A DeLorean with gullwing doors and brushed stainless-steel bodywork hardly needs help attracting attention. What makes this particular car considerably more interesting is that it has spent roughly 45 years with the same owner and covered fewer than 4,300 miles.
This 1981 DMC-12 appears to have escaped much of the wear that usually comes with age, with its original-style interior, clean underside, and largely untouched presentation still intact. It also has the configuration enthusiasts tend to want, pairing the rear-mounted PRV V6 with a five-speed manual transmission.
According to Vanguard Motor Sales, the car had one owner before the dealership acquired it and currently shows 4,299 miles. The seller says it was originally purchased locally and remained with that owner until recently.
Vanguard is now asking $119,900 for it, putting a serious premium on the combination of mileage, ownership history, condition, and one of the most recognizable shapes ever to come out of the early 1980s.
It Has Covered Just 4,299 Miles
The odometer is the headline detail here, as Vanguard says the DeLorean has traveled fewer than 4,300 miles since new, and the dealership describes its previous owner’s garage as exceptionally well kept.
That low mileage shows throughout the car, and the stainless-steel panels appear remarkably clean, while the gullwing doors, factory-style turbine wheels, fascias, and trim all retain the familiar stock appearance.
The gray leather cabin follows the same theme, with bucket seats, factory gauges, center console, air conditioning, and a period-style radio. Vanguard also says the car comes with factory documentation, an owner’s manual, service literature, and other historical material accumulated over the years.
The 130-HP V6 Is Paired With A Five-Speed
Power comes from the familiar 2.85-liter PRV V6 mounted behind the passenger compartment, and all its 130 horses are sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission.
That number sounds modest today, particularly for a car whose movie fame revolves around reaching 88 mph. The DMC-12 was never really about outright performance, though, with its stainless-steel construction, Giorgetto Giugiaro-penned wedge shape, and gullwing doors doing most of the heavy lifting for its appeal.
The chassis uses four-wheel independent suspension and power-assisted brakes. Vanguard says the car drives smoothly, although the seller also recommends inspecting the tires before putting serious road miles on it.
It Is Mostly Original, With A Few Recent Repairs
The dealership says the underside remains largely untouched and unusually clean for a car of this age. During its inspection, Vanguard replaced the fuel accumulator and fitted new front brake calipers, while a new master cylinder was also planned.
The tires are not believed to be the original set, although they are described as similar in style to what the car would have worn when new. Vanguard noted a small amount of paint flaking on one wheel but otherwise described the underbody, wheel wells, frame, and floor areas as well preserved.
Even small details have survived, including warning labels and original-style components underneath the car. That kind of preservation is important on a DMC-12 because many surviving examples have been modified, restored, or converted into replicas inspired by Back to the Future.
The Asking Price Is $119,900
Vanguard Motor Sales currently lists the DeLorean for $119,900. That is substantial money for a DMC-12, although this example is being marketed on its unusually low mileage, one-owner history, manual transmission, and largely original condition.
For collectors who want a time machine DeLorean without flux capacitors, movie props, or extensive modifications, this one is about as straightforward as the formula gets. It offers the stainless steel, gullwing doors, five-speed manual, and unmistakable silhouette with barely enough mileage to qualify as broken in.