While the DeLorean DMC-12 is perhaps one of the most well-known collector cars on the market today, there is still an ongoing appreciation for this 1980s icon. We see this in what seems to be perpetually strong prices for good cars, especially those with low miles and the preferred manual gearbox. But to the DeLorean connoisseur’s credit, there is still an emphasis placed on examples with a strong maintenance history and excellent cosmetics, and large-scale project cars tend to linger for sale if the price isn’t right. This example with 56,560 miles seems like a solid car, with some recent maintenance items addressed and spare parts included. Find it here on craigslist in San Antonio for $76,900.
My favorite view of the DeLorean is from the rear corner, where you can see the turbine wheels poking out of the fender wells and the rear window louvers at the same time. While we often chide the DeLorean for not having the power that the body seemed to promise, there’s no denying this is a striking car. I personally have always loved the design, but the gullwing doors matter far less to me than to other people. Give me a DMC-12 with conventional doors that don’t fail and I’m even more of a fan. Of course, the drivetrain would need to be turbocharged or removed altogether, but that’s another scale of restoration work entirely.
The tops of the leather seats show what I assume to be sun damage, but that’s to be expected for a Texas car. The seller reports that the interior has been updated with some creature comforts to make the DMC-12 more palatable for daily driving, including a modern stereo with Bluetooth, a subwoofer, and a hands-free phone connection. The rest of the cabin appears to be in stock condition but the seller does note the air conditioning does not work, which is surprising for a Texas car. I feel like vehicles from Florida and Texas almost always have working air conditioning because, quite simply, it’s a requirement.
The seller claims that the DeLorean benefits from “…over $16,000 of renovations (have been made) including all new belts and hoses, new battery, dashboard, window tint, and more. A full list of restoration work completed on the car and receipts are available.” That’s a lot of coin to drop on one of these, but it’s not uncommon considering the investment usually pays off in the form of a new owner who is thrilled all that work has been done. The seller is including a brand new motor intake hose and right front cooling fan in the sale, but I’d like to know why they were purchased but not installed. Would you pay top dollar for the right car if you were on the hunt for a DeLorean?
IMHO, $76,900 for a DeLorean is quite strong money…..best of luck, I’ll say!
👍🤓
And they don’t even include the Flux Capacitor!!! :-)
My guess is that the seller paid too much when he bought it, spent too much on renovations you can’t see and is trying to recoup all costs plus make a profit. I haven’t, ever, seen a DeLorean sell for $76K. But, maybe there is someone out there that will pay the price. GLWTS.
I would think half the price would be all the money..
$76,900….so I guess they are just showing it?
I wonder why someone would spend $16,000 on repairs and renovations would not fix the a/c? In a car with limited ventilation, no sunroof for one thing, it’s going to get pretty hot. I don’t think I’d spend that kind of money and right away fix the air conditioning.
Not to mention the Craigslist ad states that the window switches aren’t working, must be awfully hot in that cabin!
But it has the kaboom kaboom stereo. I guess there are different priorities at play.
Especially in Texas summer heat !
you could die in that car in rush-hour traffic in Dallas or Houston !!!
I’ve never understood the attraction for these cars, not when new, certainly not now . underpowered , poor build quality , dated 80s plastic looks, and the stainless steel made for every one of them to look exactly the same – oh, and the plastic header panel never looked the same color as the body panels, making it look like a faded replacement, even when new. Maybe its the whole disaster that was the DMC that gets people to look at them, or maybe the movie franchise, but if this was sitting next to that green Chevette at a car show, I’d be checking that one out, not this.
Agree on all points. With a 10.5 sec 0-60, it was right up there, performance-wise, with a 4 cylinder Fiero.
Hey Boon (curious if this is an “Animal House” reference?):
I don’t know why, but I liked them in the 80’s and I like them now – and I really can’t put my finger on it. It’s like how I like the C-3 Corvettes in the early years “fiber optic’s system”, or the early 2000’s “heads up display”. Gullwinged doors help, the uniqueness of that and the S.S. body. There is the man behind all of it too, quite a story. I’m just 60 and just retired early and have time on my hands to make bucket lists and this car is on it. I’m not a new engine “LS” guy, so I would stuff a 327 into it with factory 1960’s mechanical Fuel Injection, just to be different. would love to find one driven hard and put away wet with a blown motor. I’ll keep dreaming. All the besdt to you!
Jim
Hey Bone:
I’m not really sure why I like these cars, maybe the gull winged doors, maybe the S.S. body, maybe because of the John DeLorean story. I’ve liked them when they came out in the 1980’s and have it on my bucket list of vehicles to own. I would get a blown motor ridden hard and put away wet (more so than this one) and throw a SBC 327 with factory fuel injection in it, just because… (mostly I don’t have the patience to learn “LS” engine talk) :)
Best of luck to you!
Jim
Definitely asking too much. There’s 1 on BaT today in much better shape auctioning off at a much lower price. Granted the value of these has increased dramatically over the last couple of years, especially with the announcement of a new DeLorean being introduced, but for close to $80,000 – that needs to be a concours car. This one, at the most, is $50,000, and that’s accounting for the collectability factor of the original DeLorean.
I am sure you can find many cheaper than this.
Someone in the know, please help me out…
Is the wear pattern on the driver’s seat caused by rubbing the door panel, and is that common on all Deloreans?
I have never understood the attraction to these cars they were gutless sleds
Too high of a price for a niche market. I think if one really liked them they should spend the money and buy a very low mileage one. Parts will be slim and you will need them all the time. The engine bay on that one looks brutal for the $ and I see a wash wasn’t part of the 16k spent.
One too many zeroes in that asking price. Marty McFly should come with it for that coin.