Lunchtime Ramblings #3: The Most Underrated Cars of All Time Part 1

Damn, its been awhile since my last post, anyway I've decided today to discuss over my lunch the three cars, that in my opinion, are the most underrated of all-time. These are all solely my opinion of course and me being me, all three are American. Today I'll unveil the first.

1.) The 1982 Delorean DMC-12 (no Flux Capacitor  jokes please)

Without question, the single most underrated car of all time is th DMC-12 (its not "the Delorean" thats the first of many myths about the car). In 1982 the car featured a Lotus-tuned suspension, 170bhp V6, and a stainless steel-body that wold never rust, ever. John Delorean advertised the car as "the last car you'll ever own". The prevailing myth is that the DMC-12 was slow. This is just that a myth. The DMC-12 beat the '82 Firebird, Corvette, and Camaro in a head-to-head test so it was the fasest thing you could buy in 1982 outside of a Ferrari or Lambo (admittedly thats not saying much, but still). Another myth is that they weren't popular, but the facts show a two-year waiting list when the company folded.

Why then did the DMC-12 fail? The simplest answer (and the one with the most evidence behind it) is really a rambling conspiracy theory at first glance. John Delorean had proposed his stainless steel car while still at GM. They told him they would never produce it, as it would put them out of business. So when John started his own company and it took off they got scared. GM used their at-that-time massive pull on the US government to stop him. The US contacted Maragret Thatcher the UK prime minister (the DMC factory was located in Northern Ireland) and convinced her to pull Johns loans 7 years early. With his 10-year loan now a 3-year loan John was screwed.

It was then the US government framed him for selling cocaine. But everyone just remembers him as "that guy who got caught seling drugs". Trouble was he was set-up. Don't believe me? His defense lawyer argued for only half-an-hour and called no witnesses and it took the jury less than two hours to acquit him. I'd say he was innocent. Trouble was it didn't matter as his reputation was ruined and his company had failed. GM had won, and still to this day no major car company has built a stainless steel car.

Tomorrow I will feature the second most underrated car of all time: The 1975 Chevy Cosworth Vega!