Delorean With 9 actual miles. What's it worth ?

[Maverick]

I bought 2 new Deloreans when they first came out. I bought one to drive and one to store as an investment. They came from George Ballas in Toledo Ohio. I am thinking about selling the one with 9 actual miles and don't know how much to ask or how best to market it.
When I bought the car I picked it up with a trailer and backed it off of the trailer to the spot that it has set in for the past 30 years. The sticker is still in the window and the seat protectors are still in place on the seats.I started it regularly for the first 20 years but have not started it since. The building is heated and air conditioned.

What does everybody think about it's value and how to market it. I live in Michigan.

Maverick

[DeLorean]

These low mile cars pop up from time to time, and the low mileage alone does not really increase the value all that much. Condition condition condition, we'd really need to see pictures to give an estimate.

The problem with low mileage never updated DeLoreans, is that to get them into driving condition, they need a whole bunch of work. Is a running / driving car with 15K indicated miles & all updated performed worth more than a car with 9 indicated miles that does not run and needs every single update? Maybe, maybe not.

Likely you would have been a whole lot better off putting the money in a savings account, Sorry to say, but I would not expect too much return on investment where prices are these days.

[Michael]

Low mileage Deloreans command a premium with collector/purist types. The caveat is they need reflect the mileage. If they don't look the part, then that premium is out the window. If I were in your shoes, I think I would have the nearest DMC franchise get this car in tip top shape, and let them market it as they certainly would have the best chance of getting the big money. They may even have contacts waiting for that "right" collector car to come along.

To answer your question though.... Without lots of pics, nobody can put a honest figure on it, but assuming it's been stored properly and is cosmetically flawless, and no doubt in need of some light mechanical massaging and maintenance, I think 25k would be a reasonable estimate.

Now assuming a DMC franchise had a 9 mile concours ready machine(perfect cosmetically and mechanically), I would expect them to ask no less than 40k.

[Chris Burns]

:welcome:

I'm sure your car is a beauty, but just because of the low miles doesn't mean it will be worth a lot more than a higher mileage car.

My friend bought his 3k mile Concours Delorean for 21k and it's in perfect shape! Even the frame is clean. That's not to say your car wont bring in some good money.

[DeLorean]

To answer your question though.... Without lots of pics, nobody can put a honest figure on it, but assuming it's been stored properly and is cosmetically flawless, and no doubt in need of some light mechanical massaging and maintenance, I think 25k would be a reasonable estimate.

Now assuming a DMC franchise had a 9 mile concours ready machine(perfect cosmetically and mechanically), I would expect them to ask no less than 40k.

Quite likely, But you could add or subtract either direction, depending on condition. I would stress the "cosmetically flawless" at those numbers...

[louielouie2000]

You have two basic options:

1) Sell the car as a non runner. If it's in flawless condition, if you can find the right buyer, it might be worth somewhere in the low $20s.

2) Send the car to a DeLorean vendor and drop $20k + to bring it back to life, then sell it for perhaps in the low $40s.

And for what it's worth- I'm being optimistic in my guestimations of value, and that the car is in pristine, flawless condition.

Your most likely buyer will not be in the DeLorean enthusiast community by the way. You'll need to find someone who is a car collector, not a DeLorean fanatic. My suggestion would be to advertise the car on Hemmings Motor News, or perhaps send it to a large, famous auction such as Barrett Jackson's Scottsdale auction.

[David T]

A VERY low mileage car in RUNNING CONDITION that is perfect could be worth as much as $60,000 or more. If it is NOT running and perfect one way to figure it's worth is to figure out what it will cost to make it a perfect runner in dollars and subtract that from the $60K. If it needs tires, rebuild the cooling, brakes, fuel systems, battery, headliners, and struts, that can cost $15K so the car would be worth at retail $45K in non-running condition. It may also take a long time to find that special buyer than can appreciate the value of this particular car so to move it quicker you may have to lower the price.
David Teitelbaum

[DeLorean]

A VERY low mileage car in RUNNING CONDITION that is perfect could be worth as much as $60,000 or more.

Not sure there is much historical precedent for this, has there even been a DeLorean sold for this amount of money?

[AdmiralSenn]

I hate to ask this, but did you drain the fuel after you last ran it?

If not, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START IT. It WILL NEED SERVICE before the engine will run.

[stevedmc]

What does the frame look like?

[TTait]

I agree that you will likely want to have the car looked over at a certified DMC facility to get a condition report and a list of recommendations, but at that point I would stop and talk to some of the high end auction houses about their advice for selling the car. 100% original may have more appeal to some buyers than others. Original coolant for example may mean more to some crazy rich collector than running condition does. Tires are a big deal... You must replace them to drive the car, and you should leave them alone if its being sold as concours. You only need to find two guys who really want the car at the right auction, and I'd let the auction house help you make that call.

There are a lot of excellent condition cars, the value in yours may lie in its originality more than its condition. I'd change nothing without professional advice.

