Why the 1981-1983 DeLorean DMC-12 Failed

[@niceguy60]

If only I could go back in time and tell DeLorean about his future.

[@THOMASTHESAILOR]

He wouldn't believe you, He was a smart and successful,

[@twistedyogert]

*"The fake Cocaine John! Someting has to be done about the fake cocaine."*

[@hoopenhanger]

I worked in the plant in Belfast. Greatest job I ever had. God bless America.

[@justsumguy2u]

The DMC-12 was basically a sporty-looking car with the performance of a six-cylinder Malibu. They still would've sold well if they stuck to a price closer to their $12K target, but at $25K, it was a niche-market vehicle that simply couldn't compete in that segment.

[@nancyhyatt5246]

bought one of the first cars made in 1981. Waited 4 years for it to be made. Drove it every day for 12 years, put 250,000 miles on it. EVERY day it was a pleasure to drive and got more attention than Ferraris, Lambos, Vettes. Still own it, would buy it again new even with the orginal engine, oh and it got 32 miles to the gallon highway and city.

[@zerkfiter]

wow..good for you Nancy..I stood next to one once and enjoyed every second of looking at it.

[@matthewronsson]

32 mpg hwy and city-now I know you have no clue as to what you are speaking of. Those motors are so renowned as pieces of junk, it is one of the VERY few cares worth more with another engine dropped in it no matter its age, and NO car gets the same mileage city Or highway. What a fantasy.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

It is well documented that John Delorean absolutely DESPISED the fact that his car had to use that engine. It was purely a financial concession, which is why he was chomping at the bit to get more power out of it (or another engine). That said, the PRV engine still holds the top speed record at Le Mans. 251 MPH in 1988. It can be tuned to over 800 HP. However, after the government got involved, it was restricted to 130 HP. With some relatively minimal mods, the PRV in the Delorean easily handles upwards of 300HP with new cams, exhaust, and forced induction. Even with the French transmission, the drive train was designed to handle between 300-350HP. The DMC-12 is by far one of the most misunderstood cars in history.

[@alexandermathar7780]

Ok. 400 HP Venturi PRV.

[@markbeast9671]

The main stream auto/banksters shut him down. He was "Tuckered", plain and simple. That's the reason the DMC as a company failed.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

GREGAN, YOU ARE A VILE RACIST PIG !!!

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Nope, the biggest reason that DMC failed was interruptions to the assembly line, due to using parts from many automakers, resulting in shortages of key parts....

[@tylerbonser7686]

Mark Beast It failed because it was a over priced car for what you get. Most people dont want to pay a high end price for a low end car.

[@chem395]

tyler bonser it was pretty competitive at the time

[@DIYDanCars]

I love these cars! I really wish John had another go at another DMC before his death. I'm sure it would have been epic! RIP John!

[@noctowl4823]

This car is totaly Amazing and the car will never been forgoten because is a Legend!

[@KnightDaylight]

Says that production will begin in late 2017... I looked at the clock and it is January 22, 2018

[@PatrickBaptist]

2020 no new DMCs yet....

[@marcopalomba9463]

I find fascinating how almost every video about the beloved "all american" DMC 12 intentionally fails to inform its wiewers on how the Delorean was designed by famous italian car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro based on the 1969 Alfa Romeo 33 _Iguana_, was engineered by Colin Chapman the founder of Lotus and used Lotus Esprit chassis and suspensions, mounted an engine developed by Volvo, Renault and Peugeot and was produced in Northern Ireland. So, the most iconic "american" car was in fact a european car, I wonder why nobody ever tells that.

[@THOMASTHESAILOR]

They did say it was made in Ireland, But, they didn't mention any of his designers tho, but, we all know, one Man can't do it all. It was DeLorean's concept, that where the credit always goes, just like Lee Iaccoca.

[@URNOTWANT]

Because nobody cares ..

[@PatrickBaptist]

It's because people couldn't care less.

