Valuation and Future Predictions

[SBESPN]

The DeLorean is an iconic dream car of many, with only 9,000 made and maybe 6,000 still left on the road. Yet why haven't valuations of this iconic car skyrocketed in your opinion, and do you think one day in the future these cars will commonly sell for 50,000+? Why has the market stayed relatively consistent around 20,000 to 30,000, and do you see that changing any time soon?

[Michael]

Don't feed the bot.

[dodint]

Now that I own one; skyrocket now plz, kthx.

[SBESPN]

Don't feed the bot.

Are you saying I'm a bot?

It's a serious question. I think all owners would like to see DeLoreans go up in value.

[dn010]

Do a forum search, this topic has come up multiple times throughout the years.

[SBESPN]

Now that I own one; skyrocket now plz, kthx.

I've owned mine for over 10 years and prices have stayed relatively the same. It's nice to know it's not depreciating(if taken care of), but with how rare and iconic these cars are they should be selling for much more in my opinion.

[SBESPN]

Do a forum search, this topic has come up multiple times throughout the years.

Alright thanks, I'm not a regular here.

[SBESPN]

Actually there's not very many threads I can find that talk about future valuations or why prices have stagnated. I found one with a graph that showed the average price over time. What's wrong with starting a new thread? The old ones are outdated and the more info there is the better.

[dn010]

Actually there's not very many threads I can find that talk about future valuations or why prices have stagnated. I found one with a graph that showed the average price over time. What's wrong with starting a new thread? The old ones are outdated and the more info there is the better.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?15287-Hagerty-10-year-prediction-for-DeLorean&highlight=valuation
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?13288-hagerty-values&highlight=valuation
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?10721-Are-these-cars-ever-going-to-be-worth-anything&highlight=valuation

There are a few links above.

Asking this question is like asking, why isn't my Predicta TV set worth more and will it ever be? It takes a certain individual to want to own one, certain patience needed when fixing the car or even when you're out in public with it and certain finances to repair it. Too often there is someone new who comes on all excited that they just bought a DeLorean, they need advice to repair something on it and they're never heard from again, only to see that car's vin again among those cars that have changed hands. Sure, future values upwards of $50-75-100K would be great, but with as you said 6,000 thousand still in existence, how do you achieve getting to that price?

[Chris 16409]

More importantly, that 6000 number left has been thrown around for quite some time now. I'm thinking it's got to be a lower lower by now!!!

[dodint]

Yeah. Considering the one in Utah it's down to 5,999 at least.

[dn010]

More importantly, that 6000 number left has been thrown around for quite some time now. I'm thinking it's got to be a lower lower by now!!!

Agreed that the number is nothing more than speculation.

Going back to those certain kinds of people who want to own the car - the owners I've met, unless they inherited the car, are always passionate about the car. I've never heard someone say, I bought a DeLorean to stick away in hopes that one day it will fetch hundreds of thousands. Those who have the car land in their lap either by a death in the family or otherwise, usually want to fix it up quick to get rid of it fast. The car and its story is not for everyone. I'd imagine those today with an extra $50K laying around would likely rather purchase something newer, faster and more reliable than a sluggish V6 stainless steel car from Canada that is packed full of coke and will leave you stranded at an intersection on the way home, all while the guy who made them is still stuck in jail.

[SBESPN]

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?15287-Hagerty-10-year-prediction-for-DeLorean&highlight=valuation
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?13288-hagerty-values&highlight=valuation
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?10721-Are-these-cars-ever-going-to-be-worth-anything&highlight=valuation

There are a few links above.

Asking this question is like asking, why isn't my Predicta TV set worth more and will it ever be? It takes a certain individual to want to own one, certain patience needed when fixing the car or even when you're out in public with it and certain finances to repair it. Too often there is someone new who comes on all excited that they just bought a DeLorean, they need advice to repair something on it and they're never heard from again, only to see that car's vin again among those cars that have changed hands. Sure, future values upwards of $50-75-100K would be great, but with as you said 6,000 thousand still in existence, how do you achieve getting to that price?

