1981 DeLorean DMC-12

Yes yes - I know -- Back to the Future Day was 3 days ago. This was not what I was thinking about when I had the good fortune to find this car a few weeks ago.

If reality hadn't come poking it's nose in it would have been tremendously successful. Never mind the fact that performance did not match looks, or how those fabulous doors made exiting awkward. Ignore the lawsuits, the scandal, the eventual failure of the company, even the appearances in the movies.

1978 Datsun 280Z

1980 Ford Fairmont Futura

1966 Ford Thunderbird

1964 AMC Rambler 770

1971 Volvo 142E

1968 Pontiac Firebird

I loved the first generation Camaro/Firebird, but always preferred the Firebird. It had a nicer front treatment though basically it is the same car (I can hear the gasps of "blasphemy!" from here). It's that distinctive Pontiac beak baked into the bumper. Perhaps I was influenced by the advertising and product placement too. The Camaro was fast, the Firebird was classy.

Tach is not an accurate copy of the original, probably not functional, but it fools the casual observer. Dislike the wheels & low profile tires -- it would be better off with something less glaringly "bling".