DeLorean Making a Small Comeback

The car made famous by the “Back to the Future” movies — and Cars.com’s top movie car for two years running — is back. Well, not really back, but a small custom shop in Texas has bought the DeLorean Motor Company name and parts after the original went bankrupt. The new DeLorean company is delivering completely rebuilt gull-wing cars at a starting price of $42,500.

For that price, the DeLorean is completely stripped and rebuilt from the frame up using original and refurbished parts. That means the inside looks exactly like it did in 1981. For us, this screams of the perfect opportunity to revise the interior to modern-day levels and leave the exterior alone. That’s basically what Ford did with the Mustang a few years ago. The small rear-mounted engine is also fitted to original specifications. The new DeLorean Motor Co. looks to produce just 20 of these a year and sell parts for existing models. Is there anyone out there who would pony up $42,500 for one of these new retro rides?

For the DeLorean, it's Back to the Present (LATimes.com)

Comments

Only if one of the options is to retrofit a portable plutonium-powered nuclear reactor or flux capacitor

To not upgrade that mediocre for its day engine is a giant mistake. Nowadays Hyundai's entry engine is better. Surely they could've gotten a decent modern V6 from GM to drop in there. Hell, the Honda minivan V6 would kick ass in this thing. But that body is best left alone as it was a beautifully executed Industrial Design. Remember when they were re-manufacturing the Datsun Z's back in the 80's?

$42,500! Great Scott!!!

Totally agree with you "The other Dan".
The underpowered engine was made even worse by the cars gross weight.
Acceleration was 0-60 in ...eventually. I really love the style of the car and in its own right it has become an Icon, however I couldnt see spending 42 large on it, even in a refurbished state. Unless of course they did a movie retrofit, then I could putter around town in an orange vest showing off the Mr. Fusion and dual monster exhaust ports in back. Add a stronger,efficient engine and they may see some buyers line up eager to get the car up to 88mph.

Oh yeah to Dave. I dont know if youve done an article on it before but along the same lines as this is a car shop that builds custom mustangs off the blueprints for the Eleanor mustang in "Gone in 60 seconds". They got the OK from Bruckheimer and Shelby to make em with some insanely powerful engines combinations.

If they would have dumped a new engine in there, the value of this car will = 0 (Zero)!

This is a classics, and everyone knows that it's a POS in terms of power, but that's what make it good - if it sticks to the orginal spec.

BTW, I now know that I can sell my "garbage/trash" to the "Future" owners of this car - Jay, don't you remember the fuel type was no longer plutonium in "II & III?"

You could find an original DeLorean in good condition for half that amount. A rebuilt car just doesn't have the same charm, and you wont find a Members only jacket slumped under the seat or a mix-tape in the deck offering you the best of a-ha, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Men at Work, and Madness.

If these people need to mess with classic cars, I wish they would fulfill Mr. DeLorean's original plan and drop in a 200 hp rotary engine; that would make it even more unique. I don't think it would be worthless since it's actually coming from DeLorean.

Regardless, I don't really want one because virtually *everyone* who sees it would make some Back to the Future “joke”. I couldn't take that for more than a couple days.

Very cool to see someone saving these. $42.5K is a bunch o'money, but I imagine the labor costs and hard-to-find parts account for much of it. I would think this would be a great chance to restore them to "better-than-new" specs. The stock interior looks like a cheap kit car, you'd think they could upgrade with better quality materials since they have to redo it all anyway. I think the engine was a "PRV" V6 used by Peugeot/Renault/Volvo for many years. Maybe later models of this engine have better fuel injection systems that could improve the horsepower while keeping the stock motor.

"When this thing hits 88 mph, you're gonna se some serious ****!"

Kinda reminds me of the Vector.

Still if they bought the rights to the company, maybe they should come up with a "DMC2" (squared)

Improved interior, lighter weight, better motor, but a retro exterior.

I bet you it would sell and only by driving it could you tell the difference.

It is suprising 'they' didn't seize the right to replace the car that 'so scared' the FBI into inticing an entrepreneur into the illicit under-world of government and drugs.