From the Classifieds: De Lorean DMC-12

As the 'new' De Lorean hits the news wires with stories that the mystical DMC-12 coupe will be reborn as an all-electric vehicle, it seems appropriate that we look at this 1980s American icon.

The exotic, brushed stainless steel-clad De Lorean was produced during the early 1980s and skyrocketed to fame as the lead player in the Back to the Future movie series. Its status reached beyond the usual realms of an exotic car as a result.

Styled by Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro and extensively engineered by Lotus founder Colin Chapman, the brainchild of American engineer and ex-General Motors executive John De Lorean is actually still being produced in very limited numbers today. A company based in Humble, Texas [Ed: that's a real place!] constructs new DMC-12s using spare parts from the original parts inventory acquired by its current owner in 1995.

It is hardly a surprise the De Lorean was chosen as a time machine in the Back to the Future films. The stainless steel cladding was unique, and the car looked very exotic – though entirely practical – with its typical-of-the-era Giugiaro styling themes. The 2.8-litre Volvo-sourced V6 engine was mid-mounted and the cabin, though it lacked the time-travel controls of the movie car, was everything an exclusive coupe should be... And it was entered via gullwing doors, just like the latest Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

The car performed respectably at the time, and the Lotus-designed suspension combined with the inherent mid-engine handling balance to endow the DMC-12 with responsive on-road behaviour – although there were apparently some issues when the front end was raised to meet US bumper height requirements.

The car was built at a plant in Dunmurry, Ireland, essentially in left-hand drive form. A limited number of right hand drive versions were built but although around 9200 DMC-12s rolled off the production line between 1981 and 1982, the car didn’t last long enough to seriously enter RHD markets. It is believed something like 6500 De Loreans exist today.

Among which is this 1982 DMC-12 listed in carsales.com.au which lives in the Gippsland (Vic) town of Officer. It is described as being in “unbelievable” condition.

According to the owner it was found, proverbially, in a barn in the USA before being shipped to Australia. He says the (left -hand drive) car has only travelled 695 miles (1119km), as it was largely in storage during its entire life. It still wears the original rear tyres.

The (negotiable) asking price is $65,000 and, not surprisingly given its left-hand drive configuration, no roadworthy certificate is supplied. One would imagine, given the De Lorean’s place in the hearts and minds of so many – not necessarily car enthusiasts – that figure will only increase over the years. Two other De Loreans are also listed on carsales.com.au and the prices are comparable.

And the forthcoming all-electric De Lorean? Reports suggest it will use the original classic design but will substitute the V6 with a 150kW electric motor. It is expected to go into production in the US in 2013 with a pricetag of approximately US$100,000.

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