The history of the Delorean DMC-12 has been well documented. In annals of sports/GT car history, the Delorean may be just a footnote-a distinctive, stainless-steel bodied gullwing GT that many critics dismissed as being overpriced and underpowered. In corporate history, the undoing of John Z. Delorean’s brainchild reads like an action novel. 

Incredibly, the car’s rise to pop culture immortality came three years after the Delorean Motor Company declared bankruptcy and closed its factory in the form of the 1985 film “Back to the Future.” As a 12 year old kid at the time, I didn’t care what the critics said. I thought the Delorean was really cool.

The movie hype died down long, long ago. In the collective mind of the modern car enthusiast, the car may have been forgotten. The bloggers at MyRide did a piece that caught my attention. The DMC-12 is alive and well. You can even buy a “new” one if you like. 

The Delorean Motor Company is located in Texas. In 1997, they purchased the entire stock of original, unused parts from a warehouse in Ohio (where they were shipped from the factory in Northern Ireland). What’s more,  many of the parts suppliers of the Delorean are still in business, and have made improvements. The Delorean Motor Company can restore your DMC-12 to daily driver or concours standard.

You don’t have a DMC-12, you say? No matter-for between $57,500 to $72,000, you can buy a newly built one. Using a new stainless steel chassis, carbon fiber underbody and the aforementioned NOS parts, a new example is yours for the taking. This time around, there is some room for a little personalization. In 1981, your only option was an automatic transmission, and a choice of a black or grey interior. 

In 2008, you can specify keyless entry, custom Alpine audio, iPod connectivity, BlueTooth, navigation, XM/Sirius satlellite radio, back-up camera or heated and cooled seats. Performance upgrades are also available to address some of the original car’s shortcomings. 

Whatever you thought of the Delorean when it debuted, not a lot has changed, but you have to respect the dedicated enthusiasts who are working very hard to keep the old cars going, and taking on the task of making new cars, A special thanks to MyRide again, for breaking a a fun story that I had to pass along to everyone here at The Garage.