Buying a Delorean (questions about prices)

[chrome sentinel]

Hi guys I am new to the forum. I had a couple of questions that I am hoping you can help shed some light on. I am seriously considering buying a delorean but would like some clarification on what I am getting at certain price points.

I have read that $25,000 will get you a good daily driver.
What does $12,000 buy?
What does $16,000 buy?
I have been checking out eBay for awhile and have noticed not a lot of cars are being sold for $25,000. A lot of these cars look very clean but are selling between $12,000 to $18,000.
I am also a little bit confused about all of the restoration work. Why would a car that has low miles and has been stored properly need extensive parts replaced? I’m aware of certain upgrades and early failures but does a nice looking car with 30,000 miles that sells for $14,000 really need another $10,000 worth of work in order to be a good running vehicle.

My plan as it stands right now is to buy a delorean for around $12-$13 with $3,000 dollars ready for immediate fixes /upgrades. I also plan on doing all the work myself. Is this a good idea? I would like to have a car that looks good not flawless(as little rust as possible). Also, I live in New York (salt country) so the car would be driven a max of 2,000 miles per year.

I really appreciate your input. Thanks, James 8)

[SamHill]

To a Delorean, $3K can be like a cupcake in front of an anxious fat man.

[chrome sentinel]

I dont know what that means ? LOL:dork:

are you saying $3,000 is not going to do anything or it's going to fix alot?

[SamHill]

I dont know what that means ? LOL:dork:

are you saying $3,000 is not going to do anything or it's going to fix alot?

Don't mind me. I'm the resident idiot. There's a thread in the 'for sale' section called "I want a cheap Delorean." It holds a lot of truth. These cars don't sit/age well. Welcome to the board and the experience.

[DeLorean]

My 15K DeLorean was a totally original un restored 10K mile car. That said, if I took it to a competent DeLorean repair facility and had them do all the work I did myself I probably would have turned in another 6-10K to get it into "good, reliable driving" condition, lowered, doors working perfectly, engine, fuel system, tires, all there.

I did every bit of work myself, and got the same result. I have a good driving, everything works "turn key" DeLorean. I probably spent another 2K in parts getting it into that state, we'll call my labor free, and it's a 17K turn Key DeLorean now. I could likely make a slight profit on the car now if I turned around and re-sold it in the state it's in now.

That said, I am absolutely sure there are probably some people out there that have paid significantly more for a MUCH worse car, and then again there are a few who have paid LESS for a better car.

The major plus of my car, which I think should be the thing to look for with a fixer upper is that it ran and drove (though the fans & AC didn't work), and that it was cosmetically excellent, inside and out. If you find that car again in otherwise original condition in my opinion it's a 15-20K car. Mechanical & electrical issues one can fix with a reasonable degree of know-how, and there is so much DeLorean information out there now.

As for a low mile un restored delorean needing work, it will. Mostly related to electrical issues, cooling system issues, and other age related things. Just because it has low mileage does not mean things don't age when sitting in the garage- and much of the components were not very good to begin with! Mine for example had quite a few "age related" issues with the cooling system as well as the electrics.

In an original D that's been sitting in a garage for the last 20 years you will probably find the following if you try driving it.

May or may not idle
Doors won't stay up
May stop running when low on fuel
may stop running randomly
may not cold start
may not hot start
transmission won't shift right (if an auto)
clutch won't disengage all the way
cooling system will leak
none of the fans will work, interior or radiator
AC won't work
will stall out randomly
hood won't open
engine cover won't open
headlight switch won't work
fuel pump will stop working
NCT's will blow out
spair tire will be flat
steering shaft bushing will be bad
mice
melted fuse panel
circuit breakers will trip randomly, or won't and melt things
windows won't roll down
doors won't open when you are inside
spedometer won't work
the battery will always die randomly

and others I'm sure I am forgetting.

[opethmike]

Why would a car that has low miles and has been stored properly need extensive parts replaced?

Rubber rots with age, and will give way quickly once the car starts getting driven again

Fuel gets old and will contaminate a fuel system

Seals and gaskets that don't get exposed to circulating fluids/gases will dry rot and let loose quickly once the car gets driven again

And so on.

