DeLorean  (approx 53 min B&W/Color)

This is an excellent 1981 documentary by Pennebaker Hegedus Films. Following John Z. DeLorean as he jets across the world from New Orleans to Belfast to Geneva and many places in between, we get an unvarnished, first-hand look at the incredible challenges that any new automobile venture must face.

For design students, this is especially valuable because so much of the car business has nothing to do with the design portion.  Sure, the DMC-12 was beautifully styled by Giugiaro.  But a great design is just one spoke in the wheel that propels an idea from the drawing board to reality. Through Pennebaker’s lens, we learn about the many dimensions of the auto business:  Dealers.  Suppliers.  Sub-contractors.  Advertising.  Marketing.  It’s enough to make your head spin.  And in the middle of this perfect storm of minutiae, DeLorean the man must project a constant image of panache and success — which he of course does, in spite of these challenges. His team, on the other hand, comes across quite different.

DeLorean has assembled a collection of the best minds in the industry.  Some are old colleagues from GM, others come from Chrysler, Ford and Mazda.  Still others come in the form of Lotus engineers who seem on a collision course with their American counterparts.  Everyone wants the project to succeed, but that doesn’t mean they always see eye-to-eye.  Some conversations are positive and upbeat, but others are tinged with nervousness and frustration. We even witness an engineering meeting fly off the rails due to poor communication.  All the while, John Z. keeps pushing forward, fending off the critics.

The story ends before DeLorean’s surprise LA arrest for narcotics trafficking, and we’re seemingly left to ponder how it all worked out.  The film does a good job of presenting the DeLorean Motor Company at its best and its worst.  Fledging one moment and disorganized the next.  Full of promise, yet lacking in some intangible way.  You’ll find yourself scratching your head, wondering how they made it as far as they did, which seems to be the filmmakers’ intent.  Ultimately, Pennebaker casts no judgement of his own – not even on the silver-haired, maverick automaker from Detroit. He leaves that task to you.

To purchase this documentary direct from the filmmakers, visit the Pennebaker Hegedus Films website.