DeLorean Makes a Comeback Thanks to New Law
Did you think the iconic DeLorean DMC-12, immortalized in Back to the Future, was lost to the past? Think again. Thanks to a new law passed in 2015, the legendary DeLorean is making a comeback, much to the delight of fans everywhere.
The 2015 Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act introduced a significant change for small-volume car manufacturers. The law allows these manufacturers to bypass certain modern safety standards, provided they are producing replicas of vehicles that were originally made at least 25 years ago. This exemption means the DeLorean, which first hit the streets in the 1980s, can be brought back into production.
James Espey, Vice President of DMC Texas, the company behind the DeLorean revival, spoke about the car’s enduring appeal. He noted, “The DeLorean’s popularity is constantly refreshing, largely thanks to Back to the Future. At any moment, that movie is probably playing somewhere, and someone who’s never heard of a Mustang or a Camaro ends up falling in love with the DeLorean.”
It’s important to note that DMC Texas is not the original manufacturer of the DeLorean. The original company, founded by John DeLorean, went bankrupt after the founder’s involvement in a drug trafficking scandal in the 1980s. Despite the complex history, DMC Texas is now tasked with bringing the famous car back to life.
With a large stockpile of original factory parts that didn’t meet modern regulations, DMC Texas is now using these components to build the 2017 DeLorean model. According to the company, up to 325 new DeLoreans could be produced each year, with the new model staying largely faithful to the original 1980s design. The main upgrade? A new third-party engine that not only complies with modern emissions standards but also increases horsepower from the original 130 to a range of 300 to 400 horsepower.
The new DeLorean models are expected to hit the market sometime in 2017, with a price tag around $100,000. There’s even speculation that an electric version may be in the works, adding even more intrigue to the much-anticipated return of this iconic car.
