Thursday, March 24, 2005

Elizabeth Conley / The Detroit News DeLoreans line up at a Royal Oak funeral home during the public visitation for John DeLorean, the classic car's creator.

DeLorean owners honor founder

Collectors bring 25 of his namesake autos to Royal Oak funeral home for visitation.

By Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

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For auto maverick John DeLorean, the tribute could not have been more flattering.

Twenty-five owners of DeLorean cars showed up in their vehicles Wednesday to express their admiration for the colorful and controversial former General Motors Corp. executive during a visitation at the A.J. Desmond & Sons funeral home on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak.

DeLorean died Saturday, March 19, 2005 In Bedminster, N.J., at the age of 80.

"I've been a DeLorean owner since 1985," said Richard Weissensel, a 42-year-old automotive computer engineer from Chicago who drove his 1981 stainless steel DeLorean to the service.

Weissensel, who owns eight of the stainless steel models of the DeLorean car, is a member of the DeLorean Midwest Connection, a group of DeLorean car owners.

Weissensel said DeLorean was one of his idols.

"He's always been a maverick we've always looked up to," Weissensel said.

"He didn't look for the easy path (or) the easy way out. He always followed through with dreams."

The gesture was not lost on DeLorean family members.

Mark DeLorean, a nephew of John DeLorean, said he was touched by the outpouring of accolades from the collectors.

"They were from the heart," said Mark DeLorean.

Mark DeLorean, a Detroit native who now lives in Lakewood, Ohio, said he communicates regularly with DeLorean devotees and collectors of the gull-winged, futuristic cars.

Funeral services are private.

You can reach Oralandar Brand-Williams at (313) 222-2027 or bwilliams@detnews.com.