Following his divorce from his first wife, DeLorean was seen in the company of a breathtaking collection of young Hollywood actresses and New York deb-stars in fashionable hostelries both here and in Europe, thereby becoming, in the social columns of the Detroit press, the city's most eligible bachelor. Even business publications, much to his irritation, took note of his private life. Said Fortune: "DeLorean demonstrates that even in GM there is room for a swinger."

"Out of the three vehicles stranded in this dumping area, this car actually had the automatic gear shifter still in place."

When DeLorean first got serious about building his dream car, he shopped states and countries for money packages the way Dave Winfield picked over baseball owners' offers. Puerto Rico, the Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and other countries as well as two U.S. states all wooed the would-be automaker, but the U.K. eventually won out.

"This car must have been involved in a front-end collision. Notice the front part of the pontoon is missing."

Perhaps you can't even call the Bricklin and DeLorean American cars, since both were produced outside our national borders. But the men who founded these companies were archetypal American entrepreneurs who operated in what's come to be described as a typically American way of launching a new car.

"With no engine in back, the bushes have a chance to get sunlight and take over. Once again, a very sad sight indeed!"

When DeLorean first got serious about building his dream car, he shopped states and countries for money packages the way Dave Winfield picked over baseball owners' offers. Puerto Rico, the Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and other countries as well as two U.S. states all wooed the would-be automaker, but the U.K. eventually won out.

"This car must have been involved in a front-end collision. Notice the front part of the pontoon is missing."

Perhaps you can't even call the Bricklin and DeLorean American cars, since both were produced outside our national borders. But the men who founded these companies were archetypal American entrepreneurs who operated in what's come to be described as a typically American way of launching a new car.

"With no engine in back, the bushes have a chance to get sunlight and take over. Once again, a very sad sight indeed!"