VIDEO: Motors & Me: Michael Hickey and his DeLorean

Michael Hickey shows us around his twin turbo DeLorean DMC 12.

What are you currently driving?

The BMW Z3 is my every day car. I also have a twin turbo DeLorean DMC 12, from 1981 among a range of others.

Love at first sight, or just a means to get from A to B?

Love at first sight for sure. As some people already know, the stainless steel car panels for the DeLorean were stamped out in Lapple in Carlow and then transported up to Northern Ireland to the DeLorean Plant.

I remember seeing the DeLorean on the car stand during the Dublin Spring Show in the early 1980s. It was by far the best looking sports car in the show. I started working in Lapple in Carlow after the DeLorean project had finished. I remember looking up at the DeLorean car panels hanging on the wall in Lapple and thinking that it was a really cool car and thinking that someday maybe I might get the chance to go for a drive in one if I was lucky enough.

What’s under the bonnet?

It is a twin turbo, 3 lt V6 - it has plenty of power.

Petrol head or Sunday driver?

I like my car, so I’m more of a petrol head than a Sunday driver.

What was your first car?

My first car was in 1971 - a Vauxhall Viva, 4-door. I can still remember the reg - GIC 671

What else do/did you own?

I’ll start with what I have now - a Rolls Royce 20/25, a 1929 Ford Model Y, a 1936 MG TD, a 1952 Maserati Merak SS Special, a 1977 DeLorean DMC 12, a 1981 Dodge Ram Pickup Truck, a 1998 BMW Z3, a 1999 BMW 520 D, 2013. When I lived in the USA, I used to have a black GM Trans AM.

Dream drive in dream location?

A red Ferrari Testarossa, driving around Italy.

Passenger you’d most like on a long journey?

My wife Brigid.

Passenger you’d least like?

A politician - don’t like politicians.

What’s on your playlist?

Bruce Springsteen, Thin Lizzy, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Garth Brooks, U2, Tina Turner, Madonna, Brian Adams and the Boomtown Rats.