Oh the DeLorean, what an interesting car! I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t know about these cars. Some are fans because of the aesthetics while others are simply fans of the Back To The Future movies and it’s number one star, the DeLorean. Without it’s role in those movies, most people probably wouldn’t even know these cars existed, much like the Bricklin SV-1. Thankfully, they are extremely well loved, so much so that many were stashed away. Now that it’s been over 30 years since the demise of DeLorean, people are starting to dig them out of storage. This example is one of those to have been put away years ago and simply forgotten. It doesn’t run, but looks to be shape. It can be found here on eBay in Richmond, Virginia with a current bid of $7,800 and a BIN of $13k.
As cool as these cars are, you really have to be careful buying one. They can look to be in amazing shape, but have serious issues hiding under that beautiful stainless steel body. Also, getting the engine running can be a bit tricky, as some replacement parts can be tricky to find. Thankfully someone bought the DMC name and the left over parts from the factory. Last I heard, they are even planning on building brand new DeLoreans!
This one is quite dusty and the seller doesn’t offer any detailed photos of the frame, so I would be sure to take a closer look before bidding. As long as the frame is solid though, I think this could be a great buy! Having a manual transmission is a nice plus, but the interior is looking a bit rough. That makes me a bit really
So would you give this dusty DeLorean a new home? If so, would you make it a daily driver or just keep it as a show piece? And for those of you that enjoy the DMC-12, but can’t justify buying one or simply love a cool t-shirt, don’t miss out on our new Back To The Barn t-shirts!
Not a fan of the car, maybe the movie..
The DMC Company offers several ways to restore these:
http://www.delorean.com/budget-restoration-program.htm
The DMC-12 looks cool with its gullwing doors and stainless body, but leaving aside the big black rubber bumpers and the fact that it’s best known from a Hollywood movie and the drug trial of its famous ex-GM creator and namesake, there’s something that works against me ever buying a DMC-12, even if it does have a big cool factor going for it.
I never actually see any DeLoreans being driven on the road. I do see all kinds of collector and specialty cars being driven, sometimes even casually to the grocery store or bank—cars like MGs, TRs, old Porsches, lots of stock and modded ’50s and ’60s US cars, but never a DeLorean, not even once.
It’s also true that I don’t see supercharged ’30s Mercedes cabriolets being driven, but I don’t know of any of those around here, and I do know of DeLoreans in the area.
Maybe I need to drive a DMC-12 to know for sure, but it looks like they might not be that much fun to drive.
Dealer in Bonita Springs. Fl has about twenty of these one of a kind puppies
Well, I guess I’m one up on you, Dolphin. I actually did see a DeLorean driving (slowly) through the parking lot at my local shopping center. It looked a little tarnished and worn, but somebody was driving it – at least to the Kroger store.
I see at least a half dozen at the Woodward Dream Cruise every year. At least one will one will have a flux capacitor.
I daily drive mine in rotation with my other “fun” car (1962 Triumph TR4). I’ve done what it takes to make it fun and reliable. I ran the Crown Rally (Google it) from Minneapolis to Chicago in it, and would not hesitate to drive it anywhere at any time (excepting snow and salt). There are ~6500 of these out there, probably half that being used regularly. Dolphin, if you never see any, you just live in the wrong part of the world. (Attached photo taken on my way to the Headwaters of the Mississippi, after I decided on a whim to drive there.)
Always thought the gull wing was cool, but that interior looks so much like all the gen motors cars of the era, yuck.
What kills the value of these, compared to other collectibles of the era, is that the running gear is utterly pedestrian. (pun intended)
It’s mostly a novelty, and that’s only going to take you so far on the value scale. Even so, they have a pretty dedicated following.
I have a 1989 Lotus Esprit and I have driven both. The DeLorean is slower, does not handle as well and for me the worst part is the exterior visability is truly awful and much worse than my Esprit. Sad to say it is worse than my Europa and that is truly a trick for that is about as blind as Stevie Wonder out the back and to the sides.
From the outside they are not bad and as a cruiser they are good and really good highway cars but the care they need is higher than the Lotus due to parts getting overheated. So close but so far. Another year of development or two could have made this a real winner.
And how about trying to get out of those gull wind doors in a crowded parking lot???
Well, considering they take about only 12″ of horizontal space to open, I’ll say “easier”. Also, *wing.
As mentioned the engine was the big let down. This Volvo V6 had a lot of little problems, with time these problems were worked out by Volvo’s European partners Renault and someone else. Unfortunately DeLorean did not last long enough to correct the problems.
But since everyone else corrected the issues, it’s not a lot of work to fix them on the DeLorean.
They can be rust buckets too as the only stainless in them is the outer skin. The other thing is just about any other drive line would have been better than the one it got. And lastly they are just plain ugly with impractical doors, bi fold closet doors would have been better. I think I’d rather have the recent valiant sedan for $500.00.
From here in France,engine’parts are easy to find because this v6 comes from the R25 Renault made by thousands.
Don’t you thinck a big Radiator and powerful Fan could help?
Looks like our phantom “flag every post with a thumbs down” misanthrope is back, folks……