Hagerty Classic Cars DeLorean Article
An Eighties Classic: The Delorean DMC-12
For a lot of people, the DeLorean DMC-12 will always be synonymous with the Back to the Future movie trilogy. Time-traveller Marty McFly used the futuristic coupe, famously powered by a flux capacitor to jump forwards in time…. to 2015.
Well, we’re now there ourselves, even if we did take the long route- and there is a distinct lack of hoverboards. But where did this unique sports car come from, and how has it fared over the last 40 years since work on the prototype started?
The DeLorean DMC-12 was the brainchild of John DeLorean, the jet-setting non-conformist who by 1972 had risen to being the youngest division head in General Motors history. There he had presided over a string of huge successes, including the Pontiac GTO, the Pontiac Firebird and the Chevrolet Vega, but his exuberant style had caused him to clash with the conservative GM executive board. Finally, it became too much for both sides, and DeLorean left GM by mutual agreement.
DeLorean was sure that without the shackles of motor corporation bureaucracy, he could develop a world- leading sports car that incorporated cutting edge materials and design. With the backing of various celebrity associates, the DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) was born, and work on a prototype began which was unveiled to the public in 1976.
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Hagerty Classic Cars DeLorean Article written with assistance from The DeLorean Owners Club (UK)
