Auction for VIN 973 - Wichita KS - Monday 3/4/2019 6PM CST

[TIMETRK-KS]

Hello everyone,

I thought this had better be shared with the DeLorean community as VIN 973 is up for auction in Wichita, KS on Monday, March 4th at 6 PM CST. I have been following this car for the last 3-4 years from my first sighting. The owner of the dealership where it sits told me it was wrapped up in a previous owner's estate and had been locked up in probate for years. However, it now appears that the car is finally up for auction. I would love to bring this one home but I do not have the funds or garage space at the moment to tackle such a monumental project. I had considered parting it out but then figured that was against my DeLorean ethics and if not mine someone should get a crack at this project. This car is in really bad shape, however to the right individual this might be your entry into DeLorean ownership on the lower end to begin a restoration process. Please note this will be a labor of love, a lot of time and many thousands of dollars.

593385933959340593415934259343

I wished I had taken pics of the undercarriage and frame on one of my visits but I can say the frame is probably the better part of the car aside from the straight body panels and grooved gas flap hood. I would consider this car for a frame off or frame on intact restoration. I believe it has not seen much Kansas winter driving with road salt problems. I believe the poor thing has been left outside to the Kansas elements for quite some time. However the nose must have been pointed south as the rear tail light housings are not faded. A surprise considering the rest of the car!

Also having been a previous owner for VIN 961 I am familiar with early VIN DeLoreans. Looking at the VIN plate it appears this one was pulled off the production line and had troubleshooting issues or might have had some company use (speculation)? The VIN plate should be stamped APRIL 81 but instead has 12 4 81 for a stamped date. It does have the windshield inlaid antenna, early black interior and early automatic shifter, oddly routed engine coolant hose (which I hated when changing driver side spark plugs!) but has later style silver wheels and center caps. I think this car has some history for someone who wants to pursue it.

Here's the link for the auction: https://www.mccurdyauction.com/listing.php?id=999574&action=

As of 2/28/2019 at 9:30 AM CST auction is sitting at $3,250.00!!!

Good Luck bidding! Hope this one finds a good home! If you need some help loading it up give me a call. Bring a truck, trailer and a winch to get it off the lot. For the right reimbursement I might be willing to help or arrange transport for the central and mid-western states.

Matt Metzinger
Arkansas City, KS

Currently own and rebuilding DMC Logan T-40 Tow Tractor D2T40-0094
VIN 10191 / Rebuild assistant 2010
VIN 961 / May 2002 - Sept 2009

[bfloyd]

Looking at that VIN plate... does it show the build date as April 12, 1981 or December 4, 1981? I'm used to seeing MM/DD/YY on everything, but I know some places list them as DD/MM/YY.

[JETS 81 DMC]

Looking at that VIN plate... does it show the build date as April 12, 1981 or December 4, 1981? I'm used to seeing MM/DD/YY on everything, but I know some places list them as DD/MM/YY.


That VIN would be April. December VINs would be above 6000 numbers and also the later VIN plates only have the
month and year. I am not sure when the plates were changed to show just the month and year.

[TIMETRK-KS]

Yes, pardon me. When we always use MM DD YYYY here for date notation how quick I forget that across the pond they may have used DD MM YYYY notation. I believe this would note 12th day of April 81. Makes more sense now.

[louielouie2000]

One of the things that immediately jumped out at me was the driver's side rear striker pin appears to be sheared off. That's almost certainly due to this being a 3 digit VIN car with those infamous prototype-tooling doors. Add new doors to the budget, on top of everything else. Gotta love that vintage radar detector mounted under the dash to the left of the steering wheel; I see vintage cruise control equipment in the engine compartment, too. I didn't even notice the thin grey stripe initially... the elements have almost completely reclaimed it. It's always interesting to see cars in this state!

Anybody else notice the second DeLorean in the background?

[TIMETRK-KS]

Yes, there is a 2nd DeLorean in the background. On my last visit dealer told me it is a car in for repairs and is not for sale. Good eye!

I don't believe the bolt is sheared off but the best photo from that angle does not show much. I believe some door alignment issues might explain the fiberglass damage in the other photo.

[About time]

Looking at the body of the car I was saying, yeah, she's got scrapes and what not but even if you have to replace the engine and transmission you could make out. Then came the interior shots and it blows the deal.

It's going to be interesting what she sells for in the end.

