Desirable Early Example: 1981 DMC DeLorean

Some classics have desirable attributes, but negative features can offset them. This 1981 DMC DeLorean fits into that mold. It has a long ownership history and only 36,000 miles on its odometer. The fact that it is an early example featuring the external fuel filler flaps adds to its desirability, making it seem like a real winner. However, the first owner ordered this classic with the optional automatic transaxle, blunting the car’s already modest performance. The seller has listed the DeLorean here on Facebook Marketplace in Evansville, Indiana, for $48,000.

Many people have speculated that John DeLorean’s company would have succeeded if its product had met the price, build quality, and performance expectations that were touted before its first cars hit showroom floors. I tend to disagree for a couple of reasons. The original car’s development cycle was long by industry standards, and the company had no second model on the drawing board when the axe fell. As a result, it would have been forced to soldier on for at least four more years as a “one-trick pony” before offering potential customers an alternative. Even if the company had dodged the bullets that caused its demise, Colin Chapman’s death robbed it of its engineering mastermind, and filling those shoes would have been challenging. Under those circumstances, the collapse was almost inevitable. Our featured DeLorean is an early model, as shown by its ribbed hood and external fuel filler flap. Both features disappeared in 1981 as the car evolved, replaced by a flat hood with the filler hidden beneath. It looks tidy, although the exterior stainless steel appears patchy in the listing images. That may not be a real problem, because the DeLorean is known for being difficult to photograph in direct light. There are no visible dings or dents, and the bumpers and wheels look excellent. The great unknown is rust, which can be an issue if the epoxy coating on the backbone chassis is damaged. The seller doesn’t mention any problems, but an in-person inspection is needed to confirm this survivor is rock-solid.

People who believe the DeLorean could have succeeded point out that the car would have been far better if John DeLorean’s original mechanical vision had been realized. He envisioned a mid-engine design using Mazda’s fuel-injected Wankel rotary. That is conceivable, but obstacles would still have remained. The drivetrain layout would have provided far better weight distribution, vastly improving handling. However, the rotary’s low-end torque delivery may have been an issue, forcing drivers to work the motor hard to extract sports-car performance. Still, since the rotary weighed significantly less than the 2.85-liter PRV V8 that eventually powered these classics, it may have been better. Would it have been enough for the car to survive? I’m not convinced, but stranger things have happened in the automotive world. This DeLorean features the standard V6, producing 130hp and 153 ft/lbs of torque. A five-speed manual transaxle was standard, but the first owner chose the optional three-speed automatic. The power and torque figures are modest, and the transaxle choice makes this a city or open-road cruiser, not a car that will light up the local drag strip. The seller supplies no information regarding how it runs or drives, but I would expect any DeLorean in this price range to be turnkey.

There’s no other way to say this: The DeLorean was expensive when new. The sticker price was far higher than the originally planned $12,000, so John DeLorean made sure the interiors were loaded with creature comforts. They included leather trim, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, a rear defogger, a leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player. This car features an aftermarket stereo. Otherwise, it is as it left the factory. The leather trim is in good condition, and the only wear is the almost inevitable deterioration on the outer carpet edges. However, it isn’t severe and is comfortably acceptable for a vehicle of this caliber. The wheel has a leather seam separation that will require specialist attention, though I suspect a saddler could address it relatively cheaply. Beyond that, the interior looks pretty good.

Some cars overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, defying the odds to become desirable years after production ended. The DMC DeLorean is one such car. At its release, it was overhyped, overpriced, underpowered, and the build quality bordered on gruesome. It could easily have faded into obscurity as an almost unknown, forgotten failure. However, the motion picture industry brought the DeLorean back into public consciousness in the mid-1980s, and these classics now command impressive prices. This one features the distinctive hood and fuel filler that boost its desirability, though the self-shifter hurts its cause. The seller’s price aligns with market expectations, and while it isn’t cheap, I think it will find a home with someone who wants a relatively relaxed driving experience. Do you agree?