DeLorean DMC-12

Two DeLorean DMC-12s, Thoiry 2017

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The gull wing doors

DeLorean Motor Company, Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.  Founded by ex-General Motor's executive John DeLorean, DMC made just one car but it became famous through the film "Back to the Future" in which it starred. The factory was in Northern Ireland due to government funding.  Renault was employed to build the factory and supply the PRV engine, whilst Lotus designed the chassis and body which had styling by the Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro. The car was a 2 seater quirky steel bodied sports coupé. Engine was a 2.85 litre 130hp V6 that was mounted at the far rear of the car.  It

Rear qtr view

didn't receive good reviews but still sold over 8,500 examples, perhaps helped by its signature gull-wing doors.. Performance wasn't outstanding as it had a 0-60mph time of around 10 seconds and a top speed of about 110mph.  The cars were made between 1981and 1982 and were sold with unpainted stainless steel bodies. The company went bankrupt when it did not meet its sales targets and John DeLorean was arrested on drugs charges of which he was eventually cleared. Financial scandals also followed involving the government funding and Lotus chief Colin Chapman became embroiled but died of a heart attack.  A messy end to the dream.  Nowadays, a company in Texas has the rights and continues to build late model editions of the DMC-12.

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