Thanks for the links, some good info to sift through. I think the main thing holding prices down is the mostly false public assumptions and rumors about it such as unreliability, it's too slow, mechanical nightmare, etc. The public and a lot of "car guys" think they're lemons, and hate on them. Jay Leno hates them and tons of gear heads always try to falsely inform you about DeLoreans and what's wrong with them. (Have you ever noticed how they love to bring up JZD's cocaine scandal, or make cocaine jokes like you haven't heard them?) As we all know, Deloreans can be very reliable once the kinks are worked out, and performance upgrades can be added, and mechanically I think they're pretty easy to work on compared to a lot of cars. So I believe the falsehoods are really driving down prices. It's almost like we need a PR person to take on the gear heads out there who trash on the car.

[Dangermouse]

Calling DMCVegas, Calling DMCVegas

[SBESPN]

Yeah the 6,000 number is definitely off. I'm sure "x" amount of Deloreans bite the dust every year unfortunately.

[Mark D]

For what it's worth, here is the latest valuation from Hagerty.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=55062&d=1515514028

I consider my car #2 so it's pushing 40K in value vs 27K around 4 years ago. I consider that a pretty big jump if the numbers are actually true. As you can see there is a bit of fluctuation that happened in 2015, perhaps due to the supposed "Back to the Future Day" bubble.

[David T]

If you compare the curves to other classic cars they all follow a similar trend. The #1 cars will go up higher and faster than the lesser condition cars. There will be less and less #1 cars, less #'s of all of them, and it gets more and more expensive to make a car a #1 condition. It also costs the most to maintain a car in #1 condition. Often an owner is not completely honest and exaggerates his car's condition because he is not objective. A #1 condition is virtually a new car. Not many can make that claim. Get the Millennium Concours manual and score your car. Then you will see why a #1 car is worth so much more.

[Mark D]

Here are updated numbers from Hagerty for May 2018. Valuations took another big jump upwards.

Since January 2018 (5 months):
#1 increased 10.4%
#2 increased 9.9%
#3 increased 3.3%
#4 increased 2.5%

Since May 2017 (1 Year)
#1 increased 27.6%
#2 increased 23.8%
#3 increased 11.7%
#4 increased 7.3%

For a car between #1 and #2 condition the valuation since Sept 2006 has almost doubled (26k --> 50k)

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=56852&d=1528987892

[dodint]

I bought in Dec 2017, naturally. ;)

[Stainless]

Buy high and sell low...

[cdrusn]

I know ebay is hardly a good source of prices but it seems DeLorean prices have really gone up over the last year. It seems excellent cars are into the $40,000 range and even a #4 is in the high teens and mid twenties. Most people will say "who cares, fix it up and drive it for fun". That's one way of looking at it but it also is a matter of
pride driving around a near $40,000 car than one that is cheap. Look at the Porsche 911s from the 1970s, they were worth less than $10,000 and now you can't touch one that is a driver for less than $50,000. If you're an investor, a DeLorean is not a good way to make money. Windshields crack, door springs crack in half for no apparent reason and are $1,000 for the part. As long as my car is worth about what I have in it including repairs then I am a happy DeLorean owner. :race:

[Michael]

Most people will say "who cares, fix it up and drive it for fun".

The ones (C.B. types) who say crap like "Drive it more" or other stupid uninformed BS that chastises owners don't have to work the hours we do to get the car in the first place, nor do they pay for the upkeep, or realize that we have other things to worry about before "playtime" happens.

[Col Bennett]

I’ve been watching this for a very long time.

Feel free to pick at my break-down below and call me bonkers, but I genuinely feel that these are pretty accurate ranges these days - and what the marque deserves in 2018.

$10-20k
Ok but generally poor condition. May or may not drive but will need considerable work done ($15-30k vendor) to update cosmetics, mechanical and electrical components. In most cases parts cars would fall into the lower end of this category.

$30-$40k
Generally v-nice cars. Good cosmetics but may not stand up to a critical eye on closer inspection. Also generally well maintained but will probably need a laundry list of updates and fixes that the owner hasn’t gotten around to. May need ($5-10k vendor) of work done to bring it up to higher cosmetic and mechanical standard.

$40-55k
Excellent cars. Great cosmetics that generally hold up on closer inspection. Very well maintained and updated. Should need very little done and should generally be a great driver and show car. Should be accompanied by a comprehensive breakdown of everything that’s been updated over the years to show that very little $ needs spent on it.

