1983 DMC DeLorean

Giorgetto Giugiaro drew inspiration for the DeLorean’s design from a previous Giugiaro concept that never saw production known as the Porsche Tapiro. Originally intended to have a Wankel rotary engine, DMC went through several engine and drivetrain combinations for the DeLorean before ultimately selecting a fuel-injected V6 from PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo). The DeLorean was supposed to be a mid-engine car, but the decision to go with the V6 was what ultimately forced the car to become rear-engine instead.

Let’s just soak this one in for a moment, shall we? This is one of the strangest American cars ever made next to the Vector M12. Predating the Cybertruck by a good 40 years, the DeLorean looks like the mythical eTruck’s baby cousin.

Nevertheless, a walk around the stainless exterior of the car reveals very little in the way of major damage. Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that many of the steel panels have been roughly preserved, and it’s unclear if a strong detailing would reverse these markings or not. There also appear to be scuff marks on both the front and rear black plastic bumpers. Glass around the car is clean and free of both chips and cracks. The OEM wheels are highly clean and show no curb rash, but remaining tire tread is minimal at best, and a new set of tires is highly recommended. Overall, the exterior has no important impact damage to note, but clearly the car was poorly preserved, and we don’t know how easy it is to return stainless steel back to its original condition.

Lifting either of the massive gull-wing doors reveals an interior that no longer looks particularly futuristic but is still surprisingly modern when compared to current vehicles. The center console sweeps down from the dash and covers the entire length of the central tunnel, completing separating driver and passenger, a style we see constantly in cars manufactured post-2010. The asphalt gray leather interior is in decent shape, but it doesn’t really glow either. The leather seats show heavy signs of creasing, and some of those creases have maybe a year or less before they begin to legitimately put cracks in the leather. The dash pad and dashboard are clean, and all of the gauges mounted within are easily readable. The leather pieces surrounding the edges of the central console and glovebox appear to be quite distressed, but don’t seem to show any real damage, both are areas to keep an eye on, no doubt. The space behind the seats looks relatively dilapidated, but the frunk is surprisingly tidy. From the exterior shots with the doors opened, we notice that the headliner on both doors is highly loose, and the two doors are both held up via a bungie cord pulling them together. The cord is present because the shocks on both doors are no longer functional and will need to be dealt with post-auction.

Under the hood, the fuel injected PRV V6 no obvious major damage in an otherwise unremarkable engine bay. There don’t appear to be any paint chips around the edges, but the black plastic that’s been placed there has aged and subsequently discolored itself quite aggressively. Underneath the body, the frame shows surface corrosion that is commensurate with the age of the car, suspension components appear to be in their proper locations, and the exhaust shows an average amount of discoloration.

Not much is known to us about this DeLorean’s travels. What we do know is that the seller took ownership of the vehicle in March of 2013.

DMC ultimately filed for bankruptcy in October of 1982, just a few days after founder and auto industry legend John DeLorean was arrested for drug trafficking charges. Quality control issues hurt the brand significantly in its heyday, and structural problems within the company allowed for worthless books and records keeping. Owners and enthusiasts alike were the ones that came together to approximate the number of DeLoreans produced, because the company had nothing. The DeLorean was also universally panned for its weak performance figures, but the stunning Giugiaro design and its usage in the Back to the Future franchise earned the car a cult following that will certainly give the DeLorean legs to stand on for decades to come. So much so, that an EV under the same name is currently in early stages of development. Today’s example needs touching up both inside and out, and for that reason we believe the car’s value lies somewhere between $30,000 and $50,000.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS

It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.