On a recent vacation to the Pacific Northwest, I had the pleasure of visiting the LeMay – America’s Car Museum (post coming soon) in Tacoma, WA. The collection is massive, and of course, there’s an iconic DeLorean on display. I know this may be hearsay, but I don’t think it was as nice as this 13K mile example found here on craigslist and located in Santa Cruz. Be prepared to pay the big bucks for one this nice, and go here if the ad is archived.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find. DeLoreans in preserved condition really aren’t a surprise anymore, as it seems numerous collectors knew the gullwinged sensation would become a collector’s item. Still, there are plenty of subpar cars out there often passed off as show quality that really aren’t; this one would appear to pass the smell test assuming there’s no funny business with the odometer. Check out the sheen on the black plastic pieces – no sun fading here.
For me, DeLorean interiors are one of the biggest giveaways as to poor caretakers in their past. Similar to a Maserati or Lotus, the interiors just fall apart so quickly that seeing one that looks showroom new is a treat – you can see why shoppers would have been overcome with itchy fingers on their checkbooks upon seeing those bucket seats, gullwing doors and three-spoke sport steering wheel. Thankfully, this one is a manual. The floormats incredibly show no sign of use despite the car being driven monthly.
As you’d expect, the engine bay shows extremely well with unmarked surfaces and crystal-clear lettering on the engine cover. Of course, with the time-capsule mileage, you won’t want to exercise this underwhelming six-cylinder all that often, but it’s not so low that a few hundred per year is out of the question. The only trouble is, there’s lots of attractive buys for shoppers considering a $55K purchase like this one, and I’m not certain this is the car I’d choose for that kind of scratch – what about you?
Definitely for the well heeled Back to the Future fan.
These cars just never hit the buy button with me, don’t like the gulf wing doors.
Dealing Much Cocaine, getting 12 years..no?
Hey Dean, I got to know Jim Wangers pretty well when I bought my ’69 Grand Prix and knowing that he and John DeLorean were very close friends Jim enlightened me as to the whole mess that our “upstanding” (cough, cough) government along with General Motors and the other major players in the automotive industry did to John. The short version is that he was entrapped by corrupt officials in a scheme to get rid of him and his upstart automobile. Jim’s words: “John DeLorean did not know the first thing about cocaine. There’s NO WAY he was going to be a cocaine kingpin”. GM wanted to make an example of him and they succeeded, marvelously. Knowing all of the facts would not only piss you off to no end, but would probably give you a great deal of empathy for what they did to him, because it ruined his life and he did not deserve that. Remember, he was the mind behind the GTO, widely acknowledged as THE FIRST American muscle car in 1964, and then The Judge in 1969. BOTH are famous because of John Z. DeLorean. The ’69 Grand Prix was also John’s baby, and what he did at Pontiac and Chevrolet is the stuff of legend. I hate seeing his name besmirched by people who don’t know all of the facts. The man deserved better than that.
IF this actually brings the money, to me it will show a tectonic shift in DeLorean values. Great looking, clean well-detailed car, with very nice photos.
But $55K?
Not so long ago, the best example in the world wouldn’t come close to that?
There was a time when I thought I was in the market for one of these. However; having driven several, with the critical eye of a potential owner, I decided I just couldn’t get motivated to let go of the money.
The author is correct, the interior is nice. However; for a car that looks this swoopy, it is so far behind the power curve as to be depressing. The biggest problem with the package is the engine, otherwise; I would have had one of these in my repertoire.
I am fan of Back To Future movies but Not much the Delorean !
Seeing there is a place (in Texas I believe) that is building and selling new DeLoreans, is this a good deal?
Yes, they can build you basically a brand new one with a 200 hp turbo for 60-70K. That would be best if you planned to drive it. I can never understand why he went rear, not mid engine for these, and why not a proper V8? At least go for the turbo Buick V6, imagine that car!
@Billy 007 – Sourcing GNX engines would have been soooo easy back then, especially with his connections.
It is called DMC in Houston. They bought out the factory with all the parts and plans.
Oh, WOW!!! Great business move!!
I was in elementary school when this came out and I remember even back then we made fun of it for being a slow poser car. We already knew about the Countach. $55K gets you the Magnum Ferrari in blue, or both an E30 M3 and a 944 Turbo, if you want 80s fabulous. All real cars.
Please provide a link to a blue Ferrari 308 for $55k
Jeff, they featured the surviving LeMays themselves and the museums [two, one smaller one directly connected to the Lemay personal family collection and the large one {corporate} bearing the LeMay name] on “Strange Inheritance” the other night.
I’m envious you got to see it.
Looking forward to that article.
Thanks
If memory serves correct, 55K was about the original price for a new (original) DeLorean. Dealerships also became stockholders in DMC as well. I forgot how small and low to the ground these are until I saw one at a local car show (also in excellent condition). Easier to get into than a Lotus Europa, getting out is another matter, for me, anyway. A bit much $, good luck to the seller and buyer.