I was thinking the same thing.... I always thought it was a Volvo engine in the Delorean. But that is probably true... it was probably also used in Saab. I love the slick look of the delorean. I thought they used a Lotus frame which is probably why I love it so much. I love the old Lotus Esprit!

 

The engine in the DeLorean is a "PRV" 2.85, SOC V-6. The PRV stands for Peugeot, Renault, Volvo who, as a consortium have an engine building plant in Douvrin, FR. The engines they built there were often referred to as the small block Chevy's of Europe and were used in many cars.

The frame wasn't a "Lotus" frame, but it was designed by Lotus and in certainly very similar to the frame used in the Lotus car.

In many ways, the car is as much a Renault as it is a Volvo.

Never thought I would own car for 27 years, but I still enjoy it immensely.

D** Ryan
1983 DeLorean
2006 Crossfire Ltd Coupe

 

Oops, I got Peugeot confused with Saab, My bad. Thanks Deloreanbiker.

I tried purchasing a brand new Brickin back in the Fall of 74 when a local Olds dealership got the franchise.
I wanted one with the "higher performance" 220hp. (AMC) 360 V8. But by then Bricklin had switched over to the 175hp. Windsor Ford 351 motor. (too bad it wasn't a 351 "Cleveland").
The final straw was I simply just didn't "fit" in the darn thing with the doors closed.
As it turned out they were besieged with a multitude of build quality, and body integrity problems. Door leaks, and electrical problems as well. I soon realized I "dodged" a bullet on that deal.
I always did like the way they looked, and they probably had a lot to do with me eventually purchasing a 1979 Datsun 280ZX when they came out, because I thought they had a similar appearance.

 

I am jealous that you have one I have always loved the Delorean's and dreamed of having one. I can certainly afford to buy one but there are other things that are more important right now in my life. There is one for sale near me and they want 30K. It is mint. Enjoy the Delorean... it is a beauty!

 

This is my 35th vehicle, and I have loved them all, but classic or not, the XF is the first car that brings back memories of the '48 Plymouth convertable that I had as a kid. Very few around, and such a blast to drive, with so many 'nice car' comments from all types of people.

 

You can say that again... I'v had mine 3 1/2 months and the comments never stop.

I've never experienced anything like the attention this car draws.

 

I have only owned my Cross since June of this year. I purchased it for the wife to drive, but, she is unable. (has MS, was hoping to be able to drive again after a 10 year hiatus) I had always admired them, to me the Car looks like what you would pull up to a nightclub in 1937 in. I liken owning a Cross to something someone told me about Golfclubs when I first started playing:
"If you look down at your club, and do not like what you see, you will not play well"
My Cross is like that. I like it, plain and simply, driving, caring for it, whatever. Is it a classic? To me, yes, to anyone else, my opinion is the one that counts.
Regards,

 

i have a blaze red roadster that is still the most beautiful car I have seen. The attention it gets is the same as five years ago. The car is perfectly maintained and preserved with Waxoyl. No corrosion any where, inside, under or in boot. 5K miles. I want no other car. Gary

 

IMNSHO, the back two-thirds of the car's appearance qualifies as "classic" looks, but the nose is a little ugly. Mechanically it's very interesting and advanced, but nothing too unique. So without some rhino-plastic surgery, I'd have to say no.

 

I think ugly is a bit strong, however I will agree that the similarities to the front end of the Pacifica do bother me. It's almost like Stoddard only got bold from the A-Pillar back.

 

Pacifica? Seems more that Stoddard just hung mom's old minivan on the front - as in the Caravan or the Voyager. It's her butt that'll make 'er a classic.

 

Stoddard didn'T make the final changes. The front was restyled to look like a current product. That was to match the Chrysler brand.

At least that is what I think Eric once said. You might check out his concept drawings. front is radicaly different. also, in his reprise "doodles" about a concept for Crossfire II he makes a bolder, more muscular, front design.


Check out "CREATOR" here on the forum. That's him

I would love to get my hands on the prototype concept vehicle.

roadster with a stick

 

Oh, I'm sure youre right. I'm complaining as though I think it looks terrible; It doesnt. It just doesnt look AS good as it could have. Thats always the problem w/ concepts. The designers run them under the faucet too much and in the end look too little like what they were supposed to.

