Modernizing a DeLorean and how that affects (perceived) value

[Timebender]

There are quite a few members here who have or will be "modernizing" their cars - I'm not talking about upgrading the brakes, electrical, A/C, stuff. But different engines (LS1), digital dashes, iPad and smartphone control, new center consoles with light up buttons, LED taillight matrix's (with a plethora of piñata effects...) etc.

The question is, and this poll is basically, do you think that "modernizing" the DeLorean affects the value, or perceived value, negatively or positively? Does it increase the price of the car if you need to sell it someday, decrease it, or have zero effect at all?

[Mark D]

I voted yes but I think your poll may be too general.... For example, Nick's engine swap is on a completely different level (will increase value) than adding led tail lights (may have no effect on value at all).

[adam_knox]

Just as a heads up, the phrasing on the poll isn't quite fair. For increasing value it says it "can," for decreasing value is says it "will." Subtle difference, but an important one nonetheless. My personal thought is it can go either way. I get leary when I see mismatched parts. Sometimes it can be a Frankenstein, other times it can be gorgeous. But if the previous owner, or worse previous previous owner did the changes without documenting what they replaced and why, you may find they made things more complicated, less reliable and possibly a pain to fix. Stock/contours is great because you know where and what everything is. Usually if something isn't stock its very expensive and possibly near impossible to go back to original. However, with a DeLorean so many parts are still around it makes the stock not seem as hard to regain if the previous owner did modernization's you don't like.

[Timebender]

Yeah I realized that about the phrasing after - but can't edit it. Hopefully people get the general idea.

[Michael]

Anytime you "mod" a collector car you subject it to a narrower market if you ever decide to sell it. Condition and originality in that order. You may find a smaller segment willing to pay more for a engine swap, but again, the majority want originality (the majority of the time).

Most people don't customize to sell, they customize because they don't plan to sell. I have done some mods to my car, but I kept it simple and 100% reversible because even though I don't plan to sell doesn't mean that I won't, and a LED lighted engine bay just doesn't do it for everyone.

[Patrick C]

After I modified my car with the 17" and 18" wheels, re-routed air vents, iPad mounted in-dash stereo, etc, etc, I've had several people email me and ask to be first in line if I ever sell the car.

So, I think depending on how tastefully the modifications are done, it *could* raise the value for the right buyer.

[mr_maxime]

I think how well/tastefully it is done is way more important than how customized. Personally, I wouldn't take value off a car for strictly modern fixes. I think anything truly "custom" would depend on the potential buyer.

[JohnZ]

So, I think depending on how tastefully the modifications are done, it *could* raise the value for the right buyer.

I agree with you.

Besides, I think that the value increases as long as the jobs are done properly and professionally. Replacing old and prone-to-failure parts with modern and safe ones will also increase the value, in my opinion.

If a Delorean is a kind of a Frankenstein monster with tasteless replacements and pointless mods its value will decrease.

:)

[Dangermouse]

I would say that "on average" an engine swap will decrease the car's resale value.

And before everyone gets all upset, I mean that we have seen many more poor engine swaps pass across this board in terms of 'for-sale' ads than we have seen good engine swaps like Nick, Eds or Toms.

As for other upgrades, as noted above, that will differ depending on the upgrade. LED tail light boards won't affect the price in any way (they are a nice-to-have, but also an easy DIY); LED matrix boards will appeal to a much smaller set of prospective buyers, but will they pay more for them? Others may pay less, knowing they need to keep back a few hundred dollars to replace them, if they aren't to their tastes. LED headlights would be a similar case.

[Nicholas R]

After I modified my car with the 17" and 18" wheels, re-routed air vents, iPad mounted in-dash stereo, etc, etc, I've had several people email me and ask to be first in line if I ever sell the car.

So, I think depending on how tastefully the modifications are done, it *could* raise the value for the right buyer.

