1981 DMC DeLorean with 7k Original Miles

I find it amazing that, considering its low production tally and the fact that motoring journalists generally panned it at the time, the DMC DeLorean has found a solid place in the classic world. What is more impressive is how many of these cars change hands regularly, pushing values higher as they do so. Our featured 1981 DeLorean is quite special, since it is a genuine survivor with only 7,144 miles showing on its odometer. It runs and drives as it should, ready to hit the road with its new owner behind the wheel. The seller has listed the DeLorean here on eBay in Elmhurst, Illinois. Spirited bidding has pushed the price to $26,500, although that figure is below the reserve.

If I had a penny for every article ever written about the DMC DeLorean, I could probably afford to bid on this 1981 example. The simple fact is that once the company collapsed, its creation could easily have disappeared into the dusty pages of history books. It remained largely forgotten following the company’s demise, but the release of the first installment of the Back to the Future film trilogy brought the DeLorean sharply back into focus. Suddenly, a car that languished in the back corners of lots became an automotive must-have, and the rest, as they say, is history. This 1981 example presents superbly, which is unsurprising since it is a three-owner survivor that has been garage-kept throughout its life. The brushed stainless steel panels look excellent, with no cosmetic defects. The seller’s underside shots confirm that the frame’s epoxy coating is intact, meaning rust around the body mounts shouldn’t be a problem. The glass and trim are in excellent condition, and the distinctive alloy wheels are spotless.

When originally conceived, John DeLorean planned to bring the car bearing his name to market with a sticker price of $12,000. However, development costs and other issues saw the price double before the first car left the line. DeLorean wanted buyers to feel like they were receiving something special for their money, so the only factory option was the three-speed automatic transaxle. The interior was fully loaded, featuring Gray “Bridge of Weir” leather trim, air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, and mirrors, a tilt/telescopic wheel, a rear defogger, and a premium AM/FM radio/cassette player. This car’s interior presentation is consistent with the mileage claim. There is no evidence of wear or other issues, and no aftermarket additions. The garage-kept history has protected it from UV exposure, and there is little about this interior deserving criticism.

I am astounded that although the seller has provided an exceptional image gallery covering almost every area imaginable, there isn’t one engine bay shot. That seems like a glaring omission, although it isn’t the end of the world. The DeLorean’s 2.8-liter V6 was a unique version within the “PRV” range, and was fitted to no other production cars. Rear-mounted, it sent 130hp and 153 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a five-speed manual transaxle. Development delays were enormous, with the company contracting Colin Chapman to address some of the issues. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I recently read something fascinating about this decision. Chapman’s Lotus Cars was producing the Esprit at the time, which was one of the vehicles that the DeLorean Motor Company had in its sights as a natural competitor. The person writing the article suggested that while Chapman performed his role acceptably, he ensured that the DeLorean wasn’t as refined as his beloved Esprit, and would lag behind in any performance comparison. The theory sounds plausible, although since the DeLorean’s V6 produced less power and torque than the motor in the Esprit, and the stainless-paneled vehicle was 450 lbs heavier than the Lotus, there was little for Chapman to worry about. The seller confirms that this DeLorean is a numbers-matching classic with only 7,144 miles on the clock. It has been maintained using predominantly genuine parts, with high-quality reproduction components utilized when factory items were unavailable. It runs and drives perfectly, ready for action with the winning bidder behind the wheel.

The DMC DeLorean had many detractors upon its release. Motoring journalists were disappointed by the performance, and it is the only car I have seen where a contemporary article used the word “gruesome” when describing the build quality. Time doesn’t necessarily heal all wounds, but it has allowed a dedicated band of enthusiasts to develop solutions to some of the worst shortcomings. That means that most of these classics are better today than they were when they left the factory. Values continue to climb, and I would be shocked if the bidding on this 1981 example didn’t double before the hammer falls. It could climb even higher if two or more people can’t resist a low-mileage example. What would you consider to be a fair price for this DeLorean? It will be interesting to see if any Barn Finds readers hit the mark with their guess.