 

Delorean's car is not powered by a Volvo or Saab engine, it uses a flux capacitor. I know this to be true because I watched it in a historical movie "Back to the Future".

 

If you watch the 3rd part of the documentary you would see that it really uses gas to operate the vehicle. Without the engine and gas it can't get up to 88 MPH. Mr Fusion only powers the flux capacitor for time travel... it does not move the car.

 

Yes it will be a classic.

Ugly doesn't matter. Daimler SP 250's command over $30k (<$4k new). But the Crossfire is beautiful.

Top performance spec's are not the question. See MG TD, 6 cyl. 60's Mustangs.

Production only counts to a degree. Some Dodge Royal Manacos are extremely rare--and cheap. Find a Merkur over $5K.

So what makes a classic. I suggest that the primary test is the "drool" factor of those between 15-25 yrs old when the car is produced. Thus, the test for a future classic is exemplified in the Lancia Stratos, Pantara, Austin-Healey (even the 4-banger approaches $60k), my Sunbeam Tiger (now over $50k for a Hillman Husky knock-off w/a 164 hp. v8), Jaguar XKE, etc. When each of these cars were produced "kids" would flock to look at it in any parking lot where they showed up.

In the 30's-and 40's, luxury rather than sport was the test. Thus, Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Delehayes, etc., engendered the "drool" factor and became the classics of that era.

The 50's benchmark was chrome, excess, and raw power. Bonnivilles, Cadillacs, V8 Chevys, and Hemi Mopars have become the classics.

The 60's were defined by the muscle/pony car phase. Look at the price of any Mustang, or any Ford 2-door with a 427 side-oiler or Mopar 2-door with a street hemi.

If the automobile industry were to be given an enema, the seventies and eighties would be where youl'd start. There will be no long term classics from here. The "kids" continued to drool over the 60's muscle/pony cars knowing that everything being built was little more than a people mover. My brother has a true 100 pt. 1973 Z28, and it wouldn't bring $30k. A 69 Z28 is up over $60k. Production numbers are similar.

Starting in the mid-nineties, cars became "droolable" again.
There aren't many choices in the 2000-2010 era that have substantial drool factor. Corvettes do, did, and always will. Come 2020, the pocket-rockets should also have a cache of collectability, especially considering how they are being destroyed by the current owners (see 60's muscle cars).

This brings us to the Crossfire. Another post commented how the prices dropping are resulting in young people buying the car and driving down the prices even further. True, but temporarily true. This will actually result in an increased "drool" factor amongst the kids. I have 16 year old daughters, and their friends "drool" over my Crossfire. It will also be helped by the "American" badge currently looked at as a detriment. Either because they are priced so far out of reach or because there will be no experience between "kids" and certain cars, vehicles such as the Lexus IS F (and its predecessor), Audi R8, BMW Z4, won't achieve classic/sought-after status. The continuing depreciation of the Acura NSX shows that cars that are out of reach and thusly out of consideration of the younger set don't turn the corner.

Considering this, I would suggest that recently built future classics include the Crossfire, as well as a BMW Z3 and Nissan 350Z. The latter two, as well as the Miata (also suffering from the Japanese connection) may never reach this, however, because of high production and therefore high availability. Others that I would bet on (gentlemen's bet, not $) include any WS 3 Camaro or Firebird, Solstice GXP Coupe, and possibly one of the later GTO's (400 hp and a stick shift in a currently affordable car is hard to igore), and anything with a W12 (although purchase price-new will not be reached). Not included are the current crop of Mustangs (including Shelby's), goofy cars like the For Two, the Cube, and the Element, and anything billed as luxury without a W12.

In closing, I just went outside and looked at my Crossfire. I'd say it is a future classic, and earlier than others on this board believe. I sure hope I'm right, but that has nothing to do with why I bought the car. Simply, it is the most bang for the buck today, and when you look at classics, that has often been a telling factor, especially on the "bang" part.

Wow, that went long.