The DeLorean story reads like something out of a B-movie script, but then again, DeLorean has always had somewhat of a flair for the dramatic.

"I installed two charge cooler radiators in the front grill portion that was never used for air flow initially. The Lotus engine was a test engine from Lotus, and I wanted to rebuild it to make sure it was working perfectly."

DeLorean soon displayed a natural talent for anticipating the features and styling the young American buyers wanted. In 1959 Pontiac launched the Tempest – at the time and unfashionable 'compact' car. It was light and fast, thanks to a 225bhp ohc engine designed by DeLorean, and the key to its success was its power.

"Wow, look at how clean and nice the newly painted and welded frame portion looks. Time to start getting the rest of the components ready to begin installing everything!"

DeLorean was convinced he could sell 30,000 cars a year, when his competitors were selling fewer than 10,000. Initially, quality control was a big problem, inevitable when the workforce were having to learn the job as they went along. Centers were established in the States which had practically to rebuild each car on arrival, at a cost of up to $2000 each.

"Once again, bad ass. This is the Lotus transmission all cleaned up and freshly painted. Here is a shot of the twin plate AP racing clutch Robert installed in this sucker."

Born in 1927 of Romanian blood and raised in Detroit – the capital of American's gigantic automobile industry – it was perhaps only natural for John Zachary DeLorean to study and later qualify as an engineer.

"This is a shot of my custom made SS electronic junction cover. I made the new air intake system in the rear wheel wells as I needed more air, and I am using K&M filters."

As an engineer – some say DeLorean was the best in Detroit - he was also concerned about the lack of genuine technological progress in the industry. "We went through an era of cascading technical improvement and it really stopped like 25 years ago," DeLorean says, adding with a touch of sarcasm, "The big thing was you had a stereo tape deck."

"Here is a shot of the engine being assembled, looks very clean and massive. A cool shot of the turbos, manifolds, and oil pan."