Not too rare, these were pretty well publicised and documented before the film came out. The scenes in the movie where the car stalls and acts up were part of this publicity since they were notoriously unreliable cars.
They picked the car because it was unusual, and just as importantly, looked ahead of its time. It became part of the movie. They couldn’t have done that with, say, a Monte Carlo from the same era...
Im sure you were, it gave alot of people jobs and stuff and John tried to help with the conflicts and economy! Awsome you were a part of history i drive!
+Christian Dietrich Despite what the media might say about him we had great respect for John De Lorean. De Lorean thought nothing of coming down to the factory floor and engaging us in conversation about our assignments. It was the American way and it worked.
+hoopenhanger I met John back in 2000 at a DMC event in Ohio. Great man and very tall! He was a joy to talk to and just a friendly guy! Im very good friends with his daughter Katherine on Facebook and chat with her quit a bit! Your a lucky man to be apart of history. Also goid friends with Barrie Wills aswell!
+Christian Dietrich Tell his daughter that we'll be forever grateful to her dad for creating jobs for us. Those of us fortunate enough to work there will never forget De Lorean.
+hoopenhanger Oh she knows my friend! She has accepted all of us owners as family and she knows how much all of us have looked up to her father for what he did and for what he created!
My father too me as a 7 yo boy to see Back to the Future, opening night... In his recently purchased used DMC-12! I will never forget people's faces as we left the theater! He passed away many years ago now, but I still have this car! Most cherished item from his inheritance!
it's really interesting watch a real review of the car, looking at it just as a car, and not a hollywood star (since the BTTF movie didn't exist at the time of the video)
djmhyde You know I dont have 1 single BTTF reference on my 82 DeLorean. I do have the BTTF 2 hat that changes color but my son always wears that. In my car club, my partner has some BTTF stuff in his car and its pretty cool but to me, I look at it as a awsome 80's car that I daily drive. I treat it as the collector car that it is but drive it alot because well, why not. Check us out at TriStateDeLorean.com. Im vin 11035
Christian Dietrich I'm glad you drive it, it's a collectors car but considering you can still buy brand new parts (and new cars) there's no reason to let it sit. I wouldn't put any BTtf stuff on mine if I had one either unless it was something small inside. I love the movie and I love the car but I don't love the car because of the movie so I don't really like when people make theirs look like a prop car, the ones that do everything exactly like the movie are pretty good but I've seen some half hearted attempts and that ruins the car.
@Take the red pill No, the car in non-US markets had a proper fender gap, the reason the US cars look like that is because at stock height they sat too low to meet the then current front bumper height requirements, so they had to raise the front end up.
@@dennismichealsm3786 yeah it was quick for what it was but in 1981 what was fast? The DeLorean was 1.4 seconds slower than a Corvette in 1981. If the twin turbo version made it to market it would have been a different story. I added a bunch of bolt on performance parts to my DeLorean's engine and she runs strong, pulls very well and been to 122mph no problem plus she is a reliable daily drive I go everywhere in! I dont need 300 or 400 hp to have fun in a car. People that think they need that have a self conscious issue.
I remember that car very well when it first hit the Chicago auto show back then! In 1982 that car, was way ahead of its time! And still looks good today!😎👍
A few years ago Car and Driver tested various movie prop cars. One of which was the DeLorean from 'BTTF'. In their testing, the car laden down with all the "time machine" parts wasn't actually capable of doing 88MPH. IIRC; it topped out at 86MPH.
One of the best looking cars ever created, in my opinion. Too bad the American market wrecked the ride height and wheel gap. I have seen 2 or 3 cars in person and I was in awe.
+Jacob Frey The EPA also strangled the motor. Shame. Luckily all those things can be easily undone. Ride lowered to correct spec and motor brought up to 200hp with a new cam and exhaust.
I'm glad Motorweek liked the DeLorean, it makes me feel better about loving them. I see one just about every week because i also happen to be a BTTF junkie. The trilogy are my comfort movies.
***** The Esprit's twin turbo V8 could have made 500+ bhp but the Renault gearbox was the only tranny that would fit in the chassis. So they had to develop a special clutch and de-tune the engine down to 350 bhp to keep the gears from being blown to bits.
If you think that's bad, look at the front-engine, front-drive Renault LeCar. It's fuel tank is "squeezed" between the rear door, rear wheel, and tail end.
Raise the hood to fuel up?! Awesome. Reminds me of my Miata in that I have to open the trunk with my key to pull the fuel door release. Yes, I'm paranoid of people breaking in, popping the fuel door and filling it with sugar, so I removed the release lever.
You can tell this is the beginning of the series- lofl- Mr Davis was a real "cutie pie" with the overactive, cutie pie head movements/gestures. Like most, he eventually mellowed it together as this very good show matured
My business partner got an 82 5 speed as a trade on some work he had done for a customer. We never could get the EFI to work right and run the car further than around the block. Luckily he sat on it and sold it after Back to the Future 3 came out, for $9000.00! Unreal!
