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> Delorean and 914
bkrantz
post Apr 15 2026, 08:28 AM
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Here's a photo of John Delorean, from an article today in the WSJ about upstart car companies.


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flipb
post Apr 15 2026, 08:35 AM
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Very cool!!

Do you think the white part of the 914 image is made out of cocaine? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
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930cabman
post Apr 15 2026, 09:08 AM
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QUOTE(flipb @ Apr 15 2026, 08:35 AM) *

Very cool!!

Do you think the white part of the 914 image is made out of cocaine? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


Give the poor guy ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) ) the benefit of the doubt, maybe it's the black portion
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mgphoto
post Apr 15 2026, 09:13 AM
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QUOTE(flipb @ Apr 15 2026, 06:35 AM) *

Very cool!!

Do you think the white part of the 914 image is made out of cocaine? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Rust
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JeffBowlsby
post Apr 15 2026, 09:47 AM
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An interesting illustration of how design is an iterative process based on precedent. Thats why something of any era tends to look similar to other things with similar purpose.

True genius is novel, without precedent. Was Delorean truly a genius?
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Superhawk996
post Apr 15 2026, 10:10 AM
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His method of financing the business was certainly novel. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
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Maltese Falcon
post Apr 15 2026, 10:57 AM
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QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Apr 15 2026, 08:47 AM) *

An interesting illustration of how design is an iterative process based on precedent. Thats why something of any era tends to look similar to other things with similar purpose.

True genius is novel, without precedent. Was Delorean truly a genius?


Why YES true genius ! DeLorean even designed his vehicle doors in the 'Hands Up' position upon opening...maybe a bit of forecasting his unfortunate luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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Root_Werks
post Apr 15 2026, 11:46 AM
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Cool picture, shows where designers can get inspiration from.
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bkrantz
post Apr 15 2026, 07:32 PM
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I just realized those 914 and X1/9 profiles are from Road and Track.


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bkrantz
post Apr 15 2026, 07:33 PM
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Note how fast the X1/9 makes the 914 look!
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aturboman
post Apr 15 2026, 08:20 PM
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I have been told by some well know insiders that both GM and Toyota acquired and bench marked the 914 for the original Fiero and Gen 1 MR2.

Interesting the GM produced a 4cyl and 6 cyl version of the Fiero.

Imitation is the best form of flattery they say.

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Krieger
post Apr 15 2026, 10:45 PM
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QUOTE(bkrantz @ Apr 15 2026, 06:33 PM) *

Note how fast the X1/9 makes the 914 look!


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)
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Montreal914
post Apr 16 2026, 08:38 AM
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QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Apr 15 2026, 08:47 AM) *
Thats why something of any era tends to look similar to other things with similar purpose.


I can't even distinguish a Hyundai from an Acura or even german SUV nowadays, they all look the same... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I feel like in the 70's and early 80's you could easily see the differences, the US cars were all huge with V8, rigid rear axles and leaf springs like pick-ups, the Japanease were small with a variety of front and rear wheel drive, and the Germans/european were the nice independant suspension, disk brakes and advanced cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)






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JmuRiz
post Apr 16 2026, 01:20 PM
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You guys do remember his wankel/rotary powered Corvette prototype was based on a 914/6 right?

https://www.motortrend.com/news/xp-987-gt-t...orvette-history
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Maltese Falcon
post Apr 16 2026, 07:39 PM
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QUOTE(JmuRiz @ Apr 16 2026, 12:20 PM) *

You guys do remember his wankel/rotary powered Corvette prototype was based on a 914/6 right?

https://www.motortrend.com/news/xp-987-gt-t...orvette-history


Absolutely ! "The NEW mid-engine Corvette" ยก Kept readers on the edge of the chair for decades, and finally appeared recently as a C8.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/marty914.jpg)
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bkrantz
post Apr 16 2026, 08:48 PM
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QUOTE(JmuRiz @ Apr 16 2026, 01:20 PM) *

You guys do remember his wankel/rotary powered Corvette prototype was based on a 914/6 right?

https://www.motortrend.com/news/xp-987-gt-t...orvette-history


Cool. I did not know that.
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barefoot
post Apr 17 2026, 06:37 AM
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QUOTE(Montreal914 @ Apr 16 2026, 10:38 AM) *

QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Apr 15 2026, 08:47 AM) *
Thats why something of any era tends to look similar to other things with similar purpose.


I can't even distinguish a Hyundai from an Acura or even german SUV nowadays, they all look the same... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I feel like in the 70's and early 80's you could easily see the differences, the US cars were all huge with V8, rigid rear axles and leaf springs like pick-ups, the Japanease were small with a variety of front and rear wheel drive, and the Germans/european were the nice independant suspension, disk brakes and advanced cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)


I wondered why the Mercedes door i was trying to open didn't work till i realized it wasn't my Altima of same color (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Barefoot
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ctc911ctc
post Apr 17 2026, 07:07 AM
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Shape of things to come,,,,,,
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wonkipop
post Apr 22 2026, 03:58 AM
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QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Apr 15 2026, 09:47 AM) *

An interesting illustration of how design is an iterative process based on precedent. Thats why something of any era tends to look similar to other things with similar purpose.

True genius is novel, without precedent. Was Delorean truly a genius?


yep you are dead right there about precedent mr b.
spoken like a historian of design as you are.

there is such a thing as an original but its very very very rare.
and nothing is an original until its copied. hence the idea of something being original or the original.

after that there are faithful copies. which are in the style and technique of the original.

after stuff that is in the style of the original there is.............fashion. which is by its very nature degenerate. ie bad copies unfaithfully copied, with corners cut.

that is the fate of all originals, they end up inspiring degenerate fashion. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
the sad side story of humanity? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

as to genius. well who knows. most geniuses are first considered mad men before history decides they were geniuses after all, but long after they are dead.

j d was certainly talented. definitely driven. and lost the plot along the way.
i won't attempt to answer your question as posed, suffice to say that even if he was not a genius he certainly was a glorious failure. ...........as was colin chapman. but colin may have been a genius?

its no surprise he had a 914 and a X19 behind him in that photo posted. i have never seen that photo. but it tells you how fantastic both those cars were in the minds of serious auto executives at that time. if nothing else delorean was a serious auto executive at one point in his life. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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