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

I've never heard anyone call it an "all american" car....

[@pontiacmaniac7772]

Great looks. Unique design. Inadequate engine. One of my favorite cars. Swap the engine and you have an even more amazing car than the stock version.

[@Yoshua-Robinson]

Excellent and informative story telling... thanks for the good job!

[@albundy6008]

it failed because the flux capacitor used too much plutonium.

[@Jefff72]

This means find new people to trick and you quickly run out along with gaining a lot of enemies.

[@Giraffiti]

Mr. Fusion hasn't been invented in 30 years!

[@dementedweasel1]

Think McFly, think!

[@Lucifer3001]

todd krager: Actually is was Element 115

[@Giraffiti]

Russian Bot, hai

[@papaike2]

Your wrong about making a totally polished stainless steel car body because light reflecting off would blind other drivers that would not be allowed.

[@dementedweasel1]

Wouldn't be worse than those Iodine headlights blinding you at night.

[@mike300406]

it just would of been cool

[@chrisw5742]

But the shape of the car is convex and would scatter the light.

[@chade74]

They are making these cars again. Love to have one

[@wilbertbenjamin]

Sir, I can't stop watching your vids!

[@VcArena]

could have told you guys it was the engine. the most beautiful car of the 80s with no power. could have sold it as a kit car with an old 427 or something in it.

[@jnieto490]

DemonLordOdin454 "the most beautiful car"

[@Community-Action]

DemonLordOdin454- automakers just don't listen to what people want and make products that basically tell people what they want!!!

[@VcArena]

+skojo3e that is true.

[@jnieto490]

skojo3e automakers sound like Apple

[@brettknoss486]

DemonLordOdin454 Most cars in the 80s lacked power due to environment, but a kit car could have got around this. This was also a time of the hot rod revival, for the same reason. My problem is the DMC is not an awesome looking car, if anything it would have been better as a practical 2+2.

[@SeattleCondoSpecialistcom]

Wow. Interesting that this car will make a comeback!

[@PatrickBaptist]

It never will.

[@PatrickBaptist]

@Steven Hope it will actually have some real power...

[@dustinkrejci6142]

2017 has nearly came and gone.

[@katelinmarie5360]

The only reason anybody gives 2 shits about this car is because it looks spectacular - and that's because it was designed by an Italian; one of the most talented car designers who's ever lived. If it wasn't for that Italian designer, the care factor for this car would be literally ZERO. They owe everything to that man. That aside, there is nothing special about this car - and that includes the Back to the Future films; if this car didn't look the way did, it wouldn't have received that amount of attention.

[@countdown2xstacy]

🇮🇹I agree!🇮🇹 ...and yes, I’m 100% Italian 😉

[@1984318i]

The low performance engine is only about 1/10th of the reasons his company crashed. The specs of that engine, by the way, are not what was originally envisioned to go into the car, but was the end result of emissions regulations and not having enough money or time to source something better. In a nutshell, he was dealt one bad hand of cards against his company, after another. All that being said, it is amazing that the DeLorean was designed, engineered and built to the caliber degree that it was and in a very short time frame. Everyone involved with this car, worked their butts off to make it a reality and deserve much more appreciation, considering the circumstances. There are many more videos on youtube if anyone is interested in researching the other 9/10ths of the story.

[@5610winston]

I shopped for my first new vehicle at a Toyota dealership that doubled on DeLoreans. The salesman remarked that they had sold a couple of dozen DeLoreans versus a thousand Toyotas in the same period, and that about half the DeLoreans had been towed in due to mechanical failures, but only a couple of Toyotas.

[@packodenton]

Too slow. Looks fast, however a basic economy car in terms of parts they used for engine, transmission, suspension & brakes, etc. Too expensive, the car was way overpriced for the type of parts used in construction. It’s an economy car underneath the doors & stainless. Poor build quality, what car company built an assembly plant in Belfast since? Zero. Missing money. Chapman & JZD had other plans via GPD services of Geneva Switzerland

[@gradywilson9213]

According to Delorean own biography, the brits played a big part on the demise of the company, it was built in Northern Ireland, the Brits made it impossible for Delorean to secure financing. The Brits raided the factory dumping all its tooling in the ocean, where it still rests today .