I remember when I first saw one of these as a toddler after the movie I thought they actually had flux capacitors in them and could travel thru time. Ah, the memories.
I was born after this car came out so my feelings are influenced by back to the future but this car is very good looking. DeLorean had alot of really good ideas and I wish his company worked out.
@@muffdiver777yummy8 He didn't want the PRV V6, it came down to budget. He wanted, and tested, much, MUCH more powerful engines and he HATED that they had to go with the PRV.
Love the looks of the car, but the front end looks like it needs to be dropped 3 inches. There was a company that used to do a 351 Ford swap! I don't remember if it was a Windsor or Cleveland, but it had to be a bad ass swap!!!! Always will love this car.
@@kpk33x I don't remember specific sections. Just remember my sister and folks calling it the whoopty doo road. This was late 70's early 80's. I was about 3 at the time. Occasionally would be scared lol.
@@briteidea08 we went thru Bonita Ave to Reisterstown Road to skip lights going to Randallstown where my grandparents lived (prior to 795). Trip used to take 25 minutes now its like 10
I remember when these were new, we looked at them in the dealership but didn't buy. Also if it were for Back to The Future movies, they would be just another car.
The DeLorean was certainly far from perfect but we need to understand that GM played an underhanded role in the company's demise as well. They were pissed about all the headaches and problems that John DeLorean caused them when he was a top executive at GM by exposing widespread corporate incompetence and corruption, especially with respect to the production and sale of unsafe cars such as the Chevrolet Corvair. They, of course, never forgave him when he left GM to start his own company and worked in any covert manner that they could to help bring about the DeLorean Motor Company's ultimate demise. I'm not saying that DMC *wouldn't* have gone under without a "helping hand" from General Motors but their cloaked efforts certainly helped.
If I had the money I'll get one and fully upgrade it with the best new technology (suspension, breaking, power etc) although I'll very happy if I just have a regular one
DeLorean Motor Company actually planned to do that to produce new DeLoreans with all new tech/parts (including 350 hp engine) in 2016 but wasn't able to because of some issues waiting for a Low Volume Manufacturer law to be implemented/regulated allowing them to produce them to sell, something that was halted for all this time since, but positive steps have been reached in that, so they're still planning on doing it, but looks like it will be at least a year from now (2020) before it might become a reality.
It's so ironic the awful Cybertruck has a similar exoskeleton but, due to its 'advanced' composition, WILL get scratches that cannot be buffed out. Amazing how backwards we've gone in a lot of ways.
I have done it. You open the door but only let it swing about half way up, then drop the food down through the (then) near horizontal window opening. It isn't easy but can be done.
What? I do it all the time in mine. The door opens just fine and makes getting your food extremely easy. Gullwings require much less clearance than traditional doors.
+Srd1126 The speedometer in BTTF isn't fake. The early DeLoreans had to follow a law saying their speedometers could only go up to 85. Other car companies had to follow this as well. DeLoreans made in 1982-83 do have the right speedometers that go up to 145mph, IIRC.
+koekje00005 Sorry but you are incorrect. All DeLorean's have a 85mph speedo. The was a option not offered by the factory but from the old DELOREAN 1 company that was formed after the company closed did make a 145mph calibrated speedometer you could buy. DELOREAN was the company that did repairs and restoration on DeLorean's back then, now there are several facilities in the United States that take care of that. You can get from the "New" DeLorean Motor Company a 140mph speedo and that what i put in my car a few months ago. The speedo in BTTF was made just for the movie with the speedo starting off at 15mph instead of the original 5mph like mine used to have but no, they never left Dunmurry like that, unless it was a Euro spec gauge in kilometers but that was totally different altogether.
What odd styling. It has the stance and silhouette of an exotic sports car, but the details and trim styling of a base model economy compact. It's like someone took an Escort or something similar, squished it, and stretched it. It certainly has that 80's VHS charm, though.
I totally feel you. I picked up my Stage 2, 81' about a year ago now, and out of all the cars I've driven, it is the only one that always brings a smile to my face. As trite as it may sound, it really does deliver more "smiles-per-gallon" than any other car.
Robert Newman I agree! I have a DPI Spec 1 mod with other goodies and love the way the PRV sings! I basically daily mine after I restored it with alot of modern updates. Its a great reliable car.
Actually, it does. Due to where the engine is, the bigger wheels were needed to keep it from fishtailing around corners. Not alot of weight in the front of a DeLorean. It was originally designed as a mid-engine car.
+crashstitches79 In the 80s, that was actually a somewhat respectable acceleration figure. It was mostly turbo or V8 performance cars that could get to 60 under 10 seconds. Family cars, especially compacts, were often in the 15-20 second range in 1981.
