1981 DeLorean DMC12 Coupé
Registration no. FNP 635W
Chassis no. SCEDT26T6BD003170

"Throughout the history of the British Motor Industry, hope and enthusiasm have tended to overrule commercial common sense. The DeLorean episode was perhaps its clearest example in Government." - Martin Adeney, The Motor Makers.
The brainchild of ex-General Motors executive John Zachary DeLorean, the DeLorean sports car project was touted around the world before finding a home in Northern Ireland thanks to generous grants from the British Government. Designed by ex-Pontiac engineer Bill Collins, the DMC12 was extensively reworked by Lotus prior to production, emerging with the latter's trademark steel backbone chassis and all-independent suspension, and powered by a rear-mounted Peugeot/Renault/Volvo 2.9-litre overhead-camshaft V6 engine. Apart from its larger-than-life creator, it was the car's stylish coupé body that attracted most attention by virtue of its method of construction - a combination of glassfibre inner panels and stainless-steel outer skin - and doors that opened gull-wing fashion à la Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.

The much-hyped DMC12 finally arrived in 1980 and immediately ran into quality control problems, a not altogether surprising occurrence considering the local workforce's unfamiliarity with automobile manufacture. No doubt the company would have sorted out the glitches given time, but sales never approached projected levels and DeLorean's 1982 indictment on drugs charges - he was subsequently acquitted - brought the project to its knees.

Manufactured in August 1981, this DeLorean DMC12 was purchased new from Valley Dodge in Van Nuys, California and stored from 1983 until 2013. The vendor spent three years looking for an excellent example before purchasing this car in the USA in November 2019. Servicing undertaken in the USA following the car's removal from storage included replacing the tyres, lift struts, left window motor, radiator, clutch hydraulic cylinders, and throttle housing plus a brake overhaul and installation of a stainless-steel coolant overflow tank.

The car had covered fewer than 13,000 miles when the vendor imported it, since when it has been modified to comply with UK regulations. Following the vendor's purchase a full service/overhaul was undertaken including new track-rod ends, rheostat, brakes, clutch, fuel pump, oxygen sensor, fuse box, wheel bearings and handbrake. The air conditioning has been recharged.

Original, unmolested and 'on the button', this DeLorean is offered for sale complete with its original window sticker, purchase paperwork, manufacturer's literature, workshop manual, owners' association publications, service records and V5C document. There are few cars that trigger more nostalgia for the 1980s than the DMC12, and this one is in truly outstanding condition. Examples as good as this one are hard to find.