[DML] Re: The DeLorean's Gullwing doors

["Kevin Rawlings" <blast59@xxxx>]

Dear Ed,

Although Lotus did have a big part in the design of the DMC-12, this has no 
connection to how the DeLorean looks like the Esprit. The reason is that 
John DeLorean went to Mr. Guigiaro (ItalDesign) to style his car, 
incidentally, this is the same company that did (does?) all the design work 
for Lotus. If you look at other cars styled by Guigiaro, they all look very 
much the same as the DeLorean and Esprit.

Just thought I'd let you know,
Kevin


> From: Ann & Ed Thompson <RappaRivaRat@xxxx>
> Reply-To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx
> To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [DML] Re: The DeLorean's Gullwing doors
> Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 09:53:54 -0400
>
> > As many of you know, the DeLorean wasn't the only car to have gullwing 
> doors.
> > I have seen a lot of e-mails saying it was, but it wasn't.
>
> Who are these people John? I would like to help set them straight.
>
> > Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing also has gullwing doors, as specified in 
> the
> > name. There is a 1956, 1957 and I think more
>
> The original Mercedes gullwing coupe (introduced March 1952) was not 
> designated
> "300SL Gullwing". It was simply the "Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe" the "SL" 
> meaning
> Sport-Light. Of course it did have gullwing doors and was to become 
> affectionately
> know as "The Gullwing Coupe" by automobile enthusiasts. Later the Mercedes 
> C111
> with gullwing doors was developed primarily for speed and endurance trials.
>
> In the early seventies, under the watchful eye of JZD (as General Manager 
> at
> Chevrolet), the Corvette group designed and built a gullwing Corvette coupe 
> that was
> supposed to be powered by the 4-rotor Wankle. It never made it into 
> production but
> was no doubt the single most influential project that led JZD to 
> incorporating
> gullwing doors into the design of the DMC-12. The Corvette doors were 
> remarkably
> similar to those on the DMC-12, except the lower half of the door had a 
> second hinge.
> (BTW, JZD unsuccessfully tried to buy the Wankle from GM for the DMC-12.)
>
> Later the Bricklin SV-1 gullwing coupe was introduced. The Bricklin went 
> into
> production in 1974, the same year JZD formed the De Lorean Motor Company.
>
> Incidentally, the fact that the DMC-12 design was remarkably similar to the 
> Lotus
> Esprit was no accident. Lotus had no small part in bringing the DMC-12 to 
> fruition,
> but the Esprit did not have gullwing doors.
>
> Regards,
> Ed Thompson (#6419 since 1982)
> Midlothian, VA

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