The DeLorean in Back to the Future (part one, anyways), believe it or not, was fitted with an engine out of a Porsche. I'm sure some movie magic also went along with it lol
Amazing to see this car from a contemporary pov. These days people don't comprehend the early 80s complications in car design, and they mock the lackluster power they used to have then as if much could be done. Hell, the V8 Mustang in 1981 had a pathetic 4.2 mill that produced 120 horsepower. It's all the fault of the fuel crises and emission overregulation of the period, and auto manufacturers coped as best they could! The DMC had its fair share of problems, I'm sure, but it does not deserve the humiliation of being named among the worst cars ever by prissy journos who don't know better.
The window design was the only one that would work due to how the gull wing door was shaped. If it had been a total window moving, it would have broke when the door was closed. This is explained in a documentary by the one Lotus engineer on the project. The prototype car had the rear half move, which was not practical.
Would love to buy one of these and swap in a modern drivetrain. Not to make the car fast but to make the car enjoyable and lighten up the rear a little.
+Jween Tech The engine really isnt that heavy compared to other engines of the time and to fit a modern engine in one requires alot of work and customization. Honestly I love the PRV engine and happy with its performance. I have a 82' DeLorean with a 5 speed and when i restored the engine (new gaskets, seals and powdercoating) i only did the exhaust. Now its got the DeLorean Performance Industries Spec 1 upgrade built by Stainless Works. Full stainless headers, duel pipes without catalytic converters going in to a duel in/out muffler. Gives the car a bice exotic sound and you can really feel a difference off the line. I work on DeLorean's on the side at my home. Next i might do the heads and cams on mine but it wasnt in the budgets years ago. Call DPI or go to there website and check out there Spec 2 Twin Chargered DeLorean engine. Twin turbo's with charge coolers, built up Renault 5 speed, suspension upgrades and bigger brakes and the engine is dialed back just under 400hp. Its sick and its still a PRV engine!!!
My buddy and I had used car dealerships. He had a side business of buying cars of the street some junk. He said a guy called him and said he wanted to get rid of a renault. It was a delorian and had a renault engine so the guy was saying it was a renault. The time was around 2006 and he bought it for a few hundred and sold it for 10k at auction. Was a nice car but very hard to get into and out of. My friend got one hell of a buy on that car the guy wanted to get rid of
Among the Countach, and Testarossa posters on my wall when I was in Middle school was a poster of this car. A 3/4 view with the drivers door open. I always thought they were great looking cars but the lack of power was a huge let down. It looks like it is going 120mph sitting still but when you realize that 120mph is pretty much it's top speed it's disappointing. If they had stuffed a v8 in it, then it might have kept up with the class of cars it was in. But you also need to remember the ERA this car was built in. In those days if a car had 400 horsepower then it was an amazing accomplishment considering most everyday cars back then had a round 150 to 200 horsepower. Nowadays there are little 4-cylinder cars that can make 350 horsepower from the factory. It just goes to show you how times have changed and how far we come with the development of internal combustion engines. If this car was built in modern day then it could have been an incredibly fast car, because it was a 6 cylinder car and nowadays there are 6 cylinder family sedans that have 400 horsepower. If you stuck a 400 horsepower V6 under the hood of the DeLorean it would be a quick car. I always wondered about that stainless steel body though and I'm talking about heat. It seems like the steel would just soak up the sun and make all kinds of heat for the passenger and driver. I hope the air conditioner was good. I've seen quite a few in my time so they aren't quite a unicorn. They're out there, although I've never ridden in one. I read somewhere that someone purchased the DeLorean Factory and there are all kinds of new parts in the factory that never got used and you can basically build a brand new DeLorean from all of the parts that are available in that factory. And if I remember correctly you can actually go to that factory in purchase a brand new DeLorean that they will assemble for you from the parts that are available in that factory. I would like to ride in one before I die. I think it would take me a few minutes to get over the novelty of the gullwing doors and I may want to open and close them a few times just to get it out of my system. I did that several years ago when I helped a friend rebuild his 97 Lamborghini Diablo VT. He asked if I'd help and I told him I would under one condition. He had to let me play with the doors for a few minutes because I had been dreaming about opening the doors on a Lambo since I was a little kid. Even though it wasn't the Lambo I wanted it to be (Countach was my dream car) it was still a very satisfying feeling to push the door latch and watch those iconic scissor doors go up. I must have done that a dozen times before my friend looked at me and asked if I was done. Lol. 😁😄 Good times...
Big Bryan-great write up. This car survives for one reason. Nostalgia. When it came out there was nothing like it in its pricing. Even with a natural 6cyl rwd and rear engine it should of gotten better numbers. People are doing Volvo swaps with crazy returns. Lotus is a company who does rear wheel/rear engine 4cyl turbo charged cars and get sickening numbers, so you are right when you say how far the engine has come. the new v6 challenger is a beast. Audis are sick. This car was just cool looking at a time when Detroit was resting on its laurels, ignoring the market & making shit (and closing plants nationally.) It would be a tough job to get a stock Renault DMC to 120mph.
A rare chance to see a review of this car PRE Back to the Future.
Rodney Smith nothing is pre back to the future
That's exactly why I wanted to watch it.
