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September 23, 2007
Tracked Down! Microsoft’s Daily-Driven DeLorean
By Jen
Editor
When a former student of mine, now a Microsoft employee, told me he’d spotted an apparently daily-driven DeLorean parked in his company garage, I told him I’d have to see it to believe it. Like a good boy, he went and planted my card on the vehicle, and that’s all it took for the DeLorean’s owner to get in touch with me. Dave Jacobs of Microsoft turns out to be a very enthusiastic gearhead, not to mention extremely generous with his time: he invited me to come see his DeLorean at his home, he let me crawl all through his garage, and he even treated me to a long rambling drive in this fantastic machine so I could really get a feel for it. I had no idea what to expect from the DeLorean, but there’s only one way to describe it: it’s like riding in a brand-new car, except with all the best qualities of a 25-year-old car. The feel is totally solid, the ride is tight but not molar-rattling, and the DeLorean turns and stops on a dime. Despite what you’ve probably heard, the stock Peugeot-Renault-Volvo 2.8L V6 puts out decent power, though this hasn’t kept Dave from embarking on a monster engine swap: he’ll soon be putting in a supercharged 4.6L V8 Mustang Cobra engine, a project that has required him to build an entire custom frame for the car. And yes, he drives his DeLorean to work nearly every day, year-round. I’ve been working on Dave to build a ride page so he can keep you all updated on this amazing project and show off with all the other awesome DeLoreans on CarDomain. Come on man, do it!
Anyway, you’ll never believe where we drove: the DMC Northwest service garage and dealership in Bellevue, where I saw more DeLoreans than I’ve ever seen in one place at one time. More on that in Monday’s blog.
Comments
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Dave
Feb 6, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Hi Karl,
I could always use help. =)
Currently I am redesigning the transmission and I have a guy grinding out a new input shaft for me. One area where I am stuck is wiring up a modern engine to a 25 year old car. I am still looking for the wiring harness that connects the ECU to the engine wiring harness.
To Chris – yes it will be converted to 5 lug. I have 2003 Lotus Esprit OZ rims that have a 5×108 bolt pattern. I have four piston Brembos that I am going to be adding as well. I had to have custom hubs created to make this work as I could not find any bolt on solutions.
With a car like this, there are little to no after market solutions to help move projects like this along. Some of you know what I mean and know how difficult and expensive something like this can be. I have literally had to metal metal smiths with lathes to make custom parts for me. Happy happy joy joy!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks guys!
Dave
Karl
Sep 28, 2007 at 10:10 am
Dave, nice looking DMC. I would like to talk to you about the 4.6L Ford swap. I worked for Sean Hyland Motorsport from 97 to 2004 as chief engine builder and would be very interested in helping you with the engine portion. To date I have built more than 300 4.6L Fords for everything from World Ford Challange drag cars, including shortblocks for John Mahovitz, to full GT3 packages that have lapped the 24hrs at Lemans. If your interested let me know.
ryan
Sep 28, 2007 at 2:43 am
DeLorean is possibly the coolest car on the planet…if you’ve seen every “back to the future” you’ll know whats up!!!
bri
Sep 27, 2007 at 8:22 pm
nice AMC Eagle!
Blake S. Dissapointed
Sep 27, 2007 at 2:41 am
My friends mom had one when they were trendy. It left her stranded in a one way new york traffic tunnel blocking traffic (PWNT!) She also says that it constantly needed work and wasnt as sporty as it may look.
Mark T
Sep 27, 2007 at 2:19 am
I used to own a Delorean and it was used almost everyday, never had a problem with it and got avg of 25mph.
Check out my profile to see it at red_devilGST
Sean
Sep 26, 2007 at 9:11 pm
DeLoreans are great reliable cars and will last for a long time. I know I have one. You can check it out on my car domain page. I don’t have it posted yet but I have a more beefier exhaust system totally stainless custom made from the UK.
Terry
Sep 26, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Deloreans will always be great looking? No rust, EVER! Enough of the 88mph jokes, I’ve had mine 100mph many times and never went back in time or the future. You need a flux capacitor for that DUH!
11572
Tony
Sep 26, 2007 at 7:55 pm
A guy here at my job has one he uses as a daily driver. I will take a pic of it and post it if you wish. The only thing I don’t like about it, is that it’s engine looks like some thing out of a VW.. with a 1-3/4 exhaust..
Greg
Sep 26, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Nice design. POS car.
erick
Sep 26, 2007 at 6:57 pm
SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK!!!DAMN.
Anonymous
Sep 26, 2007 at 5:33 pm
it needs to b small to get up to 88 MILES PER HOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Highspeedhijinks
Sep 24, 2007 at 1:25 pm
The one thing I’ve notices about DeLoreans in person is that there incredibly small cars. Look at how small it is next to Jens Eagle.
Chris
Sep 23, 2007 at 5:44 pm
damn, what a daily driver. If he is throwing that badass snake engine under the hood, the least he could do is put a 5 lug conversion on that thing.
Phil's GTP
Sep 23, 2007 at 3:30 pm
BE CAERFUL NOT TO GET THAT THING PAST 85 MPH. WHO KNOWS “WHEN” YOU MIGHT END UP
Evan Norris
Sep 23, 2007 at 2:56 pm
To this day, still a great look’in car. Lucky ride Jen, that would have been one sweet ride.
-Evan