1982 DeLorean DMC-12

Highlights

Subject to comprehensive restoration and maintenance over the past four years
One of the last DeLoreans made - (November 1981)
Well-researched early history
Offered in superb condition inside and out
Accompanied by a substantial paperwork file, documenting the extent of the restoration work

The Appeal

Ah yes, the DeLorean. Whether you're here for the gull-wing doors, the brushed stainless steel bodywork or that film - you've come to the right place, as you'll seldom see a DMC12 that's anywhere near as smart, well-maintained or as storied as this one.

Manufactured in November 1981, this is one of the last DeLoreans produced before the whole operation came crashing down in dramatic fashion.

This car's history is well-documented, having been first sold in Illinois by Dealer 13120 - Van Male Buick Inc of 7051 South Western Avenue Chicago. It's understood that the car remained with its first keeper in the Chicago area who later moved to Florida, taking the DeLorean with them.

It later travelled, (not through time), but across the Atlantic to the UK in 2017 where it has since undergone a comprehensive restoration. The vendor has retained numerous invoices which accompany the car and show the sheer extent and quality of the work carried out to bring it to this superb standard.

Registered as a historic vehicle - where we're going, we don't need road tax - or an MOT for that matter, although this car has been voluntarily submitted for testing where it passed without advisories - naturally.

History and Paperwork

Manufactured in November 1981
Understood to have had one registered keeper for much of its life stateside, initially in Illinois and later Florida
Imported to the UK in 2017
Registered to the transport company in error, then correctly to its first UK private keeper
Purchased by the current owner in July 2020
MOT valid until March 2025
Comprehensive history file with invoices and US documents present
One invoice alone from Bell Sport & Classic totals almost £20,000 and there are numerous others amounting to many thousands more
Registered as a historic vehicle: tax and MOT exempt
MOT valid until 28th March 2025
Kept in curated story while not in use
We've no record of it every having gone back to the future

The vendor has researched the car extensively and is therefore able to provide us with the following information:

The first production car carried VIN 000500 and 1981 production ended at the end of November 1981 with VIN 007199. According to the Texas DeLorean Club, the VIN range for November 1981 was 6000 to 7199, making this one of the last ones made.

Based on DeLoreanInfo.com which has a list of all VIN numbers, 006271 was first sold by Dealer 13120 in Illinois and manufactured in November 1981 as a five-speed with Grey interior.

The Condition

Brushed stainless steel bodywork looks in very good order
Paint around the bumpers presents well as do the various plastic trims
No signs of accident damage
All presents smartly and looks solid underneath
Grey leather seats have been retrimmed with new coverings from DeLorean in the USA
Original US radio works (and can pick up UK stations)
Gull-wing doors stay in position with new struts fitted
Front luggage compartment and additional storage behind seats are both well-presented

When you see this DeLorean, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd just stepped back in time...

The first thing you notice is its originality. Besides the wealth of period paperwork an Florida licence plate, we find the car still in its factory specifications, with all the finer details down to period stickers and a US-spec radio present and correct. Following an exhaustive restoration process and careful use/storage ever since, this DeLorean remains in superb order throughout with remarkably few signs of wear.

As cool as they are, it's refreshing to see one that hasn't been turned into a movie car replica. This is exactly how a DeLorean looked in 1982 - before Doc Brown got his hands one.

The Mechanics

2,743 cc PRV V6 engine with Bosch K-Tronic fuel injection
Five-speed manual transmission
Restored and well-maintained over the past four years of current ownership
The vendor informs us that it is in excellent mechanical order

Reading big invoices isn't so much fun when they've got your name at the bottom, but it's all the more pleasurable when the previous keeper has been brave enough to spend the money where it's needed. The next lucky owner of this DeLorean will therefore have plenty of enjoyable reading material as the expenditure on this car has been enormous. This has paid dividends, as all that work has resulted in a car that looks incredibly and is reportedly as pleasurable to drive as it is to look at.

If our calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 mph, you're going to see some serious speeding fines - so please do keep within the law. We've no doubt it could achieve such speeds though as its 2.7-litre PRV V6 has undergone a great deal of work in recent years and this example comes with the sportier five-speed manual gearbox where many US-supplied DeLoreans were automatic.

*Flux Capacitor not included.

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