@@hondamanvtec2894 This is made isn 1981 but ok
Not too rare, these were pretty well publicised and documented before the film came out. The scenes in the movie where the car stalls and acts up were part of this publicity since they were notoriously unreliable cars.
@@303nitzubishi4 yeah but getting it to 88mph in the confines of a mall parking lot was a lot less plausible
Back To The Future would have been the biggest advertising plug in automotive history...had Delorean Motor Company lasted until 1985.
Martin scores easy or 83
+MRT I hate that movie but like the car. I wish people would shut up about the movie
not really,that movie had a vw van keeping on its tail in the mall chase scene.
Or ‘55
They picked the car because it was unusual, and just as importantly, looked ahead of its time. It became part of the movie. They couldn’t have done that with, say, a Monte Carlo from the same era...
I worked for the De Lorean Motor Company in Ireland where we built the cars. I loved it. I was bitterly disappointed when the plant closed.
Im sure you were, it gave alot of people jobs and stuff and John tried to help with the conflicts and economy! Awsome you were a part of history i drive!
+Christian Dietrich Despite what the media might say about him we had great respect for John De Lorean. De Lorean thought nothing of coming down to the factory floor and engaging us in conversation about our assignments. It was the American way and it worked.
+hoopenhanger I met John back in 2000 at a DMC event in Ohio. Great man and very tall! He was a joy to talk to and just a friendly guy! Im very good friends with his daughter Katherine on Facebook and chat with her quit a bit! Your a lucky man to be apart of history. Also goid friends with Barrie Wills aswell!
+Christian Dietrich Tell his daughter that we'll be forever grateful to her dad for creating jobs for us. Those of us fortunate enough to work there will never forget De Lorean.
+hoopenhanger Oh she knows my friend! She has accepted all of us owners as family and she knows how much all of us have looked up to her father for what he did and for what he created!
My father too me as a 7 yo boy to see Back to the Future, opening night... In his recently purchased used DMC-12! I will never forget people's faces as we left the theater! He passed away many years ago now, but I still have this car! Most cherished item from his inheritance!
Power move
John Davis is so much more reserved in his delivery in the early Motorweeks.
Yeah really strange, like it’s his first time narrating
@@roddydykes7053 I like his subdued delivery. He got into the sales pitch voice later on
If you think he's reserved here you should check out the unaired pilot episode.
too bad he never lost weight. he is really suffering now that hes old and fat
@@wickedhouston5538 And how exactly is he suffering? Enlighten us
"Very limited visibility in all directions".. in 1981, it was probably still far better than most modern vehicles.
Defnintly better than the current generation Camaro lol
it's really interesting watch a real review of the car, looking at it just as a car, and not a hollywood star (since the BTTF movie didn't exist at the time of the video)
And the cars were out of production and the plant closed when the movie first came out!
djmhyde You know I dont have 1 single BTTF reference on my 82 DeLorean. I do have the BTTF 2 hat that changes color but my son always wears that. In my car club, my partner has some BTTF stuff in his car and its pretty cool but to me, I look at it as a awsome 80's car that I daily drive. I treat it as the collector car that it is but drive it alot because well, why not. Check us out at TriStateDeLorean.com. Im vin 11035
Christian Dietrich I'm glad you drive it, it's a collectors car but considering you can still buy brand new parts (and new cars) there's no reason to let it sit. I wouldn't put any BTtf stuff on mine if I had one either unless it was something small inside. I love the movie and I love the car but I don't love the car because of the movie so I don't really like when people make theirs look like a prop car, the ones that do everything exactly like the movie are pretty good but I've seen some half hearted attempts and that ruins the car.
I'd put a Marty McFly bobblehead on the dash.
I was born in ‘86 and I still can’t imagine how cool it would have been to be seen in one back in 1981!
You could fit all of Northern Ireland in that wheel gap.
Lol epic comment!
add 200lbs to the front to fix that
@Take the red pill No, the car in non-US markets had a proper fender gap, the reason the US cars look like that is because at stock height they sat too low to meet the then current front bumper height requirements, so they had to raise the front end up.
@Roger Dodger thank God lol
This car still looks fast & cool just standing still. I think its one of the greatest cars ever built. There is only 1 DeLorean.
Fast? I get cool cause I'm of the doors but fast?
one of the greatest cars? lol. lmao. LMFAOOOOOOOOOO
@@dennismichealsm3786 Read it again, LOOKS fast...
@@Hyperlink1337 Commenting on something someone said over a year ago = 🤣🤣
@@dennismichealsm3786 yeah it was quick for what it was but in 1981 what was fast? The DeLorean was 1.4 seconds slower than a Corvette in 1981. If the twin turbo version made it to market it would have been a different story. I added a bunch of bolt on performance parts to my DeLorean's engine and she runs strong, pulls very well and been to 122mph no problem plus she is a reliable daily drive I go everywhere in! I dont need 300 or 400 hp to have fun in a car. People that think they need that have a self conscious issue.
Zero to 60 in ten seconds.....GREAT SCOTT!!!!
It will still smoke a Smart ForTwo and a Mitsubishi Mirage.
