The DeLorean was one of the most era-defining cars of the ‘80s. Sleek, sexy, and unconventional, this iconic car had much promise- engineering ingenuity, celebrity fanfare, and media hype. But less than a year after it rolled out its first cars, the Company would collapse in a tailspin of lies, drug scandal, bankruptcy, racketeering, criminal trials, and government conspiracies. Find out what led to the downfall of the DeLorean Motor Company on Episode 40 of The Great Fail.
Featuring our guest Barrie Wills-the only surviving executive director of DeLorean Motor Cars Limited and their longest serving employee over its entire history.
Episode Sources:
Back to the Future: The Rise and Fall of the DeLorean Motor Company
The Meteoric Rise and Fall of the DeLorean
The Rise and Fall of John DeLorean
Wikipedia: DeLorean Motor Company
John DeLorean Reinvented The Dream Car. Then He Totaled It.
John Z. DeLorean is arrested in $24 million cocaine deal
How John DeLorean’s Sensational Fall From Grace Affected His Family
John DeLorean’s Insane Story Of Drugs, Cars And Scandal Hits Theaters This Summer
The Short, Chaotic History of the DeLorean
The Failure Awards for defunct branding | #7 DeLorean DMC-12
DELOREAN MOTOR COMPANY – WHY DID IT FAIL ?
Special Guest:
Barrie Wills
Automotive Specialist
Formerly, Director of Supplies/Purchasing/Director of Product Development & Supply/Chief Executive
Barrie commenced his 50-year auto-industry career as an indentured apprentice at Jaguar from 1959 to 1964. In 1968, he went on to play key roles in the creation of the Leyland National bus, the Reliant Robin, the DeLorean and the Sinclair C5.
He then founded the project management business de Montfort and has been involved either as a direct employee, interim manager or consultant to the UK Department of Trade & Industry, Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, and the European Union.