When most people lay their eyes on the DMC DeLorean they cannot fully separate their personal impression from the fictional movie franchise in which it plays such a vital role. What happens when one looks at it without that context, though? At its heart, the DMC DeLorean, or the DMC-12, is a moonshot. It's a full-fledged attempt at ultimate stardom. It's not a sports car, and it can barely be considered a grand tourer, but that doesn't change how special it is. And it's special regardless of any film it's ever been featured in. Thanks to both Lane Motor Museum and the individual owner of this particular example, I recently had the chance to experience this very rare and esteemed automobile. Let's take a deep dive into the DMC-12 as though we've gone back in time to before it was Hollywood famous.

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The DMC-12 Is Built On A Great Foundation

Rear 3Quarter view of the DMC-12
Via @GingerlyCaptured

Underneath the DMC-12 lies a Lotus-developed backbone chassis. In fact, it's the same backbone chassis that was used in the Lotus Esprit of the same time period, with Colin Chapman himself having a hand in the project. The DeLorean also uses the same suspension from the Esprit. That makes for a great start, but where things get a little different is under the engine cover.

The engine is also famous. Known as the Peugeot-Renault-Volvo V6, it found life in many cars, including the Alpine GTA Turbo. In the DeLorean, though, it arrived without the added boost. Unlike the Alpine, which made around 200 hp, the heavier DMC-12 had to make do with just 130. Depending on the configuration, the stainless-steel-bodied car weighed anywhere from 2,782 pounds all the way up to over 3,100.

Power is sent to the rear wheels only via either a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. This car is outfitted with three pedals and a stick, and that's the way to get it according to the owner. He's driven the auto and tells me that it struggles to really put the power down with fewer cogs available.

A Futuristic Yet Classic Interior Layout

DMC-12 Interior
via @GingerlyCaptured

The way the door opens with a satisfying "notch" noise is rare these days, and it reveals a carpeted and gray interior that immediately shouts the era in which it originated. Closing the door requires a bit more muscle than modern supercars. Nevertheless, there's a newness inside that has been forgotten. Unlike many vehicles of the same age, the switchgear and layout feel more modern, more refined, and more dignified than many of its contemporaries. In addition, the DMC-12 doesn't fall into the trap of trying to overcomplicate every operation.

DMC-12 interior
via @GingerlyCaptured

There are precisely two buttons and five total controls on the main center control stack. That is, of course, aside from the updated radio, a point of internal contention for its owner, and the extra unmarked knob situated somewhat out of place just below the others. That knob is perhaps the strangest decision on the inside of the DeLorean. It's known as the Rheostat knob, responsible for the dash light intensity. Why did DeLorean decide to make it the same size (and therefore as important) as the fan speed and temperature knobs? We may never know.

Headroom of the DMC-12
VIa @GingerlyCaptured

John DeLorean was six foot four, and so his car happens to fit even people like me who are a couple of inches taller. That's thanks to the double-bubble interior design that is completely hidden from the outside. In fact, overall, the inside of the DeLorean is more comfortable than it would seem from the outside. Yes, taller drivers will be required to be a bit more laid back to fit comfortably, but shoulder room and knee room are both great.

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A Sharp And Striking Exterior

DMC-12 GT Hero
via @GingerlyCaptured

There's so much more to the outside of a DeLorean than most folks realize. Yes, the stainless steel is heavier than some small moons and other than the three golden cars, they were all identical in color and finish. What most don't know is that the grain of the stainless matters. Look closely, and you'll notice that there's a subtle but visible pattern to the way the stainless is finished. Should someone try to clean it with something as abrasive as a ScotchBrite pad, it will do serious damage. The only saving grace is something the DeLorean community resorts to call "re-graining" the surface. That's an intensive and expensive proposition that this car has avoided thanks to outstanding care from its owner.

While the development of the DMC-12 might have been wildly expensive, the lack of compound curves did make for slightly easier production. Nevertheless, early cars suffered from serious quality control issues. One of the earliest reviews of the car makes note of the rough fitment of the gullwing doors. This example is in outstanding condition and its doors look and function brilliantly. While closed, the windows roll up and down as they should, and when in "flight" they're stable and happy to stay that way indefinitely.

Driving John DeLorean's Dream

Rear shot of the DMC-12
Via @GingerlyCaptured

In 1981, Road & Track said that the interior of the DeLorean evoked a feeling of either oneness with the car or claustrophobia. That's as true today as the day it was written. It's a bit snug, but there's not a moment where it feels any less than a grand occasion. There's real theater, getting in and out. It turns heads everywhere, and the only time that's bad is when folks get side-tracked into a conversation about outright performance. You see, these gullwing doors write a check that the engine can't cash.

The transmission might be part of the saving grace though because it's engaging and allows the driver to get just enough oomph from the V6. Interestingly enough, first gear isn't all the way to the left and up. It's about 1/4-inch from the furthest left position and then up. Try anything else, and you'll just sit there, missing the gate.

DMC-12 Shifter
Via @GingerlyCaptured

Once moving, the engine is responsive enough that it's easy to see how one could really enjoy this car day in and day out with supercar levels of performance. It's comfortable over bumps and bruises in the pavement, and on open twisty roads it gets along without incident. Performance just isn't what the DeLorean is about. It's meant to be the coolest cruiser on the road.

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Frankly, that's where the car comes into its own. As a serious attempt at a grand tourer, it's among the slowest available at the time, but who cares? Line this thing up to anything made in 1985, or before, and it'll draw as much attention as anything else. Post-1985, forget about it. The owner tells me that fuel stops must be planned to not get stuck for too long talking about the car.

The DMC-12 Shot For The Moon And Ended Up In The Stars

Delorean Engine
@GingerlyCaptured

When was the last time you did something with giant, wild expectations that didn't work out quite the way you had hoped? In many ways, that's the DeLorean. No, this isn't the way John hoped things would go, but here's the unequivocal truth: the DMC-12 is a car that transcends regular automotive circles. It drove companies to work harder to compete. And at the end of the day, it remains one of the most underappreciated and undervalued automobiles ever produced. Great Scott! Who would've guessed that?