@@johnwjeromejr you could smoke those on foot
Still, respectable for 81. Consider the Pontiac 1000; 0-60 in 20 seconds. Over a quarter of a minute to reach 60 😅
@@punchy207😂 I literally spit my coffee everywhere when I saw this 😆🤣
I remember that car very well when it first hit the Chicago auto show back then! In 1982 that car, was way ahead of its time! And still looks good today!😎👍
A few years ago Car and Driver tested various movie prop cars. One of which was the DeLorean from 'BTTF'. In their testing, the car laden down with all the "time machine" parts wasn't actually capable of doing 88MPH. IIRC; it topped out at 86MPH.
That is why it needs the Flux Capacitor.
One of the best looking cars ever created, in my opinion. Too bad the American market wrecked the ride height and wheel gap. I have seen 2 or 3 cars in person and I was in awe.
+Jacob Frey The EPA also strangled the motor. Shame.
Luckily all those things can be easily undone. Ride lowered to correct spec and motor brought up to 200hp with a new cam and exhaust.
without the movies, the Delorean would be like other cars you never knew existed.
Great Scott!! Still looks futuristic to this day.
The DeLorean is my unicorn. Loved and admired from a far but never touched.
ALL THE GAUGES!! A Motorweek must have to be considered good!
Great Scott!! This car still looks good to this day.
I agree. I don't think it looks dated much for a 40-year-old car like some others do.
I'm glad Motorweek liked the DeLorean, it makes me feel better about loving them. I see one just about every week because i also happen to be a BTTF junkie. The trilogy are my comfort movies.
I always wondered what other models we could have seen if DMC has survived.
Sedan, station wagon, pickup truck, compact hatchback, luxury sedan & coupé, touring car, V8, utility vehicles, limo, convertible, etc, etc...
@@WSNO maybe a diesel electric locomotive as well!
I am from the future year 2099 & this car is still relevant & beautiful @ this time. That's heavy doc!
Hello, and welcome to MotorWeek 81' we're glad to have you with us, I'm BobbleHead John Davis
How little could John himself have known that he would 1 day be in the presence of greatness...😮
Back To Motor Week's Future
From my favorite movie EVER!!! I would buy one of these today as a toy in a heartbeat, I love it:)
My dream car would be a DeLorean with an engine swap to an Esprit's turbo 4, lowered suspension, and a gun metal grey wrap.
***** i'd like the V8, if its transmission wasn't made of glass...
*****
The Esprit's twin turbo V8 could have made 500+ bhp but the Renault gearbox was the only tranny that would fit in the chassis.
So they had to develop a special clutch and de-tune the engine down to 350 bhp to keep the gears from being blown to bits.
*****
It didn't work (at least not well).
+Pontiac Ride It was a combination of Renault, Peugeot, Volvo.
@@pbfloyd13 There was, IIRC, one factory twin turbo prototype right? What transmission did that use?
Before I die I will own a DeLorean! Missed my chance in 2006 but I will get one.
Damn!! Were tolls a dollar 25 in 1981!!!
Lowered in person these cars look quite exotic, hard to tell from the video!
1:53 That's really not a good place for a gas filler. I wonder how many people have spilled gas on their luggage.
If you think that's bad, look at the front-engine, front-drive Renault LeCar. It's fuel tank is "squeezed" between the rear door, rear wheel, and tail end.
VW Beetles were like that up through 1967, in '68 they put in a separate gas flap.
Both buyers did.
I own a DeLorean... never spilled Gas on my Luggage.... to stupid to fill up Gas? Ask for help or give back your Drivers License ;-)
@@Bimmer_Bob 9000 cars altogether.
Raise the hood to fuel up?! Awesome. Reminds me of my Miata in that I have to open the trunk with my key to pull the fuel door release. Yes, I'm paranoid of people breaking in, popping the fuel door and filling it with sugar, so I removed the release lever.
The early version had a gas flap Hood with a lockable gas cap and that was about till mid 1981
You either have enemies or a mental illness
You can tell this is the beginning of the series- lofl-
Mr Davis was a real "cutie pie" with the overactive, cutie pie head movements/gestures.
Like most, he eventually mellowed it together
as this very good show matured
My business partner got an 82 5 speed as a trade on some work he had done for a customer. We never could get the EFI to work right and run the car further than around the block. Luckily he sat on it and sold it after Back to the Future 3 came out, for $9000.00! Unreal!
No mention of Flux Capacitor as dealer installed option?
1981...the stupid bttf jokes were not available
I remember when I first saw one of these as a toddler after the movie I thought they actually had flux capacitors in them and could travel thru time. Ah, the memories.
I've heard that when it hits 88 mph... *You'll see some serious shit!*
Thanks so much for posting these!
Johns voice was so subdued in the early episodes. Early 90s he sounds like a radio spot announcer
one of my favourite cars
Good car but the main problem was it snorted all the white lines off the road
Did you make that up yourself? Wait... no, not even close. Oh well. Being unoriginal is your curse, not mine.