[jawn101]

My 15K DeLorean was a totally original un restored 10K mile car. That said, if I took it to a competent DeLorean repair facility and had them do all the work I did myself I probably would have turned in another 6-10K to get it into "good, reliable driving" condition, lowered, doors working perfectly, engine, fuel system, tires, all there.

I did every but of work myself, and got the same result. I have a good driving, everything works "turn key" DeLorean. I probably spent another 2K in parts getting it into that state, we'll call my labor free, and it's a 17K turn Key DeLorean now. I could likely make a slight profit on the car now if I turned around and re-sold it in the state it's in now.

That said, I am absolutely sure there are probably some people out there that have paid significantly more for a MUCH worse car, and then again there are a few who have paid LESS for a better car.

The major plus of my car, which I think should a the thing to look for with a fixer upper is that it ran and drove (though the fans & AC didn't work), and that it was cosmetically excellent, inside and out. If you find that car again in otherwise original condition in my opinion it's a 15-20K car. Mechanical & electrical issues one can fix with a reasonable degree of know-how, and there is so much DeLorean information out there now.

+1. That last paragraph describes my purchase to the letter - a cosmetically gorgeous car inside and out with no frame or body issues, all original, with a few obvious mechanical/electrical repairs (and of course all the upgrades) needed - for around 20k. What condition you 'should' buy in is going to depend on what you plan to do with the car. Do you want to do concours? Then you need all original without so much as an aftermarket zip-tie. Do you want a daily driver that you can mod to heaven and back, maybe do an engine swap? Then you "need" basically a rolling shell (but of course, the more that works, the better.) Do you want a weekend car that looks, sounds, and feels just like original but has the non concours compliant benefit of all the significant developments in technology over the last 30 years? That's what I did and I don't regret it one bit. It's true what they say - the most expensive DeLorean is a cheap DeLorean. You don't realize how fast the little things add up :)

I've been doing all the work myself (with a good amount of help from Clint) and the untold number of hours in labor would have doubled the cost of the car if done professionally. But I didn't buy this car because it's good, reliable transportation. I bought it out of passion - I *wanted* to work on it. :)

Good luck and welcome to the forum!

[thirdmanj]

I'm gonna get preachy here so just take it for what it is. You need to have a lot of patience, love, devotion and lets not forget $$$. I don't want to scare you, but you need to understand there is a certain level of devotion that is required to be, not just a Delorean owner, but a classic car owner in general. 3k is good start, but depending which avenue you travel you won't get too far. They are very finicky cars that need a lot of attention. I just want to make clear that if your considering to buy a fun car for kicks, the Delorean needs to be in a class of consideration all its own. OK, I'm done.

I recommend the same rule of thumb when buying any used car. Title, accidents, location etc. If the miles are too low, she may not have been taken care of properly. I've found, that to keep a Delorean on the road, and trustworthy, maintenance is a must, or she won't stay on the road. This being the year 2011, I would suggest a car have close to 20K to 25K at least, and loads of documentation about which shops she's been to and for what. For what I suggest you're looking at about 17-20k. I hope this helps, and I look forward to welcoming you to our h(H)umble community.

[jawn101]

I'm gonna get preachy here so just take it for what it is. You need to have a lot of patience, love, devotion and lets not forget $$$. I don't want to scare you, but you need to understand there is a certain level of devotion that is required to be, not just a Delorean owner, but a classic car owner in general. 3k is good start, but depending which avenue you travel you won't get too far. They are very finicky cars that need a lot of attention. I just want to make clear that if your considering to buy a fun car for kicks, the Delorean needs to be in a class of consideration all its own. OK, I'm done.

I recommend the same rule of thumb when buying any used car. Title, accidents, location etc. If the miles are too low, she may not have been taken care of properly. I've found, that to keep a Delorean on the road, and trustworthy, maintenance is a must, or she won't stay on the road. This being the year 2011, I would suggest a car have close to 20K to 25K at least, and loads of documentation about which shops she's been to and for what. For what I suggest you're looking at about 17-20k. I hope this helps, and I look forward to welcoming you to our h(H)umble community.

Right on. It's all about passion. More than a car, more than money. It's a piece of history, a big responsibility, and not always an easy one to care for. You'll have low points where you wish you'd never bought the thing. But you'll have high points that will make you forget you ever questioned yourself too. If you're lucky, the latter will outweigh the former.

