Planning to buy a Delorean, need idea on costs of parts and maintenance!

[sjuliani]

Im looking for buy a 81 DMC, the car is in rough shape, i believe the motor is shot and the body has dents all over.
Just looking to get an idea on how much replacement parts cost specifically:
Original Motor,
Doors
Auto Transmission
Seats
Wheels
Taillights
Fenders
Hood


Also since the chassis is all stainless steel how would you go about repairing large dents and dings?

Almost forgot are there any general issues that most deloreans have (example, my 71 pantera had shotty weld spots from the factory that cause my rear crossmember to fall apart)

[kings1527]

Im looking for buy a 81 DMC, the car is in rough shape, i believe the motor is shot and the body has dents all over.
Just looking to get an idea on how much replacement parts cost specifically:
Original Motor,
Doors
Auto Transmission
Seats
Wheels
Taillights
Fenders
Hood


Also since the chassis is all stainless steel how would you go about repairing large dents and dings?

Almost forgot are there any general issues that most deloreans have (example, my 71 pantera had shotty weld spots from the factory that cause my rear crossmember to fall apart)

You've got an amazing project on your hands. Personally, I'd stay away from it. DMC sells a crated new engine with some performance components on it for almost $10k. Everything you listed, you're probably looking at over $20k to take care of everything. You're better off getting it on the cheap, say about $1k and parting it out. Dents can be fixed but it's expensive. Maybe around $200 a dent. Going to www.store.delorean.com and looking up all of those items will give you a good idea what you're looking at. The big ticket items that would be good to part out would be the driver's side torsion bar and the driver's side front quarter panel, but who knows how those are looking?

[David T]

You can go over the the "store" at DMCH and look up prices. Many things can be fixed instead of outright replacement and may be cheaper, even the motor, transmission, and the S/S panels. From the sounds of this expect to spend thousands of $$$$. Most of the Delorean vendors can repair your panels, just add shipping. There are many known problem areas but there are fixes for all of them.
David Teitelbaum

[Dangermouse]

FYI, the "chassis", specifically the underbody "frame" is just mild steel. Only the body panels are SS.

I mention this because with all the other needs this car has, it would be wise to get a look at the frame underneath the car. Could be big $ work there.

[sdg3205]

I'd say $30 to make a nice car. Any pictures?

[kenny]

FYI, the "chassis", specifically the underbody "frame" is just mild steel. Only the body panels are SS.

I mention this because with all the other needs this car has, it would be wise to get a look at the frame underneath the car. Could be big $ work there.

I agree with Dermot,

With the exception of the left front fender (at least $2.5K) you will be able to pick up the other parts secondhand that will save $ on the new prices.
However if the frame is rotten, the body will have to be removed and a replacement frame found. If you have to pay someone to do this it will cost you the most. I estimate over 100 hrs.

If you need the list below I guarantee you will need many more items - at least $3k worth.

Original Motor,
Doors
Auto Transmission
Seats
Wheels
Taillights
Fenders
Hood

[WelmoedJ]

I agree with Dermot,

With the exception of the left front fender (at least $2.5K) you will be able to pick up the other parts secondhand that will save $ on the new prices.
However if the frame is rotten, the body will have to be removed and a replacement frame found. If you have to pay someone to do this it will cost you the most. I estimate over 100 hrs.

If you need the list below I guarantee you will need many more items - at least $3k worth.

Original Motor,
Doors
Auto Transmission
Seats
Wheels
Taillights
Fenders
Hood

Add all the rubber (tires and cooling system hoses) to it.
Also all the rubber in and around the gas tank (in-tank fuel hose, boot, dust cap, fuel hoses).

[David T]

[If you are going to "pile on" , then add rebuilding the brake system, cooling system, clutch, and going over the whole electrical system to clean up connections. I agree the frame is the big unknown and should be examined before making a bid on the car. Essentially you will have to rebuild/restore the whole car. A BIG project and will require a lot of money and time. Sounds like the only thing you won't have to buy is glass. For a car in this rough a shape it isn't worth more than $2K and that is with a good Title.
David Teitelbaum

[Michael]

Does a new engine include the fuel system? If not better figure on at least another 2-5k.

It honestly sounds like you have half a parts car to sell out to other parts car owners so that other parts cars can live.

[Silverbullet]

It would COST way less to buy one in good shape.... Just sayin...

[Jeff K]

It will end up a money pit. Buy one already in good shape. Some nice ones on Autotrader.com

[opethmike]

Nice DeLoreans are a money pit. Below average DeLoreans are a money abyss.