[@tomciodmc]

I keep wondering where the 10.5 second figure comes from as it's completely wrong. If a DeLorean needs over 10 seconds to hit 60MPH it needs to be FIXED first! I run my 100% stock DeLorean many times and every time I got 8.00 seconds 0-60. That 2.5 seconds makes a world of difference. Oh, and the top speed of 109?? Where did that come from? 130MPH would be more realistic. When you talk about something, please do some research first before you spread misinformation. Pretty poor...

[@Vin80_]

He got here.

[@cardinaloflannagancr8929]

The reason for the different times is manual 8.8 (De Lorean's own specs) vs automatic 10.5 which is what road and track averaged. As to the top speed back then it would be drag not computer limited top speed so that could vary some. However do take note speedometers can be off by several mph and this increases the faster the car goes. So you could show 130 and be at say 115. There also were some changes too laws which changed from what lotus originally had planned on. This effected the stance, handling and aerodynamics of the cars somewhat. Not uncommon for these to be brought back to around what is thought to be the original design (lower front), as no specs were formally noted for that.

[@silverwings11035]

Yeah the facts are WAY off! I been to 120mph and still pulling nicely! I about at 155hp now give or take. Even the automatic 3 speed isn't that slow. I really would like where they got their time numbers from. My car is a 5 speed and hit's 60 mph with no problem and my car isn't stock no more. Vin-11035

[@silverwings11035]

@@cardinaloflannagancr8929 These cars don't have a governed speed by a computer.

[@cardinaloflannagancr8929]

@@silverwings11035 Ugh yeah if you'll notice I said they are drag limited not computer. FYI drag is not a electronic part type or brand.

[@dizzyknutsak9462]

F**k it give me the keys I’ll still wanna be seen in one.

[@gamingdk8627]

i still want a delorean

[@cartoonfan959]

the PRV engine originally had 170 BHP but those dam emission restrictions...

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

The real story is that John Delorean did not originally plan to use that engine that is talked about. He tried to source a new Wankle rotary engine to fit in the small engine space from Mazda but that fell through. It would have met the performance needs of this car but he could not get it (development of it fell apart). He next went to Ford to get a small V6 engine called the "Cologne V6" but that also fell through. Running out of options he went then with this engine which was ill suited for the car (basically, he needed an engine and this is what he could get). When that happened little did he know he doomed the car to failing due to a lack of power.

[@LynxStarAuto]

Sam S would have been even worse with the Cologne V6. In that time period, Ford's V6 was barely making 110 hp.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Agreed. However, that is the history of the engine selection that he went through as his options were not all that good once the Wankle fell through.

[@johnrichardson6806]

I had also read he wanted to source a Chevy small block V8, that with updated electronic fuel injection would have gotten him there. But I will say that John Z as an engineer was likely desiring a rotary for its light weight and compactness. But sure he hedged his bets since he lived through the almost shipping of the GM rotary that got cancelled due to emissions and fuel efficiency challenges.

[@kriswingert1662]

Thanks you for posting this, as it is all true and few people know of this.

[@NeilVanceNeilVance]

Nice vid man! ... I remember watching the transporters go past our shop taking the DMC12's to the Belfast dock yard for export, The transporters looked cool with 6 or 8 Delorean's on board!

[@akashkuber35]

2018 and still waiting 😅

[@josephsolis3018]

When you go faster than 88mph, it disappears. My cuzziin borrowed it and entered the freeway and never came back!

[@neilhoganwa]

Now more popular than he would have ever imagined.

[@helipilot27]

Top speed of the DMC12 is 135mph in either 5 speed or auto form.

[@FRITZI999]

wrong - the Auto Gearbox is about 5 mph slower...