Patrick Rothfuss quote:
"Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket. But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect."

Be prepared. Be informed. Buy wisely. Don't rush into anything. You'll do fine.

[thirdmanj]

That sums it up beautifully.


Right on. It's all about passion. More than a car, more than money. It's a piece of history, a big responsibility, and not always an easy one to care for. You'll have low points where you wish you'd never bought the thing. But you'll have high points that will make you forget you ever questioned yourself too. If you're lucky, the latter will outweigh the former.

Patrick Rothfuss quote:
"Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket. But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect."

Be prepared. Be informed. Buy wisely. Don't rush into anything. You'll do fine.

[David T]

A lot depends on the purchase price. You may get lucky and buy a better than average car at a low price. Depending on it's condition $3K may not be enough no matter how much work you are willing and capable of doing. When you figure tires, battery, fuel system, tune-up, cooling system work, A/C parts, struts, and some cosmetics you can easily spend that and more. If all you have is $15-16K, try to buy a running car at least. The general rule-of-thumb is that a nice driver is going to cost $20K. $15K plus parts of $5K, a mess for $10K plus $10K parts and work, etc. You will start to see a picture now. BTW include in your budget transportation costs to get your car home, Tax and Title and registration fees. That can easily be over $1K just by itself.
David Teitelbaum

[jawn101]

That sums it up beautifully.

Thanks, I try :) For what it's worth, it took me 20 years to find my car. It showed up when I least expected it.

[Kenny_Z]

I'm one of the few that was blessed with a good cheap Delorean. Before I purchased the car for around 14k she'd already had about a thousand dollars worth of shop work on the fuel and brake system. I put about 600 into general maintenance in the form of new clutch hydraulics and tune up kit. She'd been sitting for about 10 years and only had 26,000 documented miles on the odometer. I still have rear tires to replace, finish work on the AC, and then I can do upgrades. I'm not one to leave something stock but my upgrades will be reversible. If I ever sell her (doubtful) I would want the next owner to have the option of restoring her to original condition.

To own something like a Delorean or equally rare classic car takes dedication. Some parts are expensive, some parts are surprisingly cheap. I don't feel that the overall car is that hard to work on. My limited experience in auto electrical and manual transmissions is a bit of a hinder but I am learning a lot from Red. I'm enjoying the work.

Treat D buying like you'd treat any used car. The longer a car sits the worse shape it is going to be in. See if you can figure out why that car sat. In my case, she was an investment car and was shoved into storage. If the car broke down and was shelved you'll have a worse starting point. Not only will you have all the age worn parts to fix, you'll have the root cause to fix as well.

Keep in mind you may have to wait for that first ride, you'll need to be patient. I wasn't and lost the clutch cylinders causing myself some heartache where I should of inspected/replaced them earlier. Whenever possible, do the work you trust yourself to do. When it breaks down on you (and it will) you won't be floundering in the dark trying to get yourself home.

Good luck on finding the perfect Delorean for you. :)

[stevedmc]

YEAH, this is what I believe about Delorean ownership. In my opinion there are two types of owners.

The first owner has dreamed about owning a Delorean for many years. In my case I first saw the car when I was about 10 years old on a BTTF poster. I knew nothing about the car or the movie. The only thing I knew was whatever that thing was it looked weird, scarey, fascinating, and might have even been a UFO. I knew nothing about the movie or even the car.

A few years later I started watching BTTF and by the time I was 15 I had to have a Delorean for my first car. I read anything I could on Deloreans, went to car shows, made friends with people on the DML, and thanks to a few great guys in Alabama I got to ride and drive in them. I will never forget Scott Mueller and Bill Burden's great kindness to such a young enthusiast.

Reality set it, years of reading the DML passed by, and one day I lost most interest. I ended up unsubscribing from the DML and life went on. I ended up going to college, got a decent job, bought a house, sold it, got another, and even got engaged a few times.

For some reason the Delorean dream never did go away though. Years passed by and I would sometimes think about pursuing one. Reality would always set in and I would forget about the silly dream.

Then one day when I was 27 years old it happened. I was driving around Baton Rouge, minding my own business, and suddenly I saw a Delorean driving by. I lost all logic and within 4 weeks I found myself driving a Delorean on an 18 hour drive home from my purchase. For better or for worse I own a Delorean.