I have a friend who works for Gooding & Co. that I could put you in touch with if you send me a PM, but I don't mean to make this post about that referral. Whoever you may choose to help you sell and market the car, get several professional opinions before you actually change anything.

Don't expect to buy a house with the proceeds, but you may pay for a year of college or two for a grandchild someday. Maybe Ivy League, maybe not.

[sdg3205]

I agree that you will likely want to have the car looked over at a certified DMC facility to get a condition report and a list of recommendations, but at that point I would stop and talk to some of the high end auction houses about their advice for selling the car. 100% original may have more appeal to some buyers than others. Original coolant for example may mean more to some crazy rich collector than running condition does. Tires are a big deal... You must replace them to drive the car, and you should leave them alone if its being sold as concours. You only need to find two guys who really want the car at the right auction, and I'd let the auction house help you make that call.

There are a lot of excellent condition cars, the value in yours may lie in its originality more than its condition. I'd change nothing without professional advice.

I have a friend who works for Gooding & Co. that I could put you in touch with if you send me a PM, but I don't mean to make this post about that referral. Whoever you may choose to help you sell and market the car, get several professional opinions before you actually change anything.

Don't expect to buy a house with the proceeds, but you may pay for a year of college or two for a grandchild someday. Maybe Ivy League, maybe not.

+1.

Barrett Jackson 2013

[thirdmanj]

Everyone here seems to be giving solid advice. I agree. That is the shame about DeLoreans. If they're in crap condition, they become just another shitty 80s car. I wish you fortune though, it'd be awesome to see some pictures, just to see what an "investment 9mile" DeLorean looks like.

[Michael]

Not sure there is much historical precedent for this, has there even been a DeLorean sold for this amount of money?

Didn't DMCH have a 300+ mile Delorean for sale about a year ago? I also remember it being sold to a young member on the old site(his user name is on the tip of my tongue...maybe "justice")

That car I believe was priced either at 40, maybe 49k?...I know its a lot on memory but it was between 40 and 50k.
Like I said this is all on memory, but I know for sure DMCH did have a perfect 300 mile car for sale, and it was in the 40-50k bracket.

[Chris Burns]

One of the guys that used to come to our meets has a 1600 mile Delorean (VIN 1555). When he bought it from DMC FL it had 500 miles on it. He don't drive it much, just to shows. It's a beauty! Early car, black interior, 5 speed. Still smells new inside.

[Maverick]

Thanks for the input. At this point I agree with the advice to leave everything alone and market it as an original untouched Museum quality car. I will probably contact Barrett Jackson about a slot at next years Scottsdale auction if I don't get it placed before then. In the meantime I will try to get pictures posted.

[nullset]

Would you mind posting the last 5 of the VIN, and some details about it? It can be added to the delorean registry.

(Interior color, auto or manual, current location, roughly).

Leave out any details you're not comfortable sharing.

--buddy

[Maverick]

I can ad specific information and photos in a week or so. I am in the Virgin Islands right now and don't have access to the car or info.

[Farrar]

Please pardon my ignorance, but what's the difference between "actual miles" and "miles"?

Farrar

[sean]

Please pardon my ignorance, but what's the difference between "actual miles" and "miles"?

Farrar

The use of the word "actual".

[stevedmc]

Please pardon my ignorance, but what's the difference between "actual miles" and "miles"?

Farrar

The angle drive.

[Farrar]

The use of the word "actual".

:lol: OK, thanks.


The angle drive.

You mean "The actual angle drive"?

Anyway, best of luck on the sale! Sounds like someone will get an easy restoration project or great show car. :)

Farrar

[protodelorean]

I hear Will I. Am is looking for another D.

[stevedmc]

I hear Will I. Am is looking for another D.

Are you serious?

[jawn101]

Are you serious?

He may very well be but I'd start a charity fund and donate extensively to make sure we raised enough to keep it out of his hands....

[denis45700]

Nine miles of course there is a HUGE premium it is most likely one of only a dozen.

[David T]

It would take a through examination to try to confirm it really has very little mileage. It *could* have been driven more (but not a LOT more) than 9 miles, if the speedometer was disconnected or broken. The condition of the car has to also look as if it was almost never driven. There are subtle tell-tale signs that can confirm that. It is not worth much as a Museum piece, museums are not buying low mileage Deloreans.
David Teitelbaum

[Iznodmad]

Since everyone is focusing on just the 9 mile car, I want more info on your driver car as well. If you are going to be kind enough to give us info for the registry on your low miles car, please also provide the VIN and characteristics of your driver as well. Thanks. This is simply for the good of the community.

[sdg3205]

Any chance we could see some pictures?

[dmc6960]

Any chance we could see some pictures?


I can ad specific information and photos in a week or so. I am in the Virgin Islands right now and don't have access to the car or info.

Patience!

[protodelorean]

Are you serious? :histerical1: Hell No. Didn't you see what he did to his last one??? I'll do the widebody conversion on this one!

