Do you remember the DeLorean DMC-12 sports car with the innovative gull-wing doors that was manufactured back in the early 1980s? Well, apparently, it is going to be “reborn”.
The DeLorean Motor Company was set up by an American called John DeLorean who had previously worked for General Motors and Chevrolet and the car was built in Belfast with a huge amount of financial support from the British Government. Some 9,200 cars were manufactured for the American market between 1981 and 1983.
As well as having the gulf-wing doors that opened upwards the bodywork was made in brushed stainless steel and it had a fiberglass undercarriage. The design of this sports car looked so far advanced that it was adapted to appear in the famous film Back to the Future as a time machine in 1985.
However, the car was not well received by critics and the production of new vehicles ceased. Mr DeLorean died in 1985 at the age of 80 and, interestingly, on his tombstone is engraved a DeLorean DMC-12 sports cars with both its gull-wing doors open.
Following changes in US legislation it is now more feasible for a small manufacturer to start producing the vehicle once again. DMC Texas, that has been repairing old DeLorean DMC-12’s, was granted the rights to utilize the trademark and name in September 2015 and intend to have the first new car rolling off the production line in 2017 and it is expected to sell for in the region of $100,000 with only 300 cars being built in its first year.
The original vehicle had a 2,849 cc V6 engine with a choice of a 5 speed manual gearbox or a 3 speed automatic. The manual version was capable of getting from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds so it was not the quickest of sports cars. It had leather seats, electric windows, air conditioning and tinted glass.
Currently, DeLorean Motor Company is in negotiation with 4 engine suppliers and is considering using 4 and 6 cylinder turbocharged engines with 270 bhp and 350 bhp. Presumably these engines will be capable of improving the performance in comparison to the original vehicles. Larger wheels and brakes are being considered as are improved connectivity and entertainment systems.
We wish DeLorean Motor Company every success.
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