DeLorean

DeLorean refers to the DeLorean Motor Company and its founder, John Zachary DeLorean. The company is best known for the DMC-12, a stainless-steel, gull-wing–door sports car produced in the early 1980s. The design and distinctive finish gave the car a place in automotive and popular culture, despite its brief production run.

The DeLorean Motor Company was founded in 1975 by John Z. DeLorean, a former General Motors executive. Production of the DMC-12 took place at a factory in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, near Belfast. The car was powered by a 2.8-liter PRV V6 engine, a collaboration between Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo. Although the DMC-12 had striking styling and a novel stainless body, it faced quality and cost challenges. Production ceased in 1982 after roughly 9,000 cars had been built, and the company went bankrupt.

John DeLorean faced legal proceedings in the United States in the early 1980s, including charges related to drug trafficking; he was ultimately acquitted in 1984. After the bankruptcy, the DeLorean name and assets passed through various owners.

In 1995, Stephen Wynne established the DeLorean Motor Company in Texas to preserve the brand by manufacturing replacement parts, supporting restorations, and maintaining a supply chain for existing DMC-12s. The Texas operation focuses on parts distribution and service rather than mass production of new vehicles, though it sustains interest in the original car.

The DeLorean DMC-12 remains a cultural icon, widely recognized for its appearance in the Back to the Future film series as a time machine, contributing to its enduring fame and collector interest.