- John Zachary DeLorean (Detroit, January 6, 1925 - Summit - NJ, March 19, 2005) was an American businessman and engineer north of the automobile industry, the founder of the De Lorean Motor Company.
In 1975, John Zachary DeLorean founded the DeLorean Motor Company Ltd. with one goal in mind: "To design and build a car that should be as safe as possible, reliable, comfortable, practical and well built, it has a pleasure to dirigi- and with it an unmistakable elegance in its appearance. "
DeLorean was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, January 6, 1925 and was graduated in mechanical engineering. Throughout his life became involved with the automotive industry. Son of One Family from lower middle class of the United States, whose father was a foundry worker at Ford, early in his career was called to be the chief engineer at Pontiac. He was known for bringing to life the Pontiac GTO in 1964. DeLorean had a brilliant career at Pontiac, and in 1969 was promoted to General Manager of Chevrolet. Over the next few years, he made obvious improvements to the area of design and quality of Chevrolet. Then in 1973, DeLorean was promoted to vice president of car and truck divisions of General American Motors. He was nominated to be the next president of GM, but due to constant disagreements with the management at GM, he left the company.
Free from GM, DeLorean was trying to fulfill his dream of making the DeLorean DMC-12 a reality, the head of a business empire funded by $ 500 million of other people. Began hiring the best engineers, designers, and to build its factory in Dunmurry, near Belfast, Northern Ireland (the factory was going to be in Puerto Rico, but Britain has offered more money). Enlisted the help of Colin Chapman of Lotus, the car's development, Giorgetto Giugiaro and (the same that created the models BMW Nazca, Lotus Esprit, VW Golf, Fiat Uno and the new Fiat Palio), Italdesign Giugiaro's on design of the car. DeLorean planned to debut the car in 1978, but he made ​​his debut in 1981.