: Re: A one off factory Delorean W/a SS frame (Was Delorean galvanized frames/

[DMCVegas@xxxx]

The reason DMC went with the VIRM process was because the ERM had not 
yet been tested in an automotive application for crash testing. VIRM 
by Lotus on the other hand had. Another thing was the chassis. The 
double Y design for the Esprit gave the car more ridgedness in the 
center section (I beleive Lotus was also the entity that reccomended 
this, but I can't remember why). So this too was adapted for the 
DeLorean design. After these 2 major items were swtich over to Lotus, 
the suspension, interior and other items followed with a snowball 
effect.

On a related subject, the licence plate bezel on the back of the car 
is made utilizing the ERM process. On my car the ERM is kind of 
brittle and flaking. Plus it has already cracked from one of the 
scews that hold it in place. Maybe there would have been another 
process to it for the underbody, I don't know. But I do feel a bit 
safer with the VIRM.

"Hindsight is 20/20" is an old saying. If any one statement could sum 
up DeLorean Motor Company, this would be it. Without ERM DMC may 
never have had a unique enough concept to pitch to investors. But 
without VIRM who knows if the DMC-12 could have passed crash testing, 
or may have had production problems. In either case what JZD, DMC, or 
anyone else could have done will always be debatable. IMO, CTC should 
have licenced out the ERM process to other companies and taken a 
percentage. That along with decreased spending on the DMC-80 and 
Logan Mfg, this could have generated enough captiol to keep the 
company afloat. Or better yet maybe even develop DMC's own credit 
corporation to finance customer vehicle purchases and leases (the 
asset holdings alone for vehicles would have made the company profile 
wealthier). But like with everything else, who knows...

-Robert
vin 6585



--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "CBL302" <CBL302@xxxx> wrote:
> 
> : "Chris Parnham" <chrisparnham@xxxx> Wrote:
<SNIP>
Stuck with his original plans with the ERM process(Elastic Reservoir 
Molding)Developed by Composite Technology Corporation(another 
Delorean Company),NOW that would have been a major breakthru in 
Frame/body design/engineering.
<SNIP>
> Claude
> 000570