[Silverbullet]

Nice DeLoreans are a money pit. Below average DeLoreans are a money abyss.

So true, and most never see them finished...

[ccurzio]

So true, and most never see them finished...

This is why I never understood some people who get upset when they see someone wanting to buy a second, shitty DeLorean as a donor car for a first. They're always the ones who say that it's tragic to part it out and that it should be restored instead. That takes heaps of money to do.

If it's between having a car that's almost always destined to sit in an unfinished state versus using those parts to keep another one on the road, I don't see why the latter is such a travesty.

[pezzonovante88]

Use the good parts from the bad cars to make the good cars better. This also decreases supply, which increases value and exclusivity (if that's your thing).

[AugustneverEnds]

Money is important but how much patience do you have? DeLoreans, like any vintage car, will take up a lot of your time if you are doing the work yourself. If you don't have much of a life beyond your cars (ME!) then no problem. If you have a wife/girlfriend/significant other etc... who doesn't share your love of stainless steel cleaner and blending pads, well then things get difficult.

On the subject of parts, again I say patience is just as important as money. You can save quite a bit if you are willing to search high and low, online and at junkyards for some parts while sometimes you have to bow to the inevitabilty of buying from DeLorean vendors i.e. DMC Houston. As an example I bought my car in July and have had fun driving it but I also have spent approximately $800 in parts since then to address some smallish problems (couple of coolant hoses, otterstat switch, thermostat, improved headlight switch) to a few major ones (preventative radiator replacement) Labor was my own.

My conclusion is if the car is your dream, of course buy it and just be prepared to spend a bit more time maintaining it and researching parts and procedures than say, a later model BMW or Corvette. Once you have the car in mechanically good condition, routine maitenance will keep it as reliable as a 30+ year old car can be.

Or, if you are of the means, you could buy it send it to DMCH or one of their affliates and let them sort everything out and handle your maitenance needs. But where's the fun it that? :hihi2:

[aotmfilms]

Money is important but how much patience do you have? DeLoreans, like any vintage car, will take up a lot of your time if you are doing the work yourself. If you don't have much of a life beyond your cars (ME!) then no problem. If you have a wife/girlfriend/significant other etc... who doesn't share your love of stainless steel cleaner and blending pads, well then things get difficult.

On the subject of parts, again I say patience is just as important as money. You can save quite a bit if you are willing to search high and low, online and at junkyards for some parts while sometimes you have to bow to the inevitabilty of buying from DeLorean vendors i.e. DMC Houston. As an example I bought my car in July and have had fun driving it but I also have spent approximately $800 in parts since then to address some smallish problems (couple of coolant hoses, otterstat switch, thermostat, improved headlight switch) to a few major ones (preventative radiator replacement) Labor was my own.

My conclusion is if the car is your dream, of course buy it and just be prepared to spend a bit more time maintaining it and researching parts and procedures than say, a later model BMW or Corvette. Once you have the car in mechanically good condition, routine maitenance will keep it as reliable as a 30+ year old car can be.

Or, if you are of the means, you could buy it send it to DMCH or one of their affliates and let them sort everything out and handle your maitenance needs. But where's the fun it that? :hihi2:

<clap> <clap> I agree. My gf is onboard with this as how she doesn't want to make it the DMC vs her, as long as she gets to ride in it once in a while :D

I plan on setting aside $100 to $200 bucks a month in maintenance. I may have to rely on a local Foriegn shop or DMCMW initally though until I get up to speed on the car due to stuff I can't do on my own so I am budgeting $1,200 to $2,400 at a minimum just in maintenance for this car a year. Compare that to my daily driver that I spend $250 to $500 a year (8 year old car), maintaining it.

For me, dings can be repaired but if the trans or engine blows, I'm sunk for a while, so the priority is engine, then trans, then tires, then lights etc, (anything safety related), then cosmetic stuff like dings. My expectation is to pay 25k to 30k for a car.

[berickson926]

I plan on setting aside $100 to $200 bucks a month in maintenance. I may have to rely on a local Foriegn shop or DMCMW initally though until I get up to speed on the car due to stuff I can't do on my own so I am budgeting $1,200 to $2,400 at a minimum just in maintenance for this car a year.

Unless you're buying a 40k+ car, and even then, expect to have a significantly larger budget the first year or two. These cars are old, once you start driving it, things will inexplicably break. DIY experience + various issues sorted make your $200/month budget more reasonable. Some projects can easily crush your entire annual budget just to fix one thing, especially if the shop is doing the work. Then what?