[louielouie2000]

Not sure there is much historical precedent for this, has there even been a DeLorean sold for this amount of money?


Didn't DMCH have a 300+ mile Delorean for sale about a year ago? I also remember it being sold to a young member on the old site(his user name is on the tip of my tongue...maybe "justice")

That car I believe was priced either at 40, maybe 49k?...I know its a lot on memory but it was between 40 and 50k.
Like I said this is all on memory, but I know for sure DMCH did have a perfect 300 mile car for sale, and it was in the 40-50k bracket.

The thing is, there is no stable, real precedent for ultra low mileage cars like these to fetch anything north of $40k. Super low mileage DeLoreans come up for sale fairly often. Just because the DMC franchise is now trying to push the asking price of their "preowned" DeLoreans well past $50k does not automatically mean a 9 mile car will warrant a 50% premium past that (already absurd) figure. I would venture a guess that the average selling price of DeLoreans these days is probably in the lower $20s. A 100% factory fresh 9 mile car would be worth no more than twice that in my opinion.

Those 2 consecutive $50k DeLorean sales at Barrett Jackson a few years back have totally flustered and confused the DeLorean market ever since. Suddenly sellers are thinking that all DeLoreans are worth absurd amounts, and advertise their cars at such prices. The DMC franchise is further throwing off the market by trying to get $50k out of their used DeLoreans these days. What so many folks in the DeLorean community can't seem to fathom is that a person can ask absolutely anything for their cars. But what the car is actually worth is what it ends up selling for.

[David T]

A similar situation with the Amphicar. At an auction one went for over $150K when they usually don't sell for over $20K. The market corrects for these anomalies but it can take a while. While it may be hard to find precedents in the world of Deloreans, you can look around at how the values of other "sleepers" and barn finds with low mileage are affected in other Marques. There is a lot of precedence for "survivors". The car may actually be worth more in non-running condition at this point. Before doing anything to it all avenues should be investigated. It is probably worth having it professionally appraised before selling it, especially at auction.
David Teitelbaum

[SamHill]

Period 1980s pics, preeze!

[dmcerik]

I live in the West Michigan area. If you'd like someone to come out and take a look at the car who has 13+ years of ownership and maintenance/restore experience (albiet my own :) ) please let me know.

Erik
4512



I bought 2 new Deloreans when they first came out. I bought one to drive and one to store as an investment. They came from George Ballas in Toledo Ohio. I am thinking about selling the one with 9 actual miles and don't know how much to ask or how best to market it.
When I bought the car I picked it up with a trailer and backed it off of the trailer to the spot that it has set in for the past 30 years. The sticker is still in the window and the seat protectors are still in place on the seats.I started it regularly for the first 20 years but have not started it since. The building is heated and air conditioned.

What does everybody think about it's value and how to market it. I live in Michigan.

Maverick

[DMC3165]

Whatever happened with this car? I'm trying to get a line on a price for a 300 mile car that hasn't been run since 81.

[john 05141]

I missed this thread. Seems like a bedtime story to me. It all looks so very cliché. investment, never ran, temperature controlled, started every so often but not anymore... I would not be surprised if that car never existed.
But in any case, I would rather but a 30K miles Delorean, well maintained than a 3 mile Delorean.

Jan

[Andy]

A car that's been standing for 30 years, needs a lot of work to get it going again and is - in my opinion - not worth the extra money just because it 'has only 9 miles' on it. Besides, I would be afraid to put extra miles on it ... DeLoreans (and other cars for that matter) are meant to be DRIVEN! How can you otherwise enjoy it?

[DL4567]

I had never seen this thread before yesterday. With a fresh perspective, a few (questionable) things really jumped out at me.

1) Seller "just happens" to be in the Virgin Islands while posting these questions, away from the car and info. How convenient! Just like scam craigslist sellers.
2) Seller promised to post some pictures, but what a surprise, he never did!
3) He only posted 3 times, ever. No other posts on this forum.
4) He never made any specific comments about parts of the car that a DeLorean owner would make. All general vague car comments.

So yeah, already yesterday as I skimmed it, it sounded like total BS to me. This guy doesn't (didn't) have any DeLoreans, and was some scammer trying to find out at what price he should set his fake online 9-mile DeLorean sales page. Then if someone is dumb enough to fall for it and ask more questions about the car, he'll say he's out of the country, can't take any specific pictures, et.... but give them instructions on wiring the money.

[Denverdelorean]

I had never seen this thread before yesterday. With a fresh perspective, a few (questionable) things really jumped out at me.

1) Seller "just happens" to be in the Virgin Islands while posting these questions, away from the car and info. How convenient! Just like scam craigslist sellers..


Instantly revealed as a scam. i agree. I had someone offer to buy some pinball machines from me but he was, conveniently, out of contry at the moment and couldn't talk on the phone, even though he sent me a text!