I agree; I think it may narrow the market for resale (at least within the general DMC market), but depending on the modifications, that niche market can be at a higher price point. My car once got picked up by a website that somehow gave the impression to readers that it was for sale. The offers and overall interest I received was a lot higher than I would have expected.

[Jonathan]

I agree with the "tastefully done" sentiment.

I'll add to that though that I think any modifications to the car that still leave you feeling like it is an 80s car are better perceived.

Upgrades and improvements from old technology to new technology are better suited for this car when they remain subtle. That goes for just about any and all electrical system upgrades in the fuse and relay area or elsewhere. Same too with better shocks, springs, ball joints, coolant reservoir, horns, brake pads or TABs. The front stiffening bar across the shock towers is a good upgrade too (don't have one myself, just assuming others have found it improves the ride and handling).

Putting in better speakers behind the rear panels makes sense to me, but not putting in a sub-woofer box. I like the idea of keeping the stereo stock looking, like guys have done with adding an AUX IN to the Craig or going with the RetroSound deck. I have a newer Alpine DIN deck and it doesn't look at all 80s era.

Where I don't feel that upgrades are as well received are the ones that too clearly point to a "non-period correct" modification. iPad consoles, flashy aftermarket rims, LED headlights. I say this knowing that Patrick C's car has many of these kinds of modifications, and shouldn't be well received according to my own logic, but I think his car looks amazing and was done very tastefully.

We drive cars that there weren't ever very many of, and for that we're already in a small market. The significantly low volume of our cars makes for a fairly hit and miss guess on what a prospective buyer might be looking for. If someone makes their Corvette or Chevelle or Mustang into a super custom car, yea, I think the value is going to go down. We don't drive cars that they made a million of though, so all that logic seems to go out the window.

You asked about modernizing, so this isn't generally something that'd be considered as such, but painting the cars seems to be about the only thing that consistently lowers the value. Albeit there are tastefully and well done paint jobs out there as well as the poor ones. But then again, you look at Hagerty's "car value" chart and it says that the car is worth some percentage less if it's an automatic. I tend to buy the car I want or do what I want to the car. I didn't buy it for the next guy, so I don't particularly care what the "next guy" thinks, car value or otherwise.

[mr_maxime]

I remember watching a Jay Leno's garage about the pantera and he said that the more desirable ones were ones that had been customized and updated since the stock car had issues. I think the Delorean may be more like those than the more common cars.

I wouldn't be offended by someone bringing my car back to stock but would be more upset if they put a prv back in Nick's car.

[DMCVegas]

I remember watching a Jay Leno's garage about the pantera and he said that the more desirable ones were ones that had been customized and updated since the stock car had issues. I think the Delorean may be more like those than the more common cars.

Well there is a key difference between "updated" and "customized".

When you update a car, that means that you are raising it up to a specific standard of reliability. Case in point is this book right here:

http://babbtechnology.com/books/gold_portfolio/gold.jpg

It's a collection of automotive press articles published about the DeLorean. From prototype, to production, to post-factory orphaning, there are a wide variety of articles. Some of the articles such as one particular test drive one where there was an issue with the 80 amp Ducellier alternator and a separate test car had to be sorted, provide a vital look into past ownership and the problems that the first generation of owners had that we don't nowadays.

And that is just one example, but it proves the point quite well. Many of the problems that early DeLorean owners had with their vehicles, we in turn would now actually scold them for having, because that means that they didn't address them. Power issues with your car? Why haven't you upgraded to the Motorola 90 amp alternator? And the list goes on.

An all-original DMC-12 with the 80-Amp alternator, no front-end recall kit, no de-ice sheild on the throttle spool, still has Lucas Relays, the Fail Fail Relay, no Guide Blocks on the doors, leak-prone oil pressure switch, plastic coolant tank, etc., may be considered "all original", but it's really only desirable to a micro-niche of a select-few people that want a pristine specimen instead of a functioning car. A car such as that is not "updated". But if you had two identical cars for sale where one was positively original, but the other was "Updated", the Updated one would sell first almost every time.

