OUTATIME

The automaking industry this week saw the passing of John DeLorean, who believed he was creating the car of the future in 1981 when the DeLorean DMC-12 hit the streets. As it turned out, his creation was the car of "Back to the Future." Flux capacitor or not, the vehicle was a legend, especially since only about 9,000 were ever created. Consumers, especially the hotshot i-banking playboys of the early 80s, never really got over some of the car's quirks, which included major water leaks in the famous gullwing doors. Though the car had character, it could not compare to the wackiness of its eponymous creator. Who else would have this written about them in their obit:

DeLorean's company collapsed in 1983, a year after he was arrested in Los Angeles and accused of conspiring to sell US$24 million of cocaine to salvage his venture.

Maybe he should have followed Doc Brown's lead and ripped off the Libyans.