A1 - $55-75k
Show cars with outstanding cosmetics, a super clean frame and body along with almost all mechanical and electrical updates done. Should look like it rolled off the showroom floor and should operate perfectly. Cars like this should also be accompanied by a comprehensive breakdown of everything that’s been updated over the years to show that almost nothing needs updated.

Near-Concours with all modern updates completed - $75-90k
Almost perfect in every way (yes, there's no such thing as a perfect DeLorean). You should be able to eat your dinner off the frame and every part and component should look like it just rolled off the production line. It should pass almost every section of the Millennium Concours judging book - but with the exception of having all modern updates completed. This includes refined cosmetics, mechanics and electrics to be a safe driver with no issues what-so-ever. At this level you’re close to what DMCH plan to sell for ~$100k. A near-perfect example of the marque.

Concours (Untouched & Original) - $100k+
Flawless. Every component should be accurate and original. It should pass every section of the Millennium Concours book and really should be in a collector museum. Probably not safe to drive without significant updates but the value here is in originality and accuracy. Very few of these examples exist.

Random sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbcP9J8FB_g
http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/q-stephen-wynne-ceo-delorean-motor-company-article-1.2402960
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-delorean-dmc-12/

[Hill Valley PD]

I’ve been watching this for a very long time.

Feel free to pick at my break-down below and call me bonkers, but I genuinely feel that these are pretty accurate ranges these days - and what the marque deserves in 2018.

$10-20k
Ok but generally poor condition. May or may not drive but will need considerable work done ($15-30k vendor) to update cosmetics, mechanical and electrical components. In most cases parts cars would fall into the lower end of this category.

$30-$40k
Generally v-nice cars. Good cosmetics but may not stand up to a critical eye on closer inspection. Also generally well maintained but will probably need a laundry list of updates and fixes that the owner hasn’t gotten around to. May need ($5-10k vendor) of work done to bring it up to higher cosmetic and mechanical standard.

$40-55k
Excellent cars. Great cosmetics that generally hold up on closer inspection. Very well maintained and updated. Should need very little done and should generally be a great driver and show car. Should be accompanied by a comprehensive breakdown of everything that’s been updated over the years to show that very little $ needs spent on it.

A1 - $55-75k
Show cars with outstanding cosmetics, a super clean frame and body along with almost all mechanical and electrical updates done. Should look like it rolled off the showroom floor and should operate perfectly. Cars like this should also be accompanied by a comprehensive breakdown of everything that’s been updated over the years to show that almost nothing needs updated.

Near-Concours with all modern updates completed - $75-90k
Almost perfect in every way (yes, there's no such thing as a perfect DeLorean). You should be able to eat your dinner off the frame and every part and component should look like it just rolled off the production line. It should pass almost every section of the Millennium Concours judging book - but with the exception of having all modern updates completed. This includes refined cosmetics, mechanics and electrics to be a safe driver with no issues what-so-ever. At this level you’re close to what DMCH plan to sell for ~$100k. A near-perfect example of the marque.

Concours (Untouched & Original) - $100k+
Flawless. Every component should be accurate and original. It should pass every section of the Millennium Concours book and really should be in a collector museum. Probably not safe to drive without significant updates but the value here is in originality and accuracy. Very few of these examples exist.

Random sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbcP9J8FB_g
http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/q-stephen-wynne-ceo-delorean-motor-company-article-1.2402960
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-delorean-dmc-12/

I too have been watching on and off for a number of years and especially this past year. The current value jump may be a reflection of the economy at the moment but also perhaps a reflection on the car itself. Classic car collecting is driven by nostalgia, and the 1980s are in right now. Generation Xers are now in their peak earning years with disposable income and are starting to buy the cars they liked as kids or grew up with. Refer to the values of classic SUVs (Broncos, Land Cruisers, Grand Wagoneers). The values are even rising on clean Fox Body Mustangs and F-Body Camaros. Now enter the DeLorean. For many of us the first time we saw one was backing out of Doc Brown's truck in the Twin Pines Mall parking lot. We were not burdened with the negatives surrounding the cars production, performance, eventual bankruptcy, and John DeLorean's arrest. We weren't old enough to understand. All we knew was how cool that car was and that one day we'd have one. It's the nostalgia of 1980s, and a certified pop culture icon. Right now that is like totally rad, and the values are reflecting that.

