Entire books have been written about John DeLorean. Let’s set aside the colorful founder of the car brand that bears his name for a moment. What remains is a unique car, a brilliant concept, and a vehicle that became world-famous thanks to the Back to the Future film series. Whether the DMC DeLorean would have become just as famous without the movies—and whether it would still be so beloved today—we’ll never know. This particular model dates from 1981 and features a number of details that later models no longer had. For example, the car has the old-style hood, which was replaced after 1981 with a hood that didn’t have the fuel filler door. The car looks stunning. The body was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and is a magnificent piece of design. The construction is equally impressive; the foundation is a Y-shaped chassis inspired by the Lotus Esprit. Surrounding this is a fiberglass structure onto which the stainless steel body was mounted. The brushed aluminum exterior gives the DeLorean a sleek, futuristic appearance and is exceptionally striking on this DMC-12.The interior is in remarkably good condition, which isn’t always the case with a DeLorean. The black seat upholstery is in very good condition and was the only color available in 1981; light gray upholstery wasn’t introduced until later. The rest of the interior also looks neat. The flat, wide instrument panel is fully functional, as are the controls and electrical features such as the power windows. The DMC-12 is powered by a 2.7-liter V6 engine that produces 132 horsepower and is paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. The engine and transmission are more than capable, making the DeLorean a relaxed touring car. The mechanical systems are in excellent condition, and it drives exactly as intended. While not a pure sports car, it offers a comfortable ride with a sporty character. The car features independent suspension all around and excellent brakes, ensuring a fantastic driving experience. This vehicle comes with some documentation, an original brochure, and the original steel brush used to buff out minor scratches or imperfections in the paint. Our advice: don’t use it, and keep this unique original accessory wrapped in its original paper. In short, this DeLorean is a very well-maintained example from the first year of production. It is ready to provide many enjoyable miles this summer.
