David Howarth has a passion for DeLorean cars. "I've been in to them ever since I saw them on television when they introduced the first prototype," he says. "That was back in 1978/79. They launched the first model in Britain at the Earls Court motor show in October 1981."
Mr Howarth, 60, an exhibition contractor from Manchester, always promised himself he was going to have one of these cars. He now owns three and is treasurer of the UK DeLorean owners club and the DeLorean Association of America, UK branch.
"I've got three DeLoreans and they are all 20 years old. I own one left-hand drive car and two right-hand drive cars. They only made 23 right-hand drives. I've owned four of them, but sold the other two."
He bought his first left-hand drive model in 1990. He paid £15,000 for it. Shortly after he was offered £50,000 by an avid American collector. But Mr Howarth didn't want to part with it. "I've promised it to my grandson for his 21st birthday - he's now 11 so he's got 10 years to go."
His second car, bought in 1999, used to belong to the drummer from 80s band Duran Duran, John Taylor. Mr Howarth paid £14,750 and within a week he was offered £25,000 for the car. "This car has got a bit of history," he says. "I had spent eight years trying to buy it. When it first came up for sale in 1991 Mr Taylor was asking £35,000 for it. Someone from Scotland got in there first and kept it in a museum. It only did 273 miles in eight years."
He'd had his eye on his latest acqui sition, which he bought in January of this year, for seven years. "It cost £30,000 seven years ago. That was a lot of money. But being patient has saved me a fortune. He eventually sold it to me for £15,000. It's only got three miles on the clock - the previous owner never drove it. It's taken me five months to get it up and running."
So why is he so attracted to the DeLorean? "It's one of the most stylish cars ever produced," he says. "Its stainless steel body makes keeping a DeLorean looking good effortless. Jaws drop wherever it goes."
To contact David Howarth or the UK DeLorean owners club call 01942-882-331.
