A vroom with a view
Cartel Works in Nelson is a small car restoration business situated in the back shed of the Nelson Classic Car Museum, which is handy when the museum’s cars need servicing. Like most garage workshops Cartel has large double doors, but the back wall is certainly different as it has a panoramic view of about 75 classic cars in the museum. And, quid pro quo, visitors to the museum get to see the Cartel team at work.
The Jaguar E-type shown is a full nutand-bolt restoration. It has been taken back to original specifications except for variable electric-assist power steering and a period-looking modern stereo.
By Quinton Taylor
Delorean joke: ‘Anyone wants to buy a Delorean? It has super low mileage and has only been driven from time-to-time.’
Delorean may have the last laugh as production is planned to get back underway in the US shortly under the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015. Following pressure and a lawsuit from industry bodies such as SEMA, clear guidelines for manufacturers are finally emerging as the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working through its ‘Final Rules’.
Former GM whiz-kid John Zachary Delorean founded the Delorean Motor Company (DMC) in Detroit in 1975 using funds from various celebrities and a dealer investment programme incentive scheme.
Further money came from the British government eager to see investment and jobs in Northern Ireland. A new manufacturing plant was built there in just 16 months and, complete with a host of development problems, Deloreans began rolling off the production line in 1981. Quality assurance centres were set up in the US to rectify assembly issues but they couldn’t solve them all. Many dealers refused to do warranty work as they were not being reimbursed.
The target of 12,000 cars to break even was not realised. Cashflow became a problem and persistent questions in the US about the company’s viability hindered its ability to raise money through a stock issue.
Around this time Delorean was also the subject of an FBI sting operation. He was arrested but acquitted of all charges. Delorean bitterly remarked later, “Would you buy a used car from me?” The damage was done. DMC filed for bankruptcy in 1982. Between 1981 and 1982, DMC manufactured around 9000 cars.
GREAT SCOTT!
Enter Stephen Wynne and his sons who bought up a large part of the remaining cars, parts and tooling 25 years ago. They set up in Texas to keep the cars running for a dedicated group of owners and a supply of new fans courtesy of the car’s starring role in three timeless Back to the Future movies.
The new rules set a limit of 325 cars per year, and DMC expects to make 100 units a year initially. The original car was powered by a rear-mounted, Renaultpeugeot-volvo 2.8-litre V6 petrol engine driving through a Renault 5-speed transaxle. The new car will be powered by an as yet unannounced supplier. An electric motor is also in the mix.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Invercargill enthusiast Peter Bickerstaff located a 1981 model requiring quite a bit of fettling and entrusted the job to local restoration expert Barry Leitch and his team in 2020. The stainless steel bodywork now only requires some polishing and final preparation.
“It’s been quite a job with a lot of small areas to attend to and fix. Some of them are now being painted but Peter will keep its stainless steel look,” Barry said.
Work under the skin has been partially done with the addition of a fresh 3-litre V6, which should give the car a bit more get up and go after the original 2.8-litre version. The interior is still to be done.