bumpy road: DeLorean’s colourful life

NEARLY 9,000 of the distinctive, gull-winged DeLorean cars were produced in Belfast before the plant was closed down.

The car found fame in the hit 1985 film Back To The Future (be

low), starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd, its stainless steel finish giving the car a futuristic, sci-fi look that captivated young moviegoers worldwide.

DeLorean became synonymous with Belfast after production began at a purpose-built plant at Dunmurry in early 1981. At its height, the factory employed some 2,000 people.

However, by February 1982, the company, headed by colourful American businessman John Z DeLorean, had gone into receivership.

In November that year, the Government, which had pumped almost £80m into DeLorean, shuttered the plant.

John Z DeLorean’s troubles continued throughout 1982, when he was charged with trafficking cocaine after an FBI sting.

The millionaire businessman later walked free after being cleared by a US court.

Both DeLorean and his former wife, Cristina Ferrare, became born-again Christians following the case.

In 1999, DeLorean declared personal bankruptcy, having fought around 40 legal cases since the collapse of his company.

He was forced to sell his 434acre estate in New Jersey the following year.

DeLorean died from a stroke, aged 80, in 2005. At the request of his family, and in keeping with military tradition, he was buried with full military honours for his service in the Second World

War.