DeLorean DMC-12

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Aimed squarely at the American market, the DeLorean DMC-12 was first shown in prototype form in 1976 but the first production cars did not roll off the Northern Irish production lines until January 1981. 

The brainchild of American automotive tycoon John DeLorean, the car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and engineered by Colin Chapman of Lotus fame. The backbone chassis was very similar to that on the Lotus Esprit, as was the suspension which was independent all round with double wishbones at the front and a multilink set up to the rear. Steering was by rack-and-pinion with disc brakes all round.

Power came from a PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) fuel-injected 2.8-litre V6 mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that produced 170bhp and could propel the car to 60mph in 8.8 seconds. The bodywork was made from unpainted stainless steel and had gullwing doors that only needed 11-inches of side clearance to open to their full extent.

Only around 9,000 DeLoreans were produced before production came to an end in 1982 when DeLorean was controversially implicated in a drug running charge from which he was later cleared. Survivors are now rare and sought after, especially as the car has cemented itself in popular 20th Century culture since starring in the Hollywood movie ‘Back to the Future’.

Virtually all parts are still readily available in America as the Irish factory’s large stock was bought up by the DeLorean Motor Company of Texas, who recently announced that they are to re-commence production of the car but using an electric motor. The first one was unveiled at the New York Motor Show last year with a proposed price tag of $95,000 so you can expect a lot of renewed interest in the model very shortly.

Built in September 1981, this DeLorean is showing just 14,960 miles on the clock which is believed (but not warranted) genuine and was formerly the property of a well-known Canadian soap star who has signed various bits of memorabilia in the history file.

Appearing to be in very good condition throughout and starting instantly and driving nicely as we moved it around for these photographs, it is shod with what look like nearly new tyres and is due to have a fresh MOT in time for the sale. All the hydraulic struts for the gullwing doors, boot lid and engine cover work as they should, not always the case with these cars.

Recently imported from Canada with all duties paid, it has not yet been UK registered. It comes with a comprehensive factory workshop manual, much other technical literature relating to the model plus the aforementioned soap star ephemera.

As viewers of the recent Channel 4 programme ‘For The Love of Cars’ will know, a DeLorean refurbished by Philip Glenister’s team of restorers made £40,000 at auction earlier this year, making this car even more appealing at the sensible guide price suggested.