1981 DeLorean DMC 12

Highlights

Very well kept car in great order Recent £4, 000 mechanical overhaul USA car imported in 2010 Factory standard car with manual box Fresh MOT without advisories, tax & ULEZ exempt
The Appeal

Whether you’re here for the movie, the drugs, the backstory or simply the astonishing looks, let's all take a moment to breathe. Because here we have surely one of the most breath-taking cars to be placed on four wheels: the Delorean DMC-12.

Few cars have been built where the simple act of Being A Car takes such a backseat. So while we’re all familiar with all the legend, perhaps its worth remembering that this was a car engineered by Lotus. It is much more than a stunning static object: it handles surprisingly well too.

This 1981 car was imported to the UK some years ago and has had just three owners since. It is in very good condition, thanks in part to a recent £4, 000 mechanical refresh which results in an especially well kept engine bay. Now MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt by year, this is a great example of a car whose incredible appeal, just like its stainless steel bodywork, rightly shows no signs of dimming.

The History and Paperwork

DVLA records indicate first registered in the UK on 30th September 2010 Chassis and DVLA records confirm this is a ‘B’ code 1981 car It was built towards the end of 1981 production Three registered keepers since arriving in the UK Always garaged by the vendor Now MOT exempt by year which also includes tax and ULEZFresh MOT valid until 4th February 2024 with no advisoriesVery good MOT history with no advisories on recent tests
Recent £3, 890 mechanical overhaul including:

-New brake pads
-Front clutch kit
-New front tyres
-New cooling fan with aluminium cowling
-New starter motorRe-wired the car
-New temperature sensor
-New fuel pumpIgnition leads
-Clutch slave cylinder and friction plate
-Steering rack assembly
-Distributor Vacuum Advance Unit
-Spark plugs
-Replaced Aircon compressor

The Condition

Well kept, factory standard car with smart stainless steel bodywork Exterior trim and fittings complete, undamaged and factory correctGood panel fit and gullwing doors work correctly and hold on pistons Grey leather interior in good order and highly original This includes Philips radio cassette system Dashboard presentable with only light cracks as shown in photographs New Hella headlamps fitted
The DMC-12’s styling is as arresting today as it definitely was the day the first car rolled off the line at Dunmurray. No doubt the stainless steel finish is a major contributor to the effect, along with those gullwing doors, but it is also one of Giugiaro’s best designs.

This car is pleasingly factory standard with well-kept bodywork and exterior trimmings, including those appealing multi-spoke alloys which are narrower on the front than the back. Inside the grey leather cabin is highly original, right down to the 1980s Philips radio cassette, and well-kept. Since the DMC-12 has a reputation for flimsy interiors, it is a welcome find inside this car. Only light cracking to the dash top detracts but it is not significant.

The Mechanics

2. 8litre ‘PRV Douvrin’ V6 engine 5spd manual gearbox Very well kept engine bay Recent £4, 000 mechanical overhaul detailed above We are told the car starts and runs well
Colin Chapman was called in late in the DMC-12’s development to engineer the chassis and as a result it closely mirrors that in the contemporary Esprit. This imbues the car with good handling, being particularly bereft of roll, and decent steering.

Unlike the Esprit the DMC-12 uses the proven PRV ‘Douvrin’ V6 engine from the Renault Alpine GTA. Although an automatic gearbox was available, the DMC-12 was marketed as a sports car so most buyers - 67% in fact - opted for the 5spd manual. This is one of this car’s appealing features, enabling buyers to exploit what many often overlook about these cars - they are proper drivers’ wheels.

Close to £4, 000 has recently been expended across the car’s mechanical to improve its drivability and this work is detailed above. The vendor tells us that it runs and drives as it should and is a good, honest example.