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Rebuilt and Parked: 1981 DeLorean DMC-12

The seller describes this 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 as being a Texas car since new, bought at a dealership in Humble, Texas and remaining there ever since. It has a curious description, as despite the claims to it being rebuilt with parts from the remaining stash of “new” DeLorean components, it still needs a tune-up and sounds like it may have been left parked after the rebuild. Regardless, it’s a desirable manual transmission car with under 50,000 original miles, and it’s now listed here on eBay with bidding over $25K and the auction ending this evening.

The DeLorean’s body looks to be in great shape despite being parked outside, and fortunately, Texas’ climate is fairly gentle on cars that get left outdoors. Even the turbine-style wheels look quite fresh and the black plastic louvers don’t appear to be overly sun-weathered. The gullwing doors appear to stay elevated without issue, a common weakness among cars that haven’t have the struts replaced. The beltline trim also looks quite lustrous, and aside from some paint touchups needed on the bumpers, the seller mentions no other cosmetic issues.

The interior looks very good as well, with nicely preserved bucket seats, near-mint factory floor mats, and what looks like an aftermarket speaker installation in the rear where the Flux Capacitor would normally reside. Texas cars usually perish in the cabins even if the bodies stay mint, but this DeLorean doesn’t appear to suffer from such a fate. It looks like there is some cracking around the surface materials of the center console, which would likely happen to any car of this vintage if the top layers weren’t regular treated with a conditioner. The manual transmission is the one to get if you’re a collector.

The seller mentions the car was rebuilt “from the frame up” with new parts presumably from DeLorean’s domestic parts supplier. The engine bay doesn’t resemble a car that’s been completely rebuilt, and the claim that it needs a tune-up doesn’t help either. DeLoreans are sometimes cars that tend to be collected without any direct passion or purpose in mind, just the knowledge that they look cool and go for a decent price. This one, if it has been rebuilt as the seller claims, could return to greatness without too much work and represent an excellent value for the next owner that tightens up the loose ends.

Comments

  1. Avatar UK Paul 🇬🇧

    Great Scott!

    Like 5
  2. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    I’ve read and seen info on a company in Texas that bought out all the stock when DMC went belly up and will rebuild an existing car or build you a new one from NOS stock.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Mark

      Yes, I’ve read something years ago about all those NOS parts being purchased after the company failed.However I don’t recall the name of said company.

      Like 0
      • Avatar r s

        More likely SAD company.

        Like 0
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      Yes, they plan on releasing all new cars built from those parts, if they haven’t begun to do so already.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar craZee

    Most miles I have ever seen on one of these. Good on whoever put them on!

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Ryan Hilkemann

    Back to the future!

    Like 2
  5. Avatar grant

    Rebuilt from “the frame up” sounds like the frame had rusted out. These rotted frames to the consistency of soda crackers.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar OIL SLICK

    Please no flux capacitor jokes. My friend had one and when we took it to car shows the frequency we heard those jokes grew to be quite nauseating.

    Like 6
  7. Avatar luke arnott

    Junk when they were new…

    Like 4
    • Avatar Carlos Bonifacio

      Yes, a poor replica of an Alpine GTA / A310 V6 GT … DMC nearly took out Lotus when it went bang over the UK government subsidies to DMC. A travesty of justice.

      Like 0
      • Avatar luke arnott

        No my friend!Colin Chapman of Lotus was involved in the whole DMC scam with government money.

        Like 0
  8. Avatar PRA4SNW

    Sold for $28,100.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Jost

    Pretty rare with a manual, fun car for someone who like it.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Lance Alfieri

    not an 81, it has a blank hood and no gas door in it, with logo plate, its an 83

    Like 1
  11. Avatar John Oliveri

    Needs a tune up could mean a dead cylinder or 3, but it sold, so good luck

    Like 0
  12. Avatar r s

    It’s hard to believe that someone who was so smart and successful at GM, who brought us the GTO and other great things, actually expected to sell a bunch of ‘sports’ cars with underpowered French V6 engines. A car museum local to me has one on display; one day when I was up close and looking it over an older man came up and told me all the things that were wrong with the whole design of the car – and it turned out he owned the museum, and the DeLorean I was looking at it.

    Nearby was a Tucker Torpedo and I was able to feel better again.

    Like 0
    • Avatar OIL SLICK

      You have to understand that this car went through many changes from the planned designed. Money availability and timing had a lot to do with it.. and then the whole drug conviction. If you Google Delorean you can read the story.

      Like 0

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