Becoming a Delorean owner didn't happen overnight for me. It took about 17 years from the first time I ever had any curiosity of the stupid little car.

Do I love the car? Yes. Do I think life would be easier without the car? Yes. But for better or worse, I own a Delorean.

Well thats the first type of owner.

The second type of owner doesn't have a story like that. He or she just wakes up one day and says, "It would be cool to own a Delorean" and starts shopping on ebay. He or she buys a car and when the problems occur they either panic and sell the car, keep it and end up hating it because they can't afford to take care of it, or just drop it off somewhere like DMCH to have it restored because they can afford it.

There is nothing wrong with being the second type of owner but you better be prepared emotionally and financially when you realize that these cars aren't all they were originally hyped to be. Does my car suck? Yes. Do I love it regardless? Yes.


Edit: I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I hope I didnt do that or discourage anyone. I'm just saying to be prepared for reality when a low mileage "perfect" car starts giving you problems. Either you are in love with the car and am will to deal with it or you will end up hating the thing.

[DeLorean]

It certainly is true that a DeLorean, any DeLorean, isn't a car for someone whom is unprepared to deal with problems. They will never be "problem free" :lol: It's a DeLorean! If you want trouble free 100% reliable operation, buy a new Camry.

[Chris Burns]

I must admit seeing all the low priced Deloreans for sale lately has pulled on my heart strings a bit. Then I remind myself of the repair issues that can come up with Deloreans every now and then. All classic cars have issues. I'm hoping to come across one that has been taken care of (at least of somewhat) and not scattered to the 4 winds.

Yea if you want a Delorean you can drive and enjoy, spend the extra money and get one that has been taken care of, updated, and babied some.

The repair issues haven't stopped me one bit from loving these stainless machines. Until I get one, I'll be hanging around other owners, hopefully going to DCS 2012, and reading Delorean magazines!

[DeLorean03]

Ok, I'm going to address some EXCELLENT quotes here, and then I'll tell my swan song...


To a Delorean, $3K can be like a cupcake in front of an anxious fat man.

That could not have made more sense. So true.



In an original D that's been sitting in a garage for the last 20 years you will probably find the following if you try driving it.

May or may not idle
Doors won't stay up
May stop running when low on fuel
may stop running randomly
may not cold start
may not hot start
transmission won't shift right (if an auto)
clutch won't disengage all the way
cooling system will leak
none of the fans will work, interior or radiator
AC won't work
will stall out randomly
hood won't open
engine cover won't open
headlight switch won't work
fuel pump will stop working
NCT's will blow out
spair tire will be flat
steering shaft bushing will be bad
mice
melted fuse panel
circuit breakers will trip randomly, or won't and melt things
windows won't roll down
doors won't open when you are inside
spedometer won't work
the battery will always die randomly

and others I'm sure I am forgetting.

I nearly encountered all of these. Except for mice, NCT tires blowing, anything clutch-related, spare tire not holding air, and the battery dying randomly - at one point in time or another - I have seriously seen and experienced all of those AND more...


I'm gonna get preachy here so just take it for what it is. You need to have a lot of patience, love, devotion and lets not forget $$$.

Yep. Particularly $$$ and patience.


YEAH, this is what I believe about Delorean ownership. In my opinion there are two types of owners....

I was the "second" kind of owner....I really was...and boy did I pay for it.



Now, I'll tell my story - very short and sweet. I saw a car in July 2003. The owner let me sit in it and open the doors, and I was hooked. All logic went out the window; I had to own a DeLorean. I got on a website, found one, made a deal, and got the car delivered to me in Nov 2003.

Now keep in mind, I'm 22 at the time. I have done NOTHING with cars except air in the tires and gas in the tank - that is the extent of my mech knowledge - period. And I bought one of these cars, site unseen, with no test driving or nothing. After all, the seller told me it was a "turn-key" daily driver; nothing could POSSIBLY go wrong....

So in Nov 2003, the car arrives on a transport truck. Takes the truck driver about 8 tries to start the car and keep it running. Turning on the A/C kills the car. And after 15 minutes, the auto transmission stops shifting....