[Col Bennett]

Generation Xers are now in their peak earning years with disposable income and are starting to buy the cars they liked as kids or grew up with.

I think you’re spot on. We’re maybe at peak DeLorean. Mid-range cars will probably see values start to drop over the next 5 years but I feel the top end and A1 examples will hold their values for a lot longer. The DeLorean is a dream car for people in their mid 30s to mid 40s. Right in that earnings bracket of being able to afford one - and a nice one too.

As time passes, the next generation and the generation after that won’t have the same emotional and pop-culture connection to the car. It’ll just be a cool old car and values will probably fall when interest in the car drops off.

But yes. Those of us, like myself, dreamed of the car as a kid and turned that dream into reality with a fairly substantial budget to play with. I wasn’t going to half-ass my dream car.

[Hill Valley PD]

I think you’re spot on. We’re maybe at peak DeLorean. Mid-range cars will probably see values start to drop over the next 5 years but I feel the top end and A1 examples will hold their values for a lot longer. The DeLorean is a dream car for people in their mid 30s to mid 40s. Right in that earnings bracket of being able to afford one - and a nice one too.

As time passes, the next generation and the generation after that won’t have the same emotional and pop-culture connection to the car. It’ll just be a cool old car and values will probably fall when interest in the car drops off.

But yes. Those of us, like myself, dreamed of the car as a kid and turned that dream into reality with a fairly substantial budget to play with. I wasn’t going to half-ass my dream car.

Yeah, I was born in 1984, so I first learned of a DeLorean while watching BTTF as a five year old on a VHS Tape. In fact, it was the first movie I ever picked out at the store, and I'm pretty sure we bought it at Sears (Electronics Dept.) in our mall around 1989. Good times. I have spent the last few years researching and educating myself on the history of the car and everything else I can. I too have not half-assed it either. I purchased VIN 2282 from DMC MW and am having a few minor things done to it prior to pick up. I guess if I would have sold my 1970 Mustang Mach 1, I would have been in the A-1 range for budget, but then I'd be afraid to drive it, which is pointless. Now I can have two nice classics that I can drive once in a while and take to shows when I want to.

[sdg3205]

The value of the car will continue to increase. As long as there is demand, low availability and attrition, value will increase. 10 years ago nobody but Ed himself though deloreans would increase like they have.

DeLoreans are also getting a "second chance" if you will. People (collectors, drivers, enthusiasts and the media) seem a lot more willing to accept and honour DeLoreans than pretend to dislike them because their uncle told them how terrible they were "back in the day."

It was quite an honour this year at the Vancouver All-British Field Meet... This is the largest british car show west of Ontario, FYI. With the number of DeLoreans in the province increasing in the last ten years and subsequently more of us doing the show, they decided to honour us with our own category. Until now we've always been grouped in with other "Post War GT's." That's a rather substantial head-nod from the motoring elite in BC.

[Hill Valley PD]

The value of the car will continue to increase. As long as there is demand, low availability and attrition, value will increase. 10 years ago nobody but Ed himself though deloreans would increase like they have.

DeLoreans are also getting a "second chance" if you will. People (collectors, drivers, enthusiasts and the media) seem a lot more willing to accept and honour DeLoreans than pretend to dislike them because their uncle told them how terrible they were "back in the day."

It was quite an honour this year at the Vancouver All-British Field Meet... This is the largest british car show west of Ontario, FYI. With the number of DeLoreans in the province increasing in the last ten years and subsequently more of us doing the show, they decided to honour us with our own category. Until now we've always been grouped in with other "Post War GT's." That's a rather substantial head-nod from the motoring elite in BC.

It also seems like more are being exported out of the United States than before. I was speaking to some folks at DMC about this. In fact, when I went looking at DMC MW, of the six they had for sale at the time, it sounded like two had foreign buyers already. They also sold one (VIN: 1111) within the last few months that went overseas. DMC stated this seems to be a trend lately. If that's the case, there will be less cars available here, and continue to push values up.