.
It was most triumphant.
[/dmc]
[comment]
[permanent link]
"Because you will be approached by people with questions and stupid jokes."
I took the DeLorean when I went to the bank this morning. I pulled into
the parking lot and found a space. As I got out of the car a guy around
my age came running over before I could shut the door.
He said, "I can't believe it, this amazing. I've always wanted to see
one of these. Man, I was just watching the movie last night. Can I take
a picture?"
I said, "sure" and let him know that it still needed some work so it
doesn't look as good as it could. He said, "It doesn't matter; it's a
DeLorean."
Later in the afternoon I went to get some more gas. I pulled into the
station, shut off the car, got out and opened the hood to get to the gas
cap. Neither of the attendants on duty had seen one before and both came
over to see the car. They had some questions about the body construction
and the engine.
[/dmc]
[comment]
[permanent link]
|
