John DeLorean

John DeLorean was a visionary American engineer, entrepreneur, and later author, best known for founding the DeLorean Motor Company and creating the iconic DMC-12 sports car. Born in 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, he rose through the ranks of the American auto industry, becoming the youngest division head in General Motors history when he took charge of Pontiac. DeLorean was instrumental in developing the Pontiac GTO, often credited with launching the muscle car era in the 1960s.

In the 1980s, DeLorean attempted to revolutionize the auto world with his futuristic stainless-steel car, the DeLorean DMC-12—which later achieved cult status after being featured in the Back to the Future film trilogy. However, his company collapsed amid financial struggles and legal controversies, including a widely publicized drug trafficking trial, from which he was acquitted. Later in life, he reflected on his rise and fall in his co-authored autobiography, DeLorean (1985), offering a candid look at the highs and lows of innovation and ambition.

Some of John DeLorean’s most famous quotes reflect his rebellious spirit and entrepreneurial mindset:

"The key to success is to risk thinking unconventional thoughts."
"You can do anything you want to do if you want it bad enough."
"A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits."
These statements capture DeLorean’s enduring belief in determination, boldness, and challenging the status quo—values that shaped both his engineering legacy and his written reflections.