@@HollywoodF1 is a joke my dude. We can tell jokes here.
Something of a phenomenon.
i have a friend whose granpa/dad works in the assembly line for DMC building DeLoreans. gotta say I'm kinda jealous of him
I was born after this car came out so my feelings are influenced by back to the future but this car is very good looking. DeLorean had alot of really good ideas and I wish his company worked out.
If my calculations are correct........when this Retro Review hits 88 likes..........you're gonna see some serious s***!!!!!!!!
Niiiiice
+landyachtfan79 It just hit 329... What happened???
😂😂😂😂
And........that means........what, exactly?!!!!!!
Sweet. Thats gonna keep me chucklin' all day... lol. V funny.
It's very refreshing that there's no goddamn fucking back to the Future jokes
Throwing money out the window...
exactly what ole deloreon did when he decided he was gunna power it with that v6
@@muffdiver777yummy8 He didn't want the PRV V6, it came down to budget. He wanted, and tested, much, MUCH more powerful engines and he HATED that they had to go with the PRV.
I didn't remember if John said what the gas mileage was....must of been like throwing money out the window!
Ithinkiwill66 They get about 30 highway.
They look really good painted.
James Frenchi want to see a white one.
I saw a DeLorean at a car show in July 2011. It was a silver one.
+Kevin Woodard They're all finished in aluminum
+Tim Beck Stainless steel*
+kasm279 Smelted down diamonds*
+Kevin Woodard 98% of them are silver
djmhyde
The remaining 2% were available in red.
Love the looks of the car, but the front end looks like it needs to be dropped 3 inches. There was a company that used to do a 351 Ford swap! I don't remember if it was a Windsor or Cleveland, but it had to be a bad ass swap!!!!
Always will love this car.
It’s interesting to see how the different stainless panels have a different color to them
Love these retro review's. Love seeing the old Bonita avenue.
the best thing about you tube!!
I recognized it too! I would have liked to see them take that little jump that would drop your stomach just north of the Colts facility.
@@kpk33x I don't remember specific sections. Just remember my sister and folks calling it the whoopty doo road. This was late 70's early 80's.
I was about 3 at the time. Occasionally would be scared lol.
@@kpk33x We lived in Morningside heights. If you went to certain buildings. You could see the Colts facility.
@@briteidea08 we went thru Bonita Ave to Reisterstown Road to skip lights going to Randallstown where my grandparents lived (prior to 795). Trip used to take 25 minutes now its like 10
0-60 in ten seconds? Geeze Louise, it must have taken forever for Marty to get it up to 88.
I don't know if you all caught that, but that was actually the REAL John Delorean throwing his money out the window!!
I remember when these were new, we looked at them in the dealership but didn't buy. Also if it were for Back to The Future movies, they would be just another car.
Just saw my first one today. I love it
The DeLorean was certainly far from perfect but we need to understand that GM played an underhanded role in the company's demise as well. They were pissed about all the headaches and problems that John DeLorean caused them when he was a top executive at GM by exposing widespread corporate incompetence and corruption, especially with respect to the production and sale of unsafe cars such as the Chevrolet Corvair. They, of course, never forgave him when he left GM to start his own company and worked in any covert manner that they could to help bring about the DeLorean Motor Company's ultimate demise. I'm not saying that DMC *wouldn't* have gone under without a "helping hand" from General Motors but their cloaked efforts certainly helped.
Interior still looks nicer than a modern day Ford
If I had the money I'll get one and fully upgrade it with the best new technology (suspension, breaking, power etc) although I'll very happy if I just have a regular one
DeLorean Motor Company actually planned to do that to produce new DeLoreans with all new tech/parts (including 350 hp engine) in 2016 but wasn't able to because of some issues waiting for a Low Volume Manufacturer law to be implemented/regulated allowing them to produce them to sell, something that was halted for all this time since, but positive steps have been reached in that, so they're still planning on doing it, but looks like it will be at least a year from now (2020) before it might become a reality.
It's so ironic the awful Cybertruck has a similar exoskeleton but, due to its 'advanced' composition, WILL get scratches that cannot be buffed out. Amazing how backwards we've gone in a lot of ways.
Oh time will tell. . . iconic
Some of those cars are becoming and valuable out of production years ago love strange cars
Impossible to do a drive-thru food service in this with those little horizontal windows, and you couldn't open the gull wing doors either!
I have done it. You open the door but only let it swing about half way up, then drop the food down through the (then) near horizontal window opening. It isn't easy but can be done.
Gullwing doors actually require less side clearance than traditional doors...as little as 10 inches, to be exact.
What? I do it all the time in mine. The door opens just fine and makes getting your food extremely easy. Gullwings require much less clearance than traditional doors.
You can to open the doors at drive up. I used to do it all the time in high school w my delorean.
Just wait for the fast food workers to bring you the food outside...they are going to want to see a DeLorean, aren't they?
2:27 "have some money, peasant"
Wow. One that actually runs?! Remarkable.
