DeLorean DMC-12

The DeLorean DMC-12 was developed through the collaboration between the DeLorean Motor Company and Italdesign, initiated in 1974 by John Z. DeLorean, former General Motors executive, and William Collins, DMC president. Conceived as a rear-engine, two-seat sports car primarily aimed at the U.S. market, the project sought to combine efficiency, advanced materials, and distinctive design. Giorgetto Giugiaro was commissioned to design the car, applying Italdesign’s signature angular geometry to create a shape that was both functional and instantly recognizable. At the 1974 Turin Motor Show, John DeLorean took note of the Medici I and the Hyundai Pony, two Italdesign prototypes, and these models influenced his decision to choose Giorgetto Giugiaro to design the DMC-12. The bodywork was made from unpainted brushed stainless steel mounted over a fiberglass understructure bonded to a Lotus-engineered steel chassis. The DMC-12’s most notable feature was its gullwing doors, hinged at the roof and supported by cryogenic gas struts, a configuration that enhanced accessibility while emphasizing its futuristic aesthetic. The name “DMC-12” originated from its initial target price of $12,000, though production costs pushed the retail price above $25,000. Power was supplied by a 2.85-liter PRV V6 engine, a collaboration between Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo. Positioned longitudinally at the rear, it produced approximately 130 horsepower and 207 newton-meters of torque. Transmission options included a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic, driving the rear wheels. The car achieved a top speed of about 200 km/h and accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in roughly 9 seconds. Suspension featured independent double wishbones at the front and multi-link geometry at the rear, with disc brakes on all four wheels. The DMC-12 measured 4,267 mm in length, 1,988 mm in width, and 1,140 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,413 mm and a curb weight of approximately 1,230 kilograms. Production took place in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, between 1981 and 1982, with 8,583 units built. Despite the company’s financial collapse, the DMC-12 achieved lasting recognition for its engineering, stainless-steel body, and its later appearance as the time machine in Back to the Future.