Thankfully, HillBillyDMC here on the forums and I met, and dude, that man is the SOLE reason I have my car today. Fastforward 8 years later, with all of his help and labor nearly free (I did lots of bartering and gave him any material goods I could to show him
my gratitude) - and my receipts for parts - from the entire fuel system and transmission being serviced and fixed down to the 8mm nuts and bolts I purchased from Lowes or Home Depot, and I know without a shadow of a doubt - I have put in 12k into my car. Another 10k for the car itself, and BING - $22k.

Low mileage cars almost equate to "nightmare" when I hear or see them. The stainless skins of these cars make a junker and a museum-quality DeLorean look IDENTICAL at very first glance from a distance.

Another thing, these cars hate to sit. I can't explain it, but DeLoreans just really...really...really hate to sit. Them breaking down is almost punishment to owners for not driving them more often it seems. Once caught up to speed and reliable, they need to be driven at the bare minimum once every 2 weeks. If an owner doesn't take care of his DeLorean and drive it, that car will make sure you pay - both monetarily and emotionally.

They are not insanely difficult to work on; they just require a lil' extra patience and attention. They are wonderful to work on for an "exotic" or rare car, and they are very rewarding lil' cars once you finally get them to "dependable" status. Just take your time, and be.......very patient.

[dmcjohn]

are you saying $3,000 is not going to do anything or it's going to fix alot?

$3000 buys a lot of parts. It's enough to sort out any potential fuel/brake/clutch problems that might come up, so long as you do the work yourself.

If you are paying someone else to do the work, $3000 for parts and labor won't get you very far - and that's where I could see a bill for $10k happening...

Best of luck!
John

[Bitsyncmaster]

I bought my D 5 years ago for $15 K. It was driven occasionally and had been serviced by Gradey. Here is what had to be fixed to keep it driving:

Battery was shot. Would not start without a jumper battery.
Drivers side front brake would stick. But it made the 250 mile drive home.
Fuel accumulator was bad. Caused hot starting issues.
AC was not working. Had already been converted but leaked quickly.
Minor electrical issues (intermittent gauges working).

Lots of other issues done to improve reliability:

New TABs
New clutch line.
New lift cylinders.
New alternator.
New wheel bearing (was leaking grease)
New fuel pump.
New coolant pipes.
All hoses (coolant and vacuum) blue silicone.
New brake pads.
Lock actuators.
New fuse block.
New relays (solid state).
Low power cooling fans.
New steering bushing.

Lots of other things I'm sure I forgot but you get the idea. So doing all the work yourself you may get away with a $17-$18 K investment. It all depends on how lucky you get finding a good buy. You can really rack up expenses doing cosmetic updates which I have not had to do since my car had done by a PO.

[Spittybug]

Like several others have said, it's about not only $$s, but commitment to an old car that will need TLC even if it is already in good shape. I too got a very good car a few years ago for ~$16,500 if I recall. Between new fans, shocks, tie rod ends, radiator, wear items, A/C repair, water pump, tires and battery, my "necessary" parts purchases have been less than $5,000. Add in the labor for DMCH to do the A/C work (I've done all other work myself) and that number jumps to $6,000+. Then there is the optional stuff we all do..... Wings aloft, stereo, amp, sub woofer, headliner, EFI conversion (or Carb to not start a war), nicer engine bay work, steering wheels, etc.... add more $$. Face it, if you like these cars, you WILL find places to just spend a little more here, a little more there. I'm still under $8,000 over several years.

Then there is the labor. I have COUNTLESS hours in cleaning grounds and electrical connections, disassembling the front end to replace worn parts, tinkering with lighting, switches, rebuilding a transmission, DIAGNOSING THINGS (very frustrating and if you aren't good at it, very expensive for others to do), prototyping changes and on and on and on. This is the hobby part of it though, the part many of us enjoy! I get bored to tears with washing or waxing a car, but love to tackle something big.

So, I guess I'm in the camp that says know how much money and time you are willing to invest, know your own limitations on what diagnosis/work you can do yourself and plan accordingly. There is ZERO guarantee that a $25K car will have everything already done to it. Why are they selling it if it is a great daily driver after all? Conversely, a structurally sound $15K car that you can tackle yourself could be made reliable for $5,000 in parts in many cases. Rule of thumb I use: Labor rate to work on Delorean is $100 per hour. Take into account getting it to a shop and back, lost use and the fact that it probably takes twice as long to fix something as you think it will, and you are looking at $300 per hour on top of parts.