[Andrew]

While rough and in need of a good cleaning, inside and out, this car has a lot of potential. It's better than some of the cars that BHCC is selling for nearly 20K. Obviously it will need seat covers, headliners, a binnacle, dash and passenger knee pad. The fuel system will likely require the typical K-Jet shotgun replacement, or in the alternative a carb / EFI conversion. I would replace anything rubber as well...tires, brake and coolant hoses, brake master and caliper seals. From the rear picture the engine cradle looks good. However, the crumple tube might be a whole different story. Also, the internal engine condition is a big question mark. It may be seized from sitting or the victim of previous overheating.

The glass and stainless look good. Plus it's a gas flap hood car. The hood alone is worth 2/3rds of the current $3,250.00 auction price.

I noticed that this car never got fitted with door guides. I think I have only seen one other DeLorean that didn't have them. Also IIRC, DD/MM/YY is a European thing, while on this side of the pond we use MM/DD/YY.

This car would likely be a good candidate to restore to "presentable driver" status. IMHO, the "presentable driver" cars are the most fun, but that's just me. If I didn't already have 8 cars, including 2 Deloreans, I would highly consider this one as a fun project.

Andrew
4194
5052

[David T]

This car is going to need everything. If you buy it and then have a shop do all the work it cannot make sense. The only way to do it is for a knowledgeable owner with tools, money, and a place to work, fix it up. It will still cost every bit of $15K in parts. And that assumes the motor and transmission can be brought back to life and the frame isn't too rotten. While it is better than many of the offerings from BHCC, it isn't far from what they sell. Working backwards, this car will not be a concours winner so the best it will be worth done is $30K. If you have to spend $15K on parts, you can't spend more than $10K to buy it and have some cushion making no money on your labor. if the frame is rotten and the motor bad, then the best strategy is to part it out and sell the body and Title to DMCH. Or maybe BHCC will be offering this car soon!

[dn010]

I'd buy it if I could spare the extra $. Always wanted a low vin D!

[Michael]

Typical too far gone DeLorean for any restoration, but let's slap some lipstick on it and put it in a mini and stand it out on the corner and see what it brings.

Seriously, too far gone for restoration unless you happen to own a DeLorean shop in the bible belt and have a ton of spares laying around with access to more along with the knowledge and means to do the work...then it's a profit machine even at a mid teens bid.

[Delorean Industries]

Typical too far gone DeLorean for any restoration, but let's slap some lipstick on it and put it in a mini and stand it out on the corner and see what it brings.

Seriously, too far gone for restoration unless you happen to own a DeLorean shop in the bible belt and have a ton of spares laying around with access to more along with the knowledge and means to do the work...then it's a profit machine even at a mid teens bid.

We actually prefer to call it the Industrious North. Knowledge? Just a bunch of simple tricks and nonsense. No hokey religions or ancient books controlling our density.

[Michael]

We actually prefer to call it the Industrious North. Knowledge? Just a bunch of simple tricks and nonsense. No hokey religions or ancient books controlling our density.

Don't sell yourself short. Some of the finest Deloreans on the road today owe their status to you.

[Delorean Industries]

Thanks, Michael.

[TIMETRK-KS]

FYI... VIN 973 auctioned off for $12,500 today. Good luck to the winning bidder!

[Dangermouse]

Coming soon to a youtube channel near you "I just bought the cheapest DeLorean in the Country"........

[GeneralLee01]

Coming soon to a youtube channel near you "I just bought the cheapest DeLorean in the Country"........
My thoughts exactly, and of course without checking with any other DeLorean owners before making such claim.

[Andrew]

I saw a lot of potential in 973, but the $12,500.00 price is too steep for me. However, I stand by my assessment that this car could be restored to be a nice driver. IMHO the shoestring budget restorations are the most fun as the restorer gets a running driving DeLorean for a decent total price and gets the satisfaction of proving the naysayers wrong.

Hopefully this one will end up back on the road in the not so distant future. :-)

[Michael]

IMHO the shoestring budget restorations are the most fun as the restorer gets a running driving DeLorean for a decent total price and gets the satisfaction of proving the naysayers wrong.

Naysayers are not proven wrong. If you call someone that spends the total value of the car in parts and put his labor at a cost of free proven right, well then you have a point. Any car is restorable. Take a look at mine before DMCH transformed it into a flawless refurb:
59379

DMCH and similar vendors could make a nice profit off an otherwise parts car for obvious reasons, but for the average joe it's near impossible to come out ahead (financially anyway) even valuing their labor at free. You can rationalize it all day long such as you want the experience or the satisfaction of restoring the car yourself and there is nothing wrong with that but strictly from a dollars and cents perspective, in almost all cases the "naysayers" are right on the money.

