In the car world, John DeLorean rose from engineer to executive to icon. But under the hood of his self-created automotive legend history has shown lay a web of darkness and deceit.
You may not know him by name, but you’ll definitely be familiar with his car, which shares his surname. John DeLorean was the poster boy of the late ‘70s corporate greed, epitomising these hubristic times with his grandiose vision of the car of the future, which unfortunately didn’t eventuate.
Such is the intrigue of the DeLorean story, three years ago, Netflix released a 3-part documentary series called ‘Myth & Mogul: John DeLorean’ about the futuristic car creator, which explores the rise and fall of the automotive icon and makes for very interesting viewing.
‘Myth & Mogul: John DeLorean’ Official Trailer – Netflix
DeLorean, a former GM employee went out on his own in 1975 and formed the DeLorean Motor Company (DMC). Six years later, in 1981 production on his first car, the DMC-12 began, and it was four years later, that the first ‘Back to the Future’ film featuring the DeLorean DMC-12 was released which one can argue, really made the car famous and it’s probably the main reason why it’s even remembered today.
The design was a gull-winged car depicting sporty ’80s futurism, featuring a stainless-steel body designed by Italdesign’s Giorgetto Giugiaro, and it caught people’s attention and captured imaginations. But with an average European V6 engine and a $25,000 price tag (the equivalent of around $65,000 today), it struggled in the marketplace. Its performance didn’t live up to its sporty looks, and the price – despite plans to sell it at $12,000 (the ‘12’ in DMC-12) – was considered unaffordable to the consumer.
Today you could buy a DeLorean DMC-12 for around $90,000, if you can find one, however it would still be a very underperforming car.
However, if you’d like a DeLorean DMC-12 that does perform on the road and is environmentally friendly, you may like to consider a 2024 Electrogenic DeLorean DMC-12, which to me sounds like a car from the ‘Back to the Future’ movie!
Firstly, Electrogenic are a British company that as well as developing EV technology solutions to car manufacturers and for Defence, they also manufacture sophisticated “drop-in” kits, which include everything required to convert a internal combustion car to all-electric drive. However, Electrogenic don’t sell kits to anybody, they have licenced partner-installers who are specialists in their own field and provide a range of restoration and other services in addition to the EV conversions.
Electrogenic have primarily established their name by creating EV technology to extend the life of classic cars, making them fit for the modern world and currently have EV conversion kits for the Land Rover Defender (both road cars and agricultural kits), E Type Jaguar, Porsche 911, the Classic Mini Minor and the DeLorean DMC-12.
This carsales.com.au article takes a close look at the Electrogenic DeLorean DMC-12 that are available in Australia through Finch Restorations in Mount Baker Adelaide, which is the oldest and largest vehicle restoration and coach building business in the country
Electrogenic DeLorean DMC-12 2024 – carsales.com.au
For some reason, the concept of an electric DMC-12 seems to fit more with the ‘Back to the Future’ theme, than the original 1985 version.