Last but not least, don't forget that you'll need tools and a long-term place to keep the car while you work on it. I even went so far as to buy a MaxJax floor lift so that it is easier to work on the car. It's just money :banghead:

[thirdmanj]

:umm: :hmm: anybody seen the guy who started this thread? Great work guys.... I think we scared him off... :doorpeek:

[DeLorean]

Maybe we told him something he didn't want to hear?

[jawn101]

I hope not.

[stevedmc]

YEAH, maybe he is the second type of owner I described and he just decided to save himself the headache.

You've got to remember, most of our friends and family think we are nuts for owning these cars and pouring money into them.


EDIT: YEAH, has anyone considered he might be Monchy in disguise?

[chrome sentinel]

hey guys Im still here. I actually want a Delorean that needs some work. It would be me and my dad working on the car. My dad has all the tools and know how including PATIENCE !!!.

A few more questions for you guys. Is Surface rust an absolute deal breaker or is it worth buying a car with some surface rust(is the epoxy coating going to make working on any rust a nightmare). Also how easy would you guys say working on the engine and other parts of the car are. My dad just did some work on our 1995 Toyota Avalon and replacing the spark plugs was hell. Hows the engine bay as far as room to work. By doing the work ourselves on a car we have no experiance with along with not being car guys per se just dedicated and willing to go slow and do things right. I assume the service manual is very helpful right ?
THANKS FOR ALL THE FAST RESPONSES:cool1:

by the way I just got back from school(college) what a bunch of ugly looking jelly beans with loud exhausts and ugly black wings bolted on to the back of the car. I just had to say that sorry.:smile:

[stevedmc]

Also how easy would you guys say working on the engine and other parts of the car are.

YEAH, engine access is a piece of cake once you ditch K-Jet and install a carburetor.

[sean]

YEAH, engine access is a piece of cake once you ditch K-Jet and install a carburetor.

Or if you know what you're doing :devil: :biggrin:

[Dangermouse]

compared with many modern cars, engine access is a breeze. There are some tight spots, though.

And I'd venture to say that you will get better tech help here than on an Avalon forum, if there even is one.

[DeLorean03]

Is Surface rust an absolute deal breaker or is it worth buying a car with some surface rust(is the epoxy coating going to make working on any rust a nightmare).

Glad we didn't scare you away. This car is not a Ferrari or anything, but it's no Honda either. I'd rather scare someone away who really WAS NOT prepared to handle one of these cars, then watch them try, get in over their heads, and fail while selling the car in a total state of disrepair.

Regarding surface rust, it all depends on your level of experience and knowledge. Good example, just today, this is what part of my frame looked like before I started.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4788&d=1315032152

Here's what it looked like when I was done addressing the same area:

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4801&d=1315032263

As you can see, this won't be rusting again - ever. I utilized a solution called ZeroRust, and I guarantee you, that area won't ever start rusting again. A lot more pictures of this to come later, but I don't want to risk hijacking your thread and going :offtopic2:.



Remember what I said about a great DeLorean and a junker DeLorean looking great at first glance from a distance?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoKqMJp_S7c

Now, imagine if you will, that junker's interior looks "decent" - like the seats are dry but in "one piece" and there's a dashmat/cover over the dash and binnacle, and you shut the doors. They both look outstanding (outside of the dent in the driver's side rear qtr panel) at first glance.

Just some things to think about as you pursue one of these lil cars.

[Only1Balto]

YEAH, this is what I believe about Delorean ownership. In my opinion there are two types of owners.

The first owner has dreamed about owning a Delorean for many years. In my case I first saw the car when I was about 10 years old on a BTTF poster. I knew nothing about the car or the movie. The only thing I knew was whatever that thing was it looked weird, scarey, fascinating, and might have even been a UFO. I knew nothing about the movie or even the car.

A few years later I started watching BTTF and by the time I was 15 I had to have a Delorean for my first car. I read anything I could on Deloreans, went to car shows, made friends with people on the DML, and thanks to a few great guys in Alabama I got to ride and drive in them. I will never forget Scott Mueller and Bill Burden's great kindness to such a young enthusiast.

