2,849cc OHC V6 Engine
BAE Single Turbocharger
Approximately 195bhp at 5,500rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Power-Assisted Disc Brakes

*Sought-after 5-speed manual transmission
*Uprated with after-market BAE Turbo
*The ultimate time machine!
*An automotive icon

DE LOREAN

The brainchild of ex-General Motors executive John Zachary De Lorean, the DeLorean sports car project was touted around the world before finding a home in Northern Ireland thanks to generous grants from the British Government. Designed by ex-Pontiac engineer Bill Collins, the DMC12 was extensively reworked by Lotus prior to production, emerging with the latter's trademark steel backbone chassis and all-independent suspension, and powered by a rear-mounted Peugeot/Renault/Volvo 2.9-liter overhead-camshaft V6 engine. Apart from its larger-than-life creator, it was the car's stylish coupé body that attracted most attention by virtue of its method of construction - a combination of fiberglass inner panels and stainless-steel outer skin - and doors that opened gull-wing fashion à la Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.

The much-hyped DMC12 finally arrived in 1980 and immediately ran into quality control problems, a not altogether surprising occurrence considering the local workforce's unfamiliarity with automobile manufacture. No doubt the company would have sorted out the glitches given time, but sales never approached projected levels and DeLorean's 1982 indictment on drugs charges - he was subsequently acquitted - brought the project to its knees. By then some 9,200 DeLoreans had been built, of which approximately 6,500 survive today. They are now seen as highly collectible, thanks in no small part to the one that starred in the 1985 motion picture, 'Back to the Future'.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Dean Edmonds referred to this as his 'Gullwing'! It was acquired after his wife had taken a shine to it at an auction 6 years ago. Originally supplied in October 1981, it is one of the rarer manual transmission examples. The clean CARFAX on file lists it in the Toronto area since 1985 through to 2011, and a mileage accrual of approximately 19,000 km to that point. At some point in its career, most likely early on, it had been fitted with an aftermarket BAE Turbo. That accessory was a contemporary offering by this California based company, which they would cite boosted performance by 50%.

Today the DeLorean can best be described as a clean but not restored car, with original interior and mostly original finishes. Despite the first flush of enthusiasm when purchased it was ultimately not used or registered even by Mr. Edmonds, so has been recommissioned for its sale.