Delorean Factory Plans fo under hammer tonight

[mnickels]

An original set of plans for the ill-fated DeLorean factory built on the outskirts of Belfast is go under the hammer in County Antrim later.

The Dunmurry plant produced the silver gull-wing DeLorean DMC-12, which featured in the Back to The Future films starring Michael J Fox.

However, the car's fame lasted much longer than the factory.

It closed in 1982 only two years after opening when the American car company collapsed.

Almost £80m of public money had been spent in the hope of creating 2,000 jobs in Dunmurry.

The plans, dated August 12, 1979 are being sold at McAfee Auctions in Ballymoney almost 30 years to the day they were drawn up.

While their precise provenance is not known, it's thought they may have been unearthed in a recent house clearance.

"We hold regular auctions in our sale room in Ballymoney and often turn up very interesting items which relate to the social history of Northern Ireland but this certainly is one of the more unusual things we have been asked to sell," said Gerry McAfee of McAfee Auctions.

"These plans were tucked away with many other objects and this always adds to the excitement of finding such unusual and interesting things.

"The plans are of historic if not monetary value and there's no reserve on them so we expect they may sell for between £50 and £100."

While the 660,000 sq ft factory was built on the outskirts of Belfast, interest in the plans has crossed the Atlantic.

"We have already had interest from a number of DeLorean enthusiasts from the UK and further afield who love to collect any memorabilia relating to one of Northern Ireland's most famous exports," continued Gerry McAfee.

"We believe a dedicated DeLorean museum in America might even put a phone bid in to secure them for its archive collection."

About 8,600 cars rolled off the production line in Dunmurry, but only 6,500 remain in existence.

The auction takes place at 51 Main Street, Ballymoney, at 6.30pm, with advance viewing starting at 4.30pm.

Telephone 02827 667669 to place a telephone bid

[Nick Sutton]

Do you know if the date of 12th August 1979 relates to a modified drwing of the plant? Does it cover all the buildings?The exterior or/and interior.

The reason I ask is that by 12th August 1979 most of the steel work had been erected on the site.In August 1979 DeLorean Staff were the hosts to Lotus Cars Engineering and we all walked throught the steelwork structure to explain the the process flow of the vehicle build hence the original plan for the site had not only been completed but work well and truly in process. To my knowledge by that date all the plans had been completed - the body shop excepted. Even so it's a good find but I do query the date as a year later the whole thing was almost complete.

Nick Sutton

[tourettes tony]

well said Nick, i wouldnt like to see anyone robbed blind TT

[mnickels]

There is a small picture of the plans on the news article here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8200438.stm

The plans are by Brodie and Hawthorne Chartered Architects.

[mnickels]

From the picture I can make out

"External Services Co-ordination Sheet 3" Just above this you can see the layout the 3 sheets make up

[mnickels]

From what I see of the picture on the news article and my knowledge of the site it looks like the pictured sheet relates to the test track

[mnickels]

Spoke to the auctioneer and he said they are of stores next to the track and the training building.

[mnickels]

Sold for 235 plus fees