Image courtesy of Accord14, Wikimedia Commons
DeLorean DMC 12 Price Guide
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typical price 7 October, 2026
DeLorean DMC 12 Statistics
Colour Spread
Based on yourbestprice data on 3 October 2026
Listings by Year of Registration
Based on yourbestprice data on 3 October 2026
Mileage Range
Based on yourbestprice data on 3 October 2026
The data above is based on information retrieved from actual, real-world DeLorean DMC 12 sales listings. Our AI agents try to correct obvious mistakes sellers make, such as incorrect engine capacities, but some may still fall through.
The DeLorean DMC-12 is the most famous car that nobody bought. A stainless-steel-bodied, gullwing-doored sports car built in Belfast from 1981 to 1983 that was underpowered, overpriced, poorly built by the standards of the era, and became one of the most iconic vehicles in cinema history when Robert Zemeckis chose it as the time machine in Back to the Future. John DeLorean’s personal story (arrested for cocaine trafficking in 1982 in an FBI sting) finished the company before the car could be developed further.
The Car
The DMC-12 used a 2,849cc Peugeot-Renault-Volvo (PRV) V6 producing 130bhp. This was underwhelming for a sports car at any price, let alone one costing $25,000 in 1981. The stainless steel body panels do not rust, which is the car’s greatest practical advantage. The gullwing doors are heavy and hydraulically assisted. Giorgetto Giugiaro styled the body; Lotus Engineering under Colin Chapman developed the chassis. Around 9,200 were produced in 27 months. A revised 5-speed gearbox replaced the original 4-speed partway through production.
Buying
The stainless steel body does not rust, but the steel underframe does. The PRV V6 is reliable but uninspiring. Any DMC-12 requires carburettor and fuel system attention at this age. The DeLorean Owners Association maintains comprehensive records. Values have risen substantially as the cultural significance of the Back to the Future connection is fully appreciated.