[@silverwings11035]

helipilot27 Yep, i had mine up to 120mph before. Very stable at that speed!

[@NorthernChev]

Christian Dietrich Agreed. I've been to 120 in my 5-speed but let me say it did not handle well due to the excessive amount of air going in under the tall stock front end. It does however, handle much better above 100mph now that I have the Eibach lowering kit on it. Although, as a side note, I will say that my front windshield sounds like it's going to blow completely out of the vehicle above 100. Even with the windows closed. lol

[@silverwings11035]

NorthernChev Really? lol. I still have the stock suspension for now but I do have the QA1 adjustable coilovers with the 10 position dampeners from Josh Bengston plus his stainless steel lower control arms and rear stainless radius arms and adjustable upper links and a whole host of other stuff like Wilwood 4-piston calipers so I'm getting ready to pull it off the road and start doing that conversion. Yeah, I'm sure if I took mine up to that speed that you had yours I'm sure I would feel the effects with the nose High front end and that was stupid that these cars did come that way but at least there is a remedy. Im vin 11035 btw.

[@tarl1812]

Not in a stock car, mine got to 90mph put the stage 2 setup and goes better but only hit 120 and the front end started to move. I'am going to calif. this may to install suspension kit and that should help, still don't see 135 needs more power like 250 to 300hp.

[@PatrickBaptist]

2020 and yet no new DMCs....

[@darrellharding7781]

great. video. im a delorean. owner myself

[@rahulgawade1518]

It's 2020 now ...still no new dmc production

[@FasterTheDragster]

Seems like they should have built the car around the motor a little more, instead of the car and then the motor. If that makes any sense. Really neat interior and design. Thanks for the video essay and research, really fun facts!

[@saxonwench1]

it didnt failed AT ALL!! its now a forever iconic car due to Back to the Future!!

[@SidTheGeek]

83 guy here ..pretty old

[@SonnyGTA]

I love all your videos!

[@Tistan01]

2020. Still waiting.

[@Deanyfromtheburgh]

All it needed was the Euro spec 170bhp 2.85 litre V6,and it would have been a winner,John should have focused on the European and UK market instead and he wouldn't have had to use the low compression California smog spec engine.

[@tragedi25]

I watched an interview of JD from 1988, and he said the reason the British government didn't honor the second half of deal he had made with the labor party was that some of his workers were found to be giving some of the salary to the IRA group and the British were afraid it would keep that side of the fighting going. It's here on youtube just look for a two part interview all on one video here from 1988 with JD. I personally can't ever really know for sure what happened because I wasn't there, but I think anyone that looks into what happened to JD and his company can easily know that something a lot more important that the HP rating on the cars motor sunk the ship......Just my opinion.....At least he was a saved Christian!

[@Vin80_]

I want a Twin Turbo DeLorean.

[@Z-Twinturbo]

Where can we find some info about the new V6 they're gonna put in? I thought they would keep the old PRV

[@Daniel-tv9tb]

Great video. I always thought that was the reason.

[@theredspyder2112]

Jeeze even a lowly '78 Chevy Monza 2+ 2 with the V8 would do 119.5 bone stock. Fold the rear seat down and presto! instant 2 seater with a hatch area large enough for that weekend Home Improvement project.

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

Jesus, how long has it been since you saw a Chevy Monza 2+2 ?

[@ziggy72170]

Realistically i f i bought a Delorean , how hard would it be to replace or Modify the engine ??. ( Alot of Money ? ).

[@zillsburyy1]

thats one of the myths of the delorean. its motor was not that bad

[@ronbzoom8531]

Interesting stuff. Nice job.

[@screamineagle88]

I had heard that DMC had been bought out and the new owner was selling the NOS parts to DMC-12 owners. Then decided to start building NOS cars. But let me get this straight, are they going to restart manufacturing, or just go with building them from the NOS parts again?

