Current bid
£51,000

1981 DeLorean DMC-12

Highlights

  • Stunning, genuine DeLorean
  • Former celebrity owner
  • Has been in the same family for over 40 years
  • Less than 21,000 miles from new
  • Rebuilt engine

The Appeal

 
According to the vendor, every trip to the petrol station in this stunning DeLorean takes upwards of half an hour. No other car is like it for people wanting to stop and chat, but then that’s hardly surprising given how ingrained the Belfast-built gullwing coupé is in popular culture.

Instantly recognisable with its stainless-steel bodywork and striking Giugiaro-penned styling, the DeLorean looks like nothing else on the road, now or in the past (both of which, should you reach 88mph, are equally attainable according to Back to the Future, in which the DMC-12 found fame).
 
Every DeLorean is remarkable – after all, how can it not be when it looks so achingly cool? – but this one is particularly special. It has been owned by the same family for over 40 years, including within that period by Justin Hawkins, lead singer of rock band The Darkness, and it has covered just 20,744 miles. The vendor has been its custodian for the past 15 years, and during his ownership the car has had a complete engine rebuild, as well as having all of its running gear overhauled, an interior retrim and some minor body repairs, all in the care of a classic car specialist who has kept it garaged and maintained on the owner’s behalf.

It comes with a massive box of history and is a car that will truly stop people in their tracks – a fabulous example of one of the world’s most fascinating and distinctive cars.
 

The History and Paperwork

  • Original handbook
  • UK V5C in the name of the vendor
  • Genuine 20,744 miles from new
  • Huge box file full of invoices and receipts going right back to the late 1980s
  • Over 40 years in the same family
  • Previously owned by The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins
  • DeLorean factory repair manual
  • Copies of club correspondence and club magazines

The Condition

  • Original stainless-steel panels
  • Refurbished alloy wheels with new tyres
  • Grey leather interior – fully retrimmed
  • Gullwing doors
  • Incredible overall conditon
As you might expect from a stainless-steel car, there’s no rust on the DeLorean whatsoever – if there was, it would be rather puzzling. However, it’s also in fine fettle underneath, and that’s where it matters.

All of the trim is present and correct and there’s barely any deterioration other than a very tiny dent in the nearside front wing and some fading to some of the plastic trim. The distinctive gullwing doors open and close as they ought to, although the hydraulic ram on the driver’s side door is quite weak and the vendor plans to replace this before sale.

The wheels have been fully refurbished and the tyres are almost new.

Inside, it’s in fine fettle. The grey leather seats have been retrimmed in recent times and are in great condition and all of the dials and controls work as they should, the only minor faults being some wear to the central switch panel and some slight dropping of the headlining on both gullwing doors, neither of which is a standout concern.

The Mechanics

  • 2.85-litre V6
  • Five-speed manual transmission
  • Engine fully rebuilt during current ownership and has covered very few miles since
  • Drives well, with no known faults
  • Recent major service 
The DeLorean comes with a mid-mounted 2.8-litre PRV engine, the acronym standing for Peugeot-Renault-Volvo, and engineered between the three manufacturers in the 1970s. It was chosen for the DeLorean thanks to its light weight and compact size, as well as the fact there was already a Federal-tuned engine available, albeit detuned to 130bhp.
 
The one in this car was rebuilt in recent times by the classic car specialist who has maintained the DeLorean for its owner since 2008 and it’s as new – if you went back in time (and in this car, you probably could), it’s as if you’d picked one up from the Douvrin factory where the engines were made. It starts and runs sweetly, holds good oil pressure and is in fine fettle.

The same can be said of the rest of the car, with the brakes, suspension and steering all overhauled by the vendor’s chosen mechanic. It’s a brilliant car with a genuine low-mileage, and represents a rare opportunity for you to get behind the wheel of one of the best DeLoreans left on the road.

 


BEFORE YOU BUY 
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 
The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions.. 
We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 
This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 
We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence. 
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own  full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle. 
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection 
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected] 
   
Current bid
£51,000
Reserve met
3 Bids361 Watching

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Auction Details

  • Year1981
  • MakeDeLorean
  • ModelDMC 12
  • ColourSilver
  • Odometer20,722 Miles
  • Engine size2850cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • TownGillingham
  • CountyNorfolk
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

3 Bids from 2 bidders

adq••••
Bid
£51,000
10/10/24
carlo.a••••
Bid
£50,500
10/10/24
adq••••
Bid
£50,000
09/10/24
carlo.a••••
Pre-bid
£30,000
07/10/24
phillip••••
Pre-bid
£20,000
03/10/24
Robert••••
Pre-bid
£20,000
05/10/24
chuckbu••••
Pre-bid
£12,000
05/10/24
dt@life••••
Pre-bid
£10,000
05/10/24
paul.ne••••
Pre-bid
£10,000
06/10/24
Lemotio••••
Pre-bid
£7,500
08/10/24

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