Automotive maverick DeLorean dies
John DeLorean, an auto industry giant whose futuristic car was featured in the Back to the Future films before a cocaine scandal caused his downfall, has died.
Delorean, who was 80, passed away on Saturday from complications of a recent stroke.
"We're deeply saddened by the passing of an incredible, talented car person and loving family member," said nephew Mark DeLorean.
DeLorean's notoriety came during the 1980s, when he moved to Los Angeles and hobnobbed with the glitterati of Hollywood.
He was married at the time to model Cristina Ferrare.
The flashy DeLorean is best known as the creator of a self-named car in the early eighties, which caused a stir in the auto world because its futuristic doors opened like the wings of a gull.
DeLorean left his job as vice-president of General Motors' North American car and truck operations in 1973 to head his own company, building cars out of Ireland.
The DeLorean was unveiled in 1981 but only about 9,000 cars were produced by the time the company collapsed in 1983.
The car was used in the Back to the Future films, which starred Michael J. Fox.
That same year, DeLorean was arrested in Los Angeles for conspiring to sell cocaine worth $24 million US. He won an acquittal one year later after accusing the federal government of entrapment.
DeLorean, who was born in Detroit, grew up in Los Angeles and studied engineering at a Michigan college. Chrysler hired him upon graduation in 1948. He soon moved onto GM, becoming the head of Pontiac by age 40 and the youngest head of GM's Chevrolet division four years later.
While at GM, he created the first "muscle car" in 1964 by sticking the powerful V-8 engine into a small car and calling it the GTO.
"He made a name for himself through his talent, creativity, innovation and daring," said GM chief executive Rick Wagoner in a statement released Sunday.
DoLorean died at a hospital in Summit, N.J. and is survived by his wife, Sally DeLorean, son, Zachary Tavio DeLorean and daughters, Kathryn Ann DeLorean and Sheila Baldwin DeLorean.