I'm far from an expert here but I think your budget is overly optimistic.

[aotmfilms]

Unless you're buying a 40k+ car, and even then, expect to have a significantly larger budget the first year or two. These cars are old, once you start driving it, things will inexplicably break. DIY experience + various issues sorted make your $200/month budget more reasonable. Some projects can easily crush your entire annual budget just to fix one thing, especially if the shop is doing the work. Then what?

I'm far from an expert here but I think your budget is overly optimistic.

Understood, I thank you for your experienced input. My situation, I plan on purchasing anywhere from a 25k to a 35k car. Given that and considering driving it twice a week (Friday/Saturday) for min 20 miles a week or 80 miles to 100 a month. What in your experience should I plan for. I am single, make good money and have no kids. 64 to 84k a year based on bonus. I will have a loan for part of the purchase price. My expectation is for it to generally run, stop and turn when I want it to. Is that too much of an expectation for at least a 25k car? Just trying to keep my expectations reasonable but I don't want it to blow a tranny right from the get go. I would think a 30k car would be good and a 35k car would be close to a unicorn status. Or am I wrong?

[berickson926]

Understood, I thank you for your experienced input. My situation, I plan on purchasing anywhere from a 25k to a 35k car. Given that and considering driving it twice a week (Friday/Saturday) for min 20 miles a week or 80 miles to 100 a month. What in your experience should I plan for. I am single, make good money and have no kids. 64 to 84k a year based on bonus. I will have a loan for part of the purchase price. My expectation is for it to generally run, stop and turn when I want it to. Is that too much of an expectation for at least a 25k car? Just trying to keep my expectations reasonable but I don't want it to blow a tranny right from the get go. I would think a 30k car would be good and a 35k car would be close to a unicorn status. Or am I wrong?

This is all anecdotal, maybe with a 25k car you can have a smoother experience. Your personal situation sounds similar to my own.

Purchased a 25k car in the best condition I could find, about a year ago. I only drive it once every week/every other week on short trips. I've easily gone through 5k+ on repairs. There is a growing list of things to fix the more time I spend with the car.

I've spent very little on aesthetics, other than preventative maintenance. Safety improvements/mechanical have been my key focus.

I also bought the car with little mechanical experience, but have been trying to learn how to fix things myself. I have had DMC fix a number of things on the car for me already since I wasn't confident I could do it or lacked the tools.

I figured I could spend a couple grand a year and slowly take care of things while the car remains generally functional. Nope!

[Silverbullet]

Ok.... There is no such thing as a REALLY nice $15,000 Delorean... I have a REALLY nice one now... after I am into to it $42,000.... It runs great, has Stage II Stainless Steel Exhaust Hedders and has Wings-aloft... Love it... Don Steger did a lot of work on it, as well as Danny... I like driving without a problem and no Tow Trucks are involved... Everything is new... and Starts, and runs great... Cheap cars will need work... Mine is done, and I get to enjoy it... Jus' say'n...

Craig

[OverlandMan]

<clap> <clap> I plan on setting aside $100 to $200 bucks a month in maintenance. I may have to rely on a local Foriegn shop or DMCMW initally though until I get up to speed on the car due to stuff I can't do on my own so I am budgeting $1,200 to $2,400 at a minimum just in maintenance for this car a year. Compare that to my daily driver that I spend $250 to $500 a year (8 year old car), maintaining it.

For me, dings can be repaired but if the trans or engine blows, I'm sunk for a while, so the priority is engine, then trans, then tires, then lights etc, (anything safety related), then cosmetic stuff like dings. My expectation is to pay 25k to 30k for a car.

My brother-in-law made a comment to me last year that I got a kick out of. He wants a DeLorean some day and told me he wants to buy one in pristine condition so he doesn't have to do any work on it and can enjoy it, etc. I told him regardless of what you buy, keep in mind these cars are 33-34 years old now and run on technology from those days. You're always going to be tinkering with something. This goes for all classic cars I've ever owned. You can't compare them to late model vehicles.

The reason I'm sharing that is because while you may be able to get a nice overall example for $25k-$35k, you have to go into ownership prepared to put more time and $ into it. If you have a garage and tools and can tackle some of the jobs (maintenance & repairs) yourself, that will help a lot.

Your budget is a good start but its really going to be dependent on the car you end up with. I would put frame condition at the top of the list, followed closely by drive-train, then electrics, then cosmetics. All this stuff is pricey but if the frame is rusted you're really f-ed.