Former U.S. automotive executive John DeLorean created the DeLorean Motor Company, which produced only vehicle, the DMC-12. Unconventional in almost every way, the car had many innovative features, including a fiberglass underbody, steel backbone chassis, rear-mounted engine, brushed stainless-steel body panels and gull-winged doors. The prototype was introduced in October 1976, with production not beginning in early 1981. The power plant featured a Peugeot-Renault-Volvo (PRV) 2.85-liter V6 that was designed and built under special contract with the DMC company. It produced 130bhp, was fuel-injected, and had four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and air conditioning. Options included a no-cost manual or automatic transmission and gray or black interior. DeLorean turned to Colin Chapman, the genius behind Team Lotus Formula 1 and the associated Lotus production-based sports cars, for the car’s suspension.
As a very recognizable movie car from the popular “Back to the Future,” trilogy, this model has a cult-like following and a host of clubs, collectors and fans worldwide. This example is one of the lowest mileage, one-owner DeLorean DMC-12s in existence, showing just 631 original miles (mileage not indicated on the title. The car has been driven almost every month since new for proper preservation, and continues to ride on its original Goodyear NTC tires with the floor mats still wrapped in their factory plastic and stored neatly in the front trunk compartment. Powered by a 174ci V6 engine and 5-speed manual transmission, it features a gray leather interior. The standard features list includes stainless-steel body panels, gull-wing doors with cryogenically treated torsion bars, air conditioning, an AM/FM cassette stereo system, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, tinted glass, body side moldings, intermittent/constant windshield wipers and an electric rear-window defogger. The underside epoxy is still in good condition and it comes with a car cover. Original paperwork – including the Golling Datsun Odometer Mileage Statement, original insurance documents and multiple Michigan registrations – accompanies the sale.