[ssdelorean]

Take a look at mine before DMCH transformed it into a flawless refurb:
59379



I always wondered what happened to that tub!
Similar shot at Josh's house 3rd from bottom (http://ohiodeloreans.com/gallery-03-HaldemanTech.htm).

[delorun45230]

Naysayers are not proven wrong. If you call someone that spends the total value of the car in parts and put his labor at a cost of free proven right, well then you have a point. Any car is restorable. Take a look at mine before DMCH transformed it into a flawless refurb:
59379

DMCH and similar vendors could make a nice profit off an otherwise parts car for obvious reasons, but for the average joe it's near impossible to come out ahead (financially anyway) even valuing their labor at free. You can rationalize it all day long such as you want the experience or the satisfaction of restoring the car yourself and there is nothing wrong with that but strictly from a dollars and cents perspective, in almost all cases the "naysayers" are right on the money.

Well, to be fair, that isn't actually a before pic of your car. When DMCH contacted me about purchasing it, the only thing they wanted was the 5609 VIN plates. The tub ended up being sold to Bauerle, as I recall, and getting cut up to be used to repair cars that had section damage.

Josh
VIN 5102

[Michael]

Well, to be fair, that isn't actually a before pic of your car. When DMCH contacted me about purchasing it, the only thing they wanted was the 5609 VIN plates. The tub ended up being sold to Bauerle, as I recall, and getting cut up to be used to repair cars that had section damage.

Josh
VIN 5102

So my car was built from the vin plate up!

[delorun45230]

So my car was built from the vin plate up!

Ha! Yes, exactly!

[Michael]

In light on new information my previous post should now read.
"Any car is restorable. Take a look at my car before DMCH transformed it into a flawless refurb"
59501

[Marek]

Hi, I know some answers to your questions since this car is sitting in my garage now. And I'm also interested in history of this car if anyone could tell me...
The car is being refurbished at the moment. I'm going to bring to its original state as close as possible.

[82DMC12]

Hi, I know some answers to your questions since this car is sitting in my garage now. And I'm also interested in history of this car if anyone could tell me...
The car is being refurbished at the moment. I'm going to bring to its original state as close as possible.

Wow, from Wichita, Kansas to the Czech Republic? Amazing.

[Marek]

Yes. Via Hutchinson, KS spending 10 months at some reseller there. Then I found her on eBay. I couldn’t have left her there. But this was bit risky lottery since the seller seemed to have no idea about DeLorean cars and didn’t want to share much info related to the car condition and history. The car is better than it looked like...but still BIG project.

[Marek]

Here are some pics :-)

[TIMETRK-KS]

Congratulations Marek! What a trip around the world to be restored. I had been watching this car for years but did not have the time or funds for a rebuild myself. Glad you will bring it back to its former (and future) glory. I did not have any history on it besides it being held up in probate estate for many years. Sad it kept getting sun baked in the Kansas heat.

You may be interested to know that the car I believe shipped in on the first transport of cars to the US "Continental Highway" shipment on Easter Sunday 1981. It then traveled on the same transport as my previously owned VIN 961 to dealerships in Texas. The interesting story is that 961 and 973 then split up and waited to be purchased at related dealerships, one owned by the family's father and then the other was the son. Bob Bruner Chevrolet, Hillsboro TX and Dwain Bruner Chevrolet, Stephenville TX. If I can dig up my notes I will send them to you.

Best of luck on the rebuild and glad it is in great hands now!

[Marek]

Dear Matt,
Im happy to hear from an owner of a "sister" car. I knew my car was a part of the very first shipment to the US, but this was everything I found about its history. I found out something about the former owner of the car who passed away in 2010 (being ill from 2004) which corresponds to some hints found in the car (NOS parts never mounted from 2004). The owners wife passed away in 2016 which fits your story about sitting this car for more than 3 years at McCurdy auction. The car has perfect chassis frame, the mileage seems to match to and the car is almost complete. It seems to me the car was well kept when it was used in the past. The sun damage to the interior is not the biggest issue. The fuel system was heavily and typically contaminated and someone started fixing it but then recognized this was to big challenge for him and let the engine disassembled (almost every screw is loos). And finally the car was open with a saw - that explains the story with the cut striker pin. Fortunately there is no damage to the door surface. Ignition lock is also completely missing - no keys were found before the car was sold evidently.

If you can find anything related to the story of this car I'd be happy. Thank you.

[Marek]

See the pictures "before a and after" renovation.
Interior

[Marek]

Next:

[Marek]

engine and chassis
I used original parts only! That is why restoration took more than three years!

[Michael]

Warms my heart. Best thing I've seen this week.


NICE WORK!!!!!