Was that John Davis?! No way! I've never seen him this young, and his voice was different too!
3:49 Nose cone above the grille is either warped or dented
Just in time for Back to the Future day!!
If the speedometer only goes to 85, how can you tell when you hit 88? (note: go watch the film and see the made-up speedo!)
+Srd1126 The speedometer in BTTF isn't fake. The early DeLoreans had to follow a law saying their speedometers could only go up to 85. Other car companies had to follow this as well. DeLoreans made in 1982-83 do have the right speedometers that go up to 145mph, IIRC.
+koekje00005 Sorry but you are incorrect. All DeLorean's have a 85mph speedo. The was a option not offered by the factory but from the old DELOREAN 1 company that was formed after the company closed did make a 145mph calibrated speedometer you could buy. DELOREAN was the company that did repairs and restoration on DeLorean's back then, now there are several facilities in the United States that take care of that. You can get from the "New" DeLorean Motor Company a 140mph speedo and that what i put in my car a few months ago. The speedo in BTTF was made just for the movie with the speedo starting off at 15mph instead of the original 5mph like mine used to have but no, they never left Dunmurry like that, unless it was a Euro spec gauge in kilometers but that was totally different altogether.
That was common at the time. Even Porsche and Ferrari speedos only went up to 85 or so in those days to discourage drivers from going over 100.
Using a fake speedo would allow them to film it at much slower speeds as well.
You'll know, because you'll see some serious shit.
Imagine this car powered by one of GM’s Freedom V8’s. Maybe a 301 Turbo Pontiac engine. This car would have moved in the American market.
I wish this car came with the Flux Capacitor and Mr. Fusion.
What odd styling. It has the stance and silhouette of an exotic sports car, but the details and trim styling of a base model economy compact. It's like someone took an Escort or something similar, squished it, and stretched it. It certainly has that 80's VHS charm, though.
"You build a time machine..
Out of a Delorean!"
"there's not much else to fault??'
No power steering, but having the engine weight in back helps.
I can't drive my DeLorean without getting the sniffles. And for some reason I have a hell of a lot of energy when I get out. Sniff.
I totally feel you. I picked up my Stage 2, 81' about a year ago now, and out of all the cars I've driven, it is the only one that always brings a smile to my face. As trite as it may sound, it really does deliver more "smiles-per-gallon" than any other car.
Robert Newman I agree! I have a DPI Spec 1 mod with other goodies and love the way the PRV sings! I basically daily mine after I restored it with alot of modern updates. Its a great reliable car.
lol 😂 “cocaine is a hell of a drug”
Jacksonkellyfreak all I get is the dissatisfaction with life and a numb throat, mine must be the badly cut model
Who ever knew that the company's car would ever be famous......😉😉😁😁
03:27
You don't necessarily need bigger tires on the rear, but it helps.
Actually, it does. Due to where the engine is, the bigger wheels were needed to keep it from fishtailing around corners. Not alot of weight in the front of a DeLorean. It was originally designed as a mid-engine car.
The fastest De Lorean i ever saw was on a Rollback
Some day some I will get one!
I was never aware that these cars were available with automatic transmission.
heresy but yes.Doobie1975
0-60 in 10 seconds? How the hell did it even get to 88 mph?
+crashstitches79 In the 80s, that was actually a somewhat respectable acceleration figure. It was mostly turbo or V8 performance cars that could get to 60 under 10 seconds. Family cars, especially compacts, were often in the 15-20 second range in 1981.
The DeLorean in Back to the Future (part one, anyways), believe it or not, was fitted with an engine out of a Porsche. I'm sure some movie magic also went along with it lol
crashstitches79 you do realize 88 is after 60 right?
One would need a Flux Capaciter to get to 88mph.
No it wasn't. It had the stock motor. Sound design replaced the engine noise with a Porsche's.
I can't believe you can still get one of these new today.
Amazing to see this car from a contemporary pov. These days people don't comprehend the early 80s complications in car design, and they mock the lackluster power they used to have then as if much could be done. Hell, the V8 Mustang in 1981 had a pathetic 4.2 mill that produced 120 horsepower. It's all the fault of the fuel crises and emission overregulation of the period, and auto manufacturers coped as best they could! The DMC had its fair share of problems, I'm sure, but it does not deserve the humiliation of being named among the worst cars ever by prissy journos who don't know better.
Guess that window design was BEFORE drive-up windows at banks and macs
It is why they didn't sell so well.
Just open the door.
The window design was the only one that would work due to how the gull wing door was shaped. If it had been a total window moving, it would have broke when the door was closed. This is explained in a documentary by the one Lotus engineer on the project. The prototype car had the rear half move, which was not practical.
Would love to buy one of these and swap in a modern drivetrain. Not to make the car fast but to make the car enjoyable and lighten up the rear a little.
