DeLorean's actions as chief executive officer of his own company show that he had no appreciation of the role GM had played in his successes during his 17 years there, no understanding of his limitations, and no comprehension of the finite nature of capital and other resources.

"Like a wounded puppy, the car is covered and waiting for a tow truck to help it away."

As one UK tabloid later reported, DeLorean was seeing a Harley Street "sex and rejuvenation specialist" while his car empire crumbled because he "couldn't even get out of first gear in bed". It was a suitable pathetic finale to the saga. Except it wasn't the end.

"The flat bed arrived and the sad car was loaded onto the truck and taken away. Poor creature. :-("

From all reports, DeLorean chafed under GM's conservatism. He once said he stayed in touch with the world by listening to the radio. "These rock stations, the things they say, what they discuss, that's what counts. It's the cheapest education you can get," he said.

"Ouch! It hurts to see the stainless steel panels crumpled like that. Not to worry though, stainless steel experts would most likely still be able to fix something like this. "

Despite the fact that he has let his hair turn gray and now wears three-piece suits, DeLorean still looks like a playboy, especially with Christina in tow. (He does affect gold bracelets, which are a bit jarring against his boardroom woolens.) "How he goin' to build cy-ars?" they ask in Belfast pubs. "He's a fill-um star, isn't he?"

"Like a peeled banana, this DeLorean has been stripped of most of its front end. Not a pretty sight, but hopefully it will get some new parts and be whole again someday soon."

The DeLorean's marriage troubles really began in 1981, a year before John's cocaine arrest, the close friend disclosed. "When they'd married in 1973, Cristina was only 23, and a top model. She imagined they'd have the ideal marriage - a successful husband, a beautiful model wife, a gorgeous home. Instead, the fairy-tale marriage turned into a nightmare."

"I always like to get a good tan during the summer, but the sun can cause real damage to the interior of a DeLorean. Take a look at this fried binnacle cover. Someone forgot to add the sun block! :-)"