A skilled engineer, DeLorean knew he had to find someone who could undertake the development – and work fast. Porsche told him it would take five years and $30 million. But then DeLorean met Collin Chapman, founder of Lotus. A deal was struck.

"This is a Lotus bell housing. I needed to make one solid transmission out of two Lotus transmissions that I was working with. This image shows the back of my car missing an engine."

DeLorean's marriage to the 32-year-old Cristina Ferrare was his third, Cristina has long been one of the Ford Modeling Agency's top talents, commanding high prices for high-fashion layouts that appeared in magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

"Look at that sad PRV engine. In my opinion, it deserves to be in the corner. Although, at least this engine was modified with a bolt on BAE turbo charger. Have a peek at the bad ass Lotus engine upon delivery!"

Regardless of John Z. DeLorean’s good and bad points, I think now as I always thought, simply that it was silly to build and try to sell a rear-engined sports car.

"Here is a shot of the frame after cuts were made to remove rust and start preparing the frame for modifications needed to fit the new engine. The prefit of the engine shows the need to cut into the fascia to make room for the engine pulleys, etc."

First cars off the production line were driven round the clock by members of the Ulster Automobile Club, recording an average of 800 miles per day until the required mileage was completed.

"The engine is sitting leveled on the jack, the car is leveled, and I was now making mounts for the motor. It took several different stages for making the frame/engine supports. The initial template was made out of pvc tubing and cardboard. The tact welded steel had to be held in place.

Obsessed with youth, DeLorean shed his wife of 17 years, Elizabeth, crash dieted, dyed his silver hair black and even had a facelift, which included a foam implant in his chin to give him a more manly, jutting jaw-line.

"Since the car was originally an automatic, Robert needed to switch out the pedal boxes to a standard configuration. He needed to take the steering column out to get to the pedals."