Self-proclaimed son of the DeLorean inventor says he’s selling Back to the Future car to the Taliban
The self-proclaimed son of the DeLorean inventor has vowed to push ahead with orders from the Taliban for his rebooted version of the classic car, despite losing a High Court battle. Watch him talking about the car here:
Ty DeLorean, who changed his name via deed poll from Benjamin Granger, claims to be the son of legendary car engineer John DeLorean, who died at 80 in 2005.
Ty, 40, has been trying to reignite the DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) cars by mixing them with Reliant Robins to create hybrids.
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He believes the interest in the car, known for featuring in the Back to the Future franchise, remains strong throughout the world – including among the current rulers of Afghanistan.
However, the High Court has ordered him to stop flogging the new version, also ordering Ty to pay £20,000 in legal costs for the DMC in Texas, which brought the copyright infringement claim.
Despite this, Ty has pledged to ignore the ruling and continue with his plans, saying: "The ruling is an absolute joke to be honest. The judge said it was an admirable enterprise and loved the car and everything I was doing.
"He said the situation was bold and complex and that I deserved respect and appreciation and then fined me £20k. Talk about contradiction - I told him I haven't even sold any cars yet.
"I've been called a boffin and an inventor - and my prototype has been lauded all over the world. All people want my product - I've had contact from the Taliban and other governments around the world. There is no reason for me to stop.
"What is happening now is just making the movie about what I am doing more exciting. My father was treated the same way - they are just digging a hole for themselves. It's just making the story better."
Ty, from Newquay in Cornwall, showed off his DMC21 cars at the British Motor Show, where he was handed papers by DMC for trademark infringement.
He was told he could keep his cars as long as he removed their trademarks, but Ty said he wouldn’t be making any changes.
He continued: "They can keep attacking me but I have no money to pay it and will petition for bankruptcy so they won't see a penny.
"Some people have. I am more than ready to speak to the Taliban again now and pick up the orders. I will do business with anyone.
"This won't stop me - it only encourages me to go further."
"They see the potential of a fantastic new product. But the authorities have taken everything I've got. I've now got nothing to lose and there is no way I am going to stop. They will put a bullet in my head or lock me up.”
Ty said the project was his ‘entire life’, explaining how he has spent £180,000 on it.
He said he's even received an offer from the Taliban, claiming he was told in an email that the militant group wanted to mass produce his vehicle for its government officials.
"It was via email saying they had received previous news reports of the car on their desk and they were interested in mass producing it,” he said.
"I thought the car could be some sort of peace negotiation. Like a vehicle for change. Just like the original DeLorean helped bring groups together - maybe the car could be used to get the Taliban to drop their hard line stance.
"Like a new beginning in the middle east peace negotiations."
The communication supposedly came from current Afghani transport minister, Qudratullah Zaki, who apparently wrote to Ty: “The Civil Aviation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan extends its compliments to you and your brilliant motor vehicle at Delorean motor company.
“Your amazing achievements were brought to my attention in your latest media interviews which has gone around the world and landed on my desk in a local newspaper."
The message said the group wanted to ‘move forward with investment’ in the business, describing the cars as ‘perfect’ for the rural roads in Afghanistan.
Ty claimed it was signed off by the head of the Taliban Hibatullah Akhundzada, saying he is now dealing with his deputy and the transport minister.
Ty has long claimed to be the son of John DeLorean, who set up a manufacturing plant near Belfast in 1980 and went on to produce the DMC 12 car.
After he went bust, DMC purchased the intellectual property rights over the design of the cars.
John was married four times, and had two daughters – Kathryn Ann and Sheila - and an adopted son called Zachary.
Ty added: "I have no intention of removing my father's stolen trademark from a car that should have been released."
Jess Hardiman