+Jween Tech The engine really isnt that heavy compared to other engines of the time and to fit a modern engine in one requires alot of work and customization. Honestly I love the PRV engine and happy with its performance. I have a 82' DeLorean with a 5 speed and when i restored the engine (new gaskets, seals and powdercoating) i only did the exhaust. Now its got the DeLorean Performance Industries Spec 1 upgrade built by Stainless Works. Full stainless headers, duel pipes without catalytic converters going in to a duel in/out muffler. Gives the car a bice exotic sound and you can really feel a difference off the line. I work on DeLorean's on the side at my home. Next i might do the heads and cams on mine but it wasnt in the budgets years ago. Call DPI or go to there website and check out there Spec 2 Twin Chargered DeLorean engine. Twin turbo's with charge coolers, built up Renault 5 speed, suspension upgrades and bigger brakes and the engine is dialed back just under 400hp. Its sick and its still a PRV engine!!!
Where's my 89 tbird supercoupe episode
another 80s car that looked fast but was even slow FOR THE 80s!
Whens this due out I cant wait!
Elon Musk doesn't have shit on ol' Doc Brown. He made his car electrical decades before it was fashionable.
My buddy and I had used car dealerships. He had a side business of buying cars of the street some junk. He said a guy called him and said he wanted to get rid of a renault. It was a delorian and had a renault engine so the guy was saying it was a renault. The time was around 2006 and he bought it for a few hundred and sold it for 10k at auction. Was a nice car but very hard to get into and out of. My friend got one hell of a buy on that car the guy wanted to get rid of
Apparently they're going to build 300 new replicas of the DMC-12 for delivery next year, at 4x the original price!
An optional flux capacitor is due for the ‘85 model year...
La película le dió más valor ...y elevó su cuidado ...no mejor auto admirado ....
John was very kind to this flea-bitten mutt. 🐕
"Very limited visibility in all directions" soooo it's a tank?
Among the Countach, and Testarossa posters on my wall when I was in Middle school was a poster of this car. A 3/4 view with the drivers door open. I always thought they were great looking cars but the lack of power was a huge let down. It looks like it is going 120mph sitting still but when you realize that 120mph is pretty much it's top speed it's disappointing. If they had stuffed a v8 in it, then it might have kept up with the class of cars it was in. But you also need to remember the ERA this car was built in. In those days if a car had 400 horsepower then it was an amazing accomplishment considering most everyday cars back then had a round 150 to 200 horsepower. Nowadays there are little 4-cylinder cars that can make 350 horsepower from the factory. It just goes to show you how times have changed and how far we come with the development of internal combustion engines. If this car was built in modern day then it could have been an incredibly fast car, because it was a 6 cylinder car and nowadays there are 6 cylinder family sedans that have 400 horsepower. If you stuck a 400 horsepower V6 under the hood of the DeLorean it would be a quick car. I always wondered about that stainless steel body though and I'm talking about heat. It seems like the steel would just soak up the sun and make all kinds of heat for the passenger and driver. I hope the air conditioner was good. I've seen quite a few in my time so they aren't quite a unicorn. They're out there, although I've never ridden in one. I read somewhere that someone purchased the DeLorean Factory and there are all kinds of new parts in the factory that never got used and you can basically build a brand new DeLorean from all of the parts that are available in that factory. And if I remember correctly you can actually go to that factory in purchase a brand new DeLorean that they will assemble for you from the parts that are available in that factory. I would like to ride in one before I die. I think it would take me a few minutes to get over the novelty of the gullwing doors and I may want to open and close them a few times just to get it out of my system. I did that several years ago when I helped a friend rebuild his 97 Lamborghini Diablo VT. He asked if I'd help and I told him I would under one condition. He had to let me play with the doors for a few minutes because I had been dreaming about opening the doors on a Lambo since I was a little kid. Even though it wasn't the Lambo I wanted it to be (Countach was my dream car) it was still a very satisfying feeling to push the door latch and watch those iconic scissor doors go up. I must have done that a dozen times before my friend looked at me and asked if I was done. Lol. 😁😄 Good times...
Big Bryan-great write up. This car survives for one reason. Nostalgia. When it came out there was nothing like it in its pricing. Even with a natural 6cyl rwd and rear engine it should of gotten better numbers. People are doing Volvo swaps with crazy returns. Lotus is a company who does rear wheel/rear engine 4cyl turbo charged cars and get sickening numbers, so you are right when you say how far the engine has come. the new v6 challenger is a beast. Audis are sick. This car was just cool looking at a time when Detroit was resting on its laurels, ignoring the market & making shit (and closing plants nationally.) It would be a tough job to get a stock Renault DMC to 120mph.
Great Scott
I don't give a fuck about the downsides. I still want one. Always will.
This car would look good in my kitchen.
I wonder if gas smell went inside thru air vents.🤔
If you spill, yes. I own one. If you don't spill, there's no smell.
Not one mention of the Flux Capacitor, Mr. Fusion, 88 miles per hour, or 1.21 gigawatts. I expect better of you, MotorWeek! ;-)
LMacNeill this review was before BTTF
Nah, Doc Brown never drove it back to 1981 for MW to know that reference.
@@75aces97 quality comment my friend