What is it about DeLoreans that there’s always some sort of drama surrounding them?  Right from the start when John DeLorean wanted to start up his company, he needed $175 million and sought investments from Hollywood celebrities. He wanted to build the car in Puerto Rico, but the Northern Ireland Development Agency offered a hefty £100 million towards the DeLorean – that’s roughly $123 million.

Production of the DMC-12 was to begin in 1979, but engineering problems and budget overruns caused delays. Unemployment was high at the time in Ireland, so even those without experience lined up to get a job at the factory. A car company owned by the guy who brought us the Cosworth Vega, was building a car for Americans in Ireland. Just too many oddities.

While about 6,500 cars were built for the 81-82 year, the DeLorean Motor Company went bankrupt following the arrest of John DeLorean in October, 1982, on drug trafficking charges. He was later found ‘not guilty’, but it was all too late and a rather sarcastic America took pleasure at poking fun of the DeLorean, at his expense. If you lived through the 1980’s, you saw all the humorous jabs taken at John Z., including the infamous DeLorean with the “dealer” plates and a “Things are better with COKE” bumper sticker.  Yes, the 80’s was a fun time, long before ‘PC’ became an acronym for “that’s not nice”, and you couldn’t miss all the jokes about the DeLorean.

And speaking of missing the DeLorean, it turns out that Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas misses his custom DeLorean occasionally, too. The custom car was impounded this past June because Will.I.Am was driving around without license plates, and – get this –  no VIN or registration. Isn’t that special? He later got it back, but more problems plagued the car when he (do I really have to call him ‘Will.I.Am’ again??) left it with valet, only to return after they had closed.

Will.I.Am's "$700,000" custom DeLorean.

So what did he do about it? He reported the car as stolen via his Twitter account because the valet had his keys, and subsequently his car. But he didn’t quite tell that story when he tweeted; he claimed that someone stole his “very expensive custom car”.

Even more drama, but eventually he got it back so all is right in his world again. We don’t deny that it’s expensive, but to claim it’s worth $700,000? Is he on… never mind. That just leaves us with two questions? Who would steal a car like that; and is he interested in a bridge we have for sale?