[@davidbublitz6571]

Well if gets off the ground.hehe The body NOS. The engine, drive train and under carriage all new. And possibly front and back end. Oh let's not forget the interior.

[@edale65]

A living legend with a very under-powered 132hp TVR engine, that's the crappier side of that car doomed from the beginning to fail.

[@amw6394]

The factory that built the De Lorean was based in my home town Belfast Northern Ireland

[@lildevil7002]

Adam Walker Well that explains it, the titanic was built there and look what happened

[@matsv201]

How come the engine was that week. The car my family had when i was small was a 4 cylinder Volvo engine (with no turbo) that had 100hp. One might suspect that just adding two cylinders would give it at least 150hp with no other optimization.

[@davidbublitz6571]

No one would sell him anything else! So sad that they had to be haters!

[@mr_nice.]

A flying DeLorean! ! !

[@mattmcfly2165]

Nice! I don't know about just a motor change effecting sales that much though? It's pretty peppy, especially sans cat. ;)

[@EvilJ069]

It's an engine, not a motor

[@maggyalvarado702]

2021 and still waiting XD

[@markcastro78]

Love the pronounciation of "poo-jzo-rennal" - I've never heard it said soooooo french before! (I know that Peugeot-Renault ARE French, but I live in England, so have only heard it pronounced "purr-jzo renno)

[@moosefactory133]

It was a very cool concept for its time. Too bad it failed

[@forestmanzpedia]

I hope the new company makes the job better next time and fixes design flaws about the car. Unfortunately, many US American manufactured cars can make it in the international market because lots of them don't even reach the quality of many famous car brands.

[@philipbrazill2155]

Cool video but I'd like to make a request for another top 5 1980s cars like obscure ones or best Japanese ones or even a top 5 on American budget cars of the 1980s. Thanks

[@rtex8563]

What was the 0 to 88mph time?

[@vassa1972]

I did liked that car and yes especially with the back to the future trilogy movies lol

[@SolidSnake.1]

We're in 2018.. What happened.?

[@good2btheking]

Time to reboot the Delorean as an electric car with colored brushed stainless options

[@twistedyogert]

They needed a V8 not a V6.

[@sheriff0017]

I think De Lorean did realise that he needed a powerful engine. I think it was a lack of money that forced him into the PRV. For all its fault, it was cheap.

[@AbbeyRoad69147]

very interesting. i still want one. they are selling them in houston, and will sell them New later this year, if the website is anything to go by.

[@timothymoore4000]

they were working towards putting a ford 302 in it but the british government who was financing the start of the company did not want to wait for the engines to get to northern ireland so delorean had to get an engine quicker. normal car production from concept to showroom is 5 years. De Lorean was forced to do it in 2.5.

[@elit3401]

Did the DMC really come back in 2017 with a new engine?

[@knytrydr73]

General Motors killed the DMC

[@davidhollenshead4892]

BS, GM had no concerns about competing with the DeLorean...

[@gunsbeersmemes]

GM did kill DMC. They waited until the car was in production, to suddenly renege on him using GM engines.

[@lgnaval2075]

The new dmc company was able to create engine kits which are able to make the delorean have 210-230 horsepower

[@bx3851]

Competition couldn't compete so they had mock drug charges set up to destroy his company, just another day in backstabbing big bucks business.

[@luckyvet]

WHY ARE YOU COMPARING IT TO A FERRARI 308 GTS with an original sticker price of $59,505??? WHY didn't you mention interest rates were 20%++ In 1981 / 82????

[@herrdoktorknowitall]

All show, no go.

[@jasonantigua6825]

Barry Seal brought me here!

[@loneside4912]

A new car in 2017?? Its already 2018 and i have never heard of the company making a new version of the car.....

[@med8tor1]

The company is in Texas and you can order one. I'm not sure about the new engine though.

[@EvilJ069]

2017 eh? Still waiting...

[@aquarius9491]

Wow that is so sad or stupid ? To know this car failed because of an underpowered motor.

[@Greatdome99]

Body panels were not stainless steel, but fiberglass covered with a thin stainless layer

[@coburnlowman]

As a kid it looked so futuristic. Now it looks like all the 80's smog control junk. Remember the Firebirds of the 80's Looked like a plywood stack with a windshield.

[@onefastcyclist]

At a time when established sport car manufactures were producing small numbers, DeLorean financed his company based on the production of 10,000 units a year. Porsche didn't export that many 911's to the USA in1981. Given that DMC was a new company with a relatively underpowered car, smaller sales numbers should have been put in the Performa. Note that the relatively underpowered Porsche 356 sold in it's time - in small numbers. DeLorean's ego sank the company.

[@nicusor2518]

You said motor, but in fact the DMC-12 had a engine. (A motor uses electricity to run)

[@billbingham3829]

A motor, by definition is something that imparts motion. An engine is one type of motor. Another type is an electric motor.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

The engine was saddled with Emissions control that killed any semblance of performance. They did prepare several "European" version for the UK and those if I recall correctly produced somewhere around 165hp. Still, nothing stellar but a little more peppy than the US version. Today, they can get a lot more power out of those engines with some basic hot-rodding techniques.

[@docsaaab]

I think is was about 155 HP in Europa. My father has a volvo 264 here in Germany.......

[@That_AMC_Guy]

@@docsaaab Really? I was under the impression the non-emission engine made a lot more power. But for the US-Spec models to barely have 130-horsepower - even in the 80's.... John Z. should have KNOWN that would be a death knell. Think about this: the 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z car; from a 2.2 litre 4-cylinder made 142 hp and the Turbo Z cost about one-third what the Delorean did.

[@richardrichard5409]

Paint shop is one of the biggest costs of car manufacturing, 50% of cost, one of the reasons for a grp body with a fairly low grade stainless skin covering. I adore these cars for some reason but in essence they were no more than a glamorous factory built kit car, but you could level that at most Lotii of the period, all be it with far better performance though.

[@prawnjohn]

what happens when you have an accident, the car goes on it`s roof how do you get out when you have gull wing doors?

[@prawnjohn]

is that a great option considering most cars you just have to open doors, bad design would you agree.

[@Vin80_]

If you get the speed to roll over, you're driving a modified one.

[@TFD1982]

It's December 31 and I still see no new DMC car

[@Winner3ty]

if that happens and I could buy a brand new DeLorean I will have a tough time choosing a car if the DeLorean is affordable

[@willelektroauto2658]

I want a DeLorean with the powertrain made by Tesla

[@zigzagz_8423]

It's still alive 👣☮

[@recheetos2347]

The Narcotics trafficking, charge might have affected his businesses also...

[@crayfishtv]

200hp was 'evaporated' by 1980 and lasted for 2 decades. (after which a normal vehicle was avail with 200+hp) People were concerned about using too much energy and polluting. 4cyl were 'trending' then turbo 4cyl . A standard GM V8 like in the corvette, olds had about 140hp. A diesel mercedes with the same power cost 30k. Very few people had sports cars then. People still were having families with 2,3,4+ kids - station wagon was the way to go for families. Generally speaking when gov't is involved - the result is low quality. People just didn't want it.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Why are you making. All these pauses. In the middle of the. Sentence.

[@Deanyfromtheburgh]

because every video he makes is read off a bit paper,and he doesn't actually know how to be aware of what he's saying.

[@kriswingert1662]

William Shatner School of Acting. My God! It is a DeLorean!

[@matthewronsson]

Yes, imagine the glaring strobes of blinding flashed light into other motorists retina's with an entire car as reflective as chrome. This is why it was illegal to manufacture a car with over 'x' amount of chrome on it back in the day. That polished stainless steel would not have been legal for very long.

[@NorthernChev]

The source you got your information about the top speed being only 109 mph is severely incorrect.

[@Sonicfan1661]

Wasn't it not even 90mph? If I'm correct, they actually