One of the worst yet most loved cars is making a comback, thanks to a change in US legislation. That means you will soon be able to buy a new DeLorean DMC-12 ─ but it won’t come cheap.
American company DMC started out rebuilding and repairing DeLoreans in 1995, but any plan to build them from scratch was impossible. That is, until the US federal government approved a low volume manufacturing bill.
DMC is actually nothing to do with the original DeLorean Motor Company, which produced the car in Northern Ireland. But its owner, British entrepreneur Stephen Wynne, can now build 1982-spec DMC-12s to the original specification.
A statement on the DMC website confirmed the news: “The new law provides common-sense regulatory relief for small businesses that would otherwise be treated as if they were producing millions of cars.”
Wynne believes he has enough stock for 300 cars, the first of which are expected to be ready for delivery in 2017. That’s the good news for Back to the Future fans. The bad news is the price: US$100,000 (about £70,000), making it more expensive than a used one.
It is unclear what engine will power the new DMC-12, especially as the ruling allows small companies to meet the Clean Air Act standards by installing an engine from another manufacturer. So, in theory, the new DMC 12 could be powered by a rear-mounted Renault V6 like the old car. As long as it can reach 88mph we’re really not fussy.
That’s assuming production actually begins, as the company is being quite reserved about it all. “A number of hurdles exist before production can begin and we’re still early on in this process of determining the feasibility of moving forward,” DMC added.
Just 9,000 examples sold between 1981 and 1983, suggesting the reception was a little frosty until Marty McFly got hold of one and went back in time in the classic movie trilogy. But sadly it was too late by then and the odd-looking machine and its crazy doors died a death.
This will no doubt prove good news for this man, who loves the iconic car so much he owns a DeLorean convertible, three unmodified DeLoreans and a DeLorean monster truck. But no DeLorean boat or helicopter, just saying.
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