DeLorean DMC-12 PRV V6
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a car whose cultural significance vastly exceeds its engineering accomplishments. Created by John Z. DeLorean — the former Pontiac chief engineer who had created the GTO — the DMC-12 was an ambitious attempt to build a futuristic, ethical sports car with a stainless steel body and gull-wing doors.
The car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, one of the most celebrated automotive designers in history. Its brushed stainless steel body panels (over a fiberglass underbody) were unique in production car history — never painted, never rusted (at least on the surface), and impossible to repair using conventional body shop techniques.
The gull-wing doors were another dramatic feature, using a cryogenically-treated torsion bar system that allowed the doors to open in tight parking spaces. The rear-mounted engine was the PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) V6, producing a modest 130 hp through either a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic.
And therein lay the DMC-12's problem. Despite its $25,000 price tag (over $75,000 in today's money), the car was underpowered, understeering, and poorly assembled. The Dunmurry factory in Belfast was plagued by quality control issues, labor disputes, and cost overruns. DeLorean Motor Company went bankrupt in late 1982, and John DeLorean was arrested (and later acquitted) on drug trafficking charges.
Then came Back to the Future (1985). Director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale chose the DMC-12 as the time machine because its stainless steel construction and gull-wing doors looked futuristic. The film (and its two sequels) turned the DeLorean from a failed business venture into one of the most recognizable cars in the world.
Today, the DeLorean is valued primarily as a cultural artifact and pop-culture icon. The DeLorean Motor Company of Texas maintains parts supply and even offers restored examples. Despite its engineering shortcomings, the DMC-12 remains one of the most charming and recognizable cars ever built.
DeLoreans are available for reasonable prices ($35,000-$80,000) considering their fame. The stainless steel panels don't rust but they do develop surface pitting and staining — polishing is specialized work. The PRV V6 is reliable but underpowered. Check for electrical gremlins (the wiring harness is the car's weak point), door hinge wear, and frame corrosion (the backbone frame CAN rust). Many owners have swapped the PRV for LS V8s or electric motors. Original, low-mileage examples are most valuable. Parts availability is excellent through DeLorean Motor Company of Texas.
Total production: approximately 9,000 units (1981-83). Peak production was 1982. Approximately 6,500 are believed to survive. The DeLorean Motor Company of Texas acquired the remaining parts inventory and continues to support owners. A limited 'new' production run using original parts was announced but never fully materialized.