Reality set it, years of reading the DML passed by, and one day I lost most interest. I ended up unsubscribing from the DML and life went on. I ended up going to college, got a decent job, bought a house, sold it, got another, and even got engaged a few times.

For some reason the Delorean dream never did go away though. Years passed by and I would sometimes think about pursuing one. Reality would always set in and I would forget about the silly dream.

Then one day when I was 27 years old it happened. I was driving around Baton Rouge, minding my own business, and suddenly I saw a Delorean driving by. I lost all logic and within 4 weeks I found myself driving a Delorean on an 18 hour drive home from my purchase. For better or for worse I own a Delorean.

Becoming a Delorean owner didn't happen overnight for me. It took about 17 years from the first time I ever had any curiosity of the stupid little car.

Do I love the car? Yes. Do I think life would be easier without the car? Yes. But for better or worse, I own a Delorean.

Well thats the first type of owner.

The second type of owner doesn't have a story like that. He or she just wakes up one day and says, "It would be cool to own a Delorean" and starts shopping on ebay. He or she buys a car and when the problems occur they either panic and sell the car, keep it and end up hating it because they can't afford to take care of it, or just drop it off somewhere like DMCH to have it restored because they can afford it.

There is nothing wrong with being the second type of owner but you better be prepared emotionally and financially when you realize that these cars aren't all they were originally hyped to be. Does my car suck? Yes. Do I love it regardless? Yes.


Edit: I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I hope I didnt do that or discourage anyone. I'm just saying to be prepared for reality when a low mileage "perfect" car starts giving you problems. Either you are in love with the car and am will to deal with it or you will end up hating the thing.


Love this quote and your story! :) I'm pretty much in the same boat as the OP except its between the DeLorean or a Toyota Supra MKIV. I'm finishing up 8 years in the military and I've gotten hired to work for Intel out in Arizona. I've got 3 kids and a wife who's an RN, and I'm looking for that special car. A car that- once I'd buy, it'd go up on jacks for a few years while I pay her down and begin to slowly restore/rework her. A car where- it wouldn't be 100% ready even before my kids turned 18, and I'd be ok with that. I still have a few concerns though hopefully you all wouldn't mind helping address.

How difficult is it to obtain parts for the DeLorean? Any part, you name it. Say a door, or a transmission, or the back window? Is there any part of the car that owners are stock piling up right now as we speak? I don't want to have to fight other owners for specific parts.

And as far as the photos of the rust- is it possible just to get an entirely new frame from the DMC warehouse out in texas? (If money were no option of course). Nothing against your repair job, I'm just a bit OCD when it comes to restoring a car.

[Dangermouse]

How difficult is it to obtain parts for the DeLorean? Any part, you name it. Say a door, or a transmission, or the back window? Is there any part of the car that owners are stock piling up right now as we speak? I don't want to have to fight other owners for specific parts.

And as far as the photos of the rust- is it possible just to get an entirely new frame from the DMC warehouse out in texas? (If money were no option of course). Nothing against your repair job, I'm just a bit OCD when it comes to restoring a car.

Almost every part is available NOS (New Old Stock - i.e. 30 years old but never used) from Houston (check out the parts section at www.delorean.com), many parts are reproductions or "improved" in some way. There are plenty of doors and transmissions. I think the same is true of rear windows too. Several parts are available NAPA or Autozone if you know what to ask for.

The notorious Left Front Fender (LFF) is probably the only part hoarded as they are not available new, or NOS. Plenty of RFFs, but no LFF - (ordering glitch 30 years ago). Expect to pay $2-4k for one one ebay as against <$1k for the RFF. Solution is to grab one from a car being parted, or get yours repaired which is almost always possible.

Other items are the instrument binnacles (which Houston are working on) and hub carrier for one of the wheels (I forget which one). Dashboards used to be in this catagory, but Houston have recently started re-manufacturing them :smile:

Replacement frames are available, including occasional all-stainless frames ($10k for these). More common is a complete frame-off of your existing frame and then repair/epoxy or galvanizing.

