1981 DeLorean, Auto, Gray Interior, 23,580 actual miles, owned 30yrs,NO RESERVE!

1981 DeLorean DMC12 Description

A little history: The DeLorean DMC-12 which is commonly referred to as the "DeLorean" was the only model ever produced by the company. The car is best known for the gull-wing doors and brushed stainless steel body panels. About 9,000 DMC-12s were made before production halted in early 1983. In 1985, the DeLorean reached cultural icon status for its appearance after it was modified for use as a time machine in the "Back to the Future" media franchise. About 6,500 DeLorean Motor cars are believed still to exist. Anywhere, anytime you travel, both young and old will recognize the ride you arrive in!

We have owned our DeLorean for almost 30 years now and feel it is time to pass the torch. We've had more than our share of fun taking it to car shows and once even to a drive-in movie showing Back To The Future. Talk about attention! Alas, we're getting older and would love to turn back the clock, but in spite of the rumors, you can't go back in time!

The body & interior are in amazing condition for a 36yo car. It runs and drives perfectly. We've tried to show all the areas with imperfections in the 4-way photo. Most notably on the rear driver's side quarter panel where it obviously got scraped. It was already there when I bought it 30 years ago. In spite of this, when we take it to shows with lots of other DeLoreans, the other owners tell us how great ours looks. It is actually one of the best ones we have seen. We've won many trophies because it shows beautifully.

Be cautious of the DeLoreans with almost no mileage. While our car has 23,580 miles, that is still very low for a car 36 years old! Any car, especially the DeLorean, must be driven to avoid problems. And if it hasn't had the major upgrades it needs to solve it’s many problems, you will be faced with doing them all yourself.

Over the years we've made many modifications to improve reliability and usability, sometimes at the expense of some small features. The electric door lock controller which behaves erratically and can even lock you in (been there) has been eliminated, you have to use the key now. There is no longer an "RPM relay" function. The fuel pump is always enabled when the car is "On".

We've added a switch for the door lights which has proven very useful at car shows. There is now a manual cooling fan switch in case the thermal switch fails, but the enhanced cooling system and self-bleeding kit we installed has eliminated the DeLorean's famous overheating. The AC does not work but the blower fan does. We installed a heavy duty master battery cut-off switch (seen in the photos behind the passenger seat). We added a fuel pump current detector indicator on the steering console. Where there used to be a clock there is now a custom computer controlled display of vital info, but this can be removed and a clock put back for authenticity. The flimsy plastic engine cover support has been replaced by adding an aluminum bar across the inside of the cover, giving it the much needed rigidity and providing a surface for the hold-up latch to contact.

The electrical system in the original car was, well, terrible! I am an electronics design engineer, and that has proven to be a valuable skill in owning this essentially British car. I completely removed everything from the unreliable fire-hazard which is the relay-fuse compartment behind the passenger seat. The pathetic work-arounds for all it's problems offered by the DeLorean parts suppliers will not do at all, so I designed an over-engineered reliability-first electrical panel. The schematic was created in CAD so this is documented in incredible detail. You can see in the photos the triangular shaped custom fuse-relay panel.

Please keep in mind, these cars are not daily drivers, they are hobby vehicles that require dedication and at least some level of mechanical skill. My electrical panel redesign should spare you a lot of grief as it has proven to be bullet proof for many years now. Each DeLorean was really a rolling prototype, one of the rare "concept cars" that actually made it into production. Anyone selling one who doesn't mention this aspect of ownership is dishonest in my opinion. That being said, parts availability, service and upgrades are surprisingly readily available and in general are reasonably priced. Also, my mechanic friends who have helped me through the years tell me that once you study the manuals and get a feel for the car, it is actually one of the most mechanically simple and straightforward cars you will find.

Work done over the years:

- Re-engineered fuse/relay panel (fully documented)

- Replaced window lift/motor assembly on both sides

- Replaced window switches in console

- Replaced carpeting

- Replaced headliner

- Replaced weather stripping

- New improved fuel pump

- Added fuel check valve

- New improved fuel sending unit

- New fuel accumulator & fuel filter, w/stainless braided hose in between

- Aluminum overflow tank & self bleeding kit

- high capacity radiator/fan

- Modern stereo installed, with custom removable wedge-shaped speaker cabinets, dome tweeters and custom crossover (still have original Craig unit as spare part included)

- Lowered front-end to correct design position

- Replaced 1 door torsion bar

- Replaced door lift struts

- Replaced louver lift struts

- Replaced plugs & wires

- Relocated transmission electronics to cabin

- New rear brakes slave cylinders

- Installed a cable to connect to a Battery Tender charger. I'll include the charger if you like.

Included:

- one beautiful DeLorean

- two original keys

- original spare, jack

- owner's manual & printed service / parts manuals in binders

- quality custom fitted car cover

- Heatshield brand sun-shield & BTTF window shield

- parts, service & repair receipt folder, in fact several folders of documentation

- meticulous documentation for electrical system redesign

Overall, the photos are a very good representation of the condition. Ideally, you would want to come by and see for yourself. We are in Port St. Lucie, FL, about an hour north of the West Palm Bch airport. If you have any questions, please ebay message us or call 772-873-0572.

We are selling the car as-is with no implied warranty. If you need shipping you must arrange it but we can be here most any time to meet them. Please do not offer to buy it by going around ebay.

The successful high bidder will submit a $500.00 non-refundable deposit via Paypal within 2 business days of the close of the auction to secure the vehicle. Buyer agrees to pay remaining balance due within 7 days of the close of the auction. It will not leave our hands until the full amount is safely cleared in our account. You must bring your own tag (unless being transported) and show us proof of insurance coverage actually on this car before taking possession. Your insurance company can do this with the VIN# over the phone. I have been using Grundy Insurance.