An updated car certainly is more desirable.

Customization is a whole other kettle of fish. But there are certain cases where customizing a car positively makes it more desirable. Prime example: The Radio. From the factory, the car came equipped with a 2-channel, shaft radio with those two big knobs. And people for some reason still feel uncomfortable with cutting out the dash to accommodate a modern DIN radio with functional, usable features. That's why people still look to settle with those low-end, shaft-style, junk model, flea market specials from Poncho's Give-A-Way , or have even spoken about wiring up all manor of FM adapters to get MP3 players and phones to work with their cars.

But if you see a car for sale where the owner has already cut the dash, and installed a modern DIN radio, then the car becomes more desirable because the taboo of irreversibly customizing/modifying the car has already been done, and the guilt now lies with someone else. So now the new owner can install their own radio of their choice with no hard feelings.

[mr_maxime]

But if you see a car for sale where the owner has already cut the dash, and installed a modern DIN radio, then the car becomes more desirable because the taboo of irreversibly customizing/modifying the car has already been done, and the guilt now lies with someone else. So now the new owner can install their own radio of their choice with no hard feelings.

Lol I essentially do the same with my painted car. I like it better but I always "blame" the previous owner for customizing it. I agree with he custom vs update, I wasn't clear distinguishing between the two.

[Flash66]

After I modified my car with the 17" and 18" wheels, re-routed air vents, iPad mounted in-dash stereo, etc, etc, I've had several people email me and ask to be first in line if I ever sell the car.

So, I think depending on how tastefully the modifications are done, it *could* raise the value for the right buyer.

I second what Patrick said. I've been seriously offered more for my iDMC than what most would go for. Our cars are almost identical.

[Patrick C]

Our cars are almost identical.

For now...until you finish one-upping me by adding that turbo! ;)

[Henrik]

My engine swap (VR6 + turbo) and switch to manual tranny has completely changed the characteristics of my car for the (much) better. What used to be just another sluggish Delorean has now become a one-off and unique D that is as fast, if not faster, than it looks. Last Sunday I went on a long trip just to drive it. It's just a hell of a lot more fun now.

Another aspect: The other night I tracked down an AC problem with my laptop hooked up to the MS3 Pro ECU. Didn't even get my hands dirty. A lot of the car's sensors and general logic are integrated into the ECU and if there's a problem, I'll see it as soon as I connect to it. The up-to-date engineering aspect is worth a lot to me as well.

So, to me, improved performance and modern technology makes the value of my car, perceived or not, immeasurable for the simple reason that it is on track to become exactly what I want; exactly how much that translates to in actual $ I'll never know because I'll never have a reason to ask anyone what they would offer.

[SEO Motorsports]

Just for raw data, I bought my Delorean for $15K from my uncle who was the original owner. I had about $6K in upgrades including the 2JZ supra engine into it. I sold it for $47K.


-Ed

[David T]

Just for raw data, I bought my Delorean for $15K from my uncle who was the original owner. I had about $6K in upgrades including the 2JZ supra engine into it. I sold it for $47K.


-Ed

Upgrades and modifications that are reversible and leave no holes or other marks (and you have the original parts) generally won't hurt the value unless you are trying to sell it to a purist who is looking for an untouched original car. Changes to make the car safer and/or more reliable (like recalls or new tires) may actually improve the value. IMHO changing the motor is a major change that most would not want done. Another would be a painted car. Things like that IMHO would lower the value of the car.

[Michael]

Upgrades and modifications that are reversible and leave no holes or other marks (and you have the original parts) generally won't hurt the value unless you are trying to sell it to a purist who is looking for an untouched original car. Changes to make the car safer and/or more reliable (like recalls or new tires) may actually improve the value. IMHO changing the motor is a major change that most would not want done. Another would be a painted car. Things like that IMHO would lower the value of the car.

For the record, I never said mods lower the value. I said they subject it to a narrower market. In fact I said mods can actually raise the value to that smaller group.