[Only1Balto]

Wow amazing! Definitely not the answer I was expecting- This makes the DeLorean a true possibility for me :) I plan on taking a trip up to DMC CA tomorrow to do a nice walk around and finally be able to touch one (maybe even sit in one)! I'll be sure to ask a bunch of questions as well as look at the ones they've got for sale. They've got one for 15k that looks in pretty decent shape to me. I'm really excited and happy for what DMC is doing for us, do you think they're working on the LFF fenders for us? I'm coming from a racing background and I really think its time to work on something a little more unique and classic then something light and fast.

As a daily driver, I've got a 1985 Caprice Wagon with an old 305 V8 in it. It only had 59k when I got him, and I was surprised to find out how much I loved him. Everything original, power everything, seats, windows (including the rear window), cruise control, radio, hub caps :) I would've loved to restore him, but a lot of the trim and interior pieces are only found in the junk yard and that really upsets me. This is a problem that I wanted to make sure I wouldn't run into with my project car. Like on old ford mustang, I wanted the parts to be new and abundant, and I'm excited to see that DMC is doing that for us. 10k for a frame is not a bad deal at all- and if I can buy other parts like doors, fiberglass body, etc. then I can work on pretty much any type of DeLorean that I come to fall in love with and restore.

[Kukem]

Well, I am in the same shoes as the OP and have come sooo close to buying one 3 times now, that I must say that there is a lot to learn about these cars. I have bought all the replacement parts for a car's fuel system (came to less than $1K) and from what I can tell, the prices are pretty reasonable for an Exotic. (Heck, the brakes for the DeLorean are almost half as much as the brakes for my 2007 Matrix!) I think the biggest thing I am having trouble with is the "hardly any mechanics" knowledge. That's what scares me the most. I have doen my reading and have the manuals and have found
how to's for some things, but I still worry that it may be harder than it looks. The people here, though, are helpful and still make it a worthwhile pursuit.

Money, patience and passion. They have been mentioned before and as a "someday" owner, I take that advice to heart. These are a realistic dream car for people, but not for those who just want to jump in and drive. I may have lost out on a few over the past year, but I'll continue to look. Take your time, too and enjoy the hunt. I find it exciting and know that when the right car comes along, I just may be ready to call it mine.

Good luck to you and I hope you can follow your dream too!

[steve6864]

Mine was bought for $10,000. It ran and had dirty but good stainless.One large blemish(2" square) on the top of the car,one working brake,right front,4 missed matched tires and front tie rods that were so bad,had I known, I would have never driven it home from Manhatten to N.C.Drooping headliners,ripped open seats,filthy carpets,etc... It had a loping idle and somewhere in virginia the lambda light came on!5 1/2 years later and I think I stole it.I`m somewhere in the $2500 to $3000 range in reciepts not counting optional things i have bought that have nothing to do with the looks or operation of the vehicle.But,and heres the catch,I wouldn`t trade owning the car and the experiences I`ve had for any other car I`ve had.I`ve owned over 50 cars.6864.

[Only1Balto]

Mine was bought for $10,000. It ran and had dirty but good stainless.One large blemish(2" square) on the top of the car,one working brake,right front,4 missed matched tires and front tie rods that were so bad,had I known, I would have never driven it home from Manhatten to N.C.Drooping headliners,ripped open seats,filthy carpets,etc... It had a loping idle and somewhere in virginia the lambda light came on!5 1/2 years later and I think I stole it.I`m somewhere in the $2500 to $3000 range in reciepts not counting optional things i have bought that have nothing to do with the looks or operation of the vehicle.But,and heres the catch,I wouldn`t trade owning the car and the experiences I`ve had for any other car I`ve had.I`ve owned over 50 cars.6864.

That's awesome Steve! I bet that drive would be a drive you'll always remember huh? Sounds like a great experience.

[DeLorean]

I'm curious, did the OP ever get one / still thinking about buying?

[Dangermouse]

He hasn't been here since 9/9/11, so probably not

[dmcjohn]

Regarding surface rust, it all depends on your level of experience and knowledge. Good example, just today, this is what part of my frame looked like before I started.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4788&d=1315032152

Here's what it looked like when I was done addressing the same area:

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4801&d=1315032263

As you can see, this won't be rusting again - ever. I utilized a solution called ZeroRust, and I guarantee you, that area won't ever start rusting again. .

I can't tell if you are joking? That doesn't look even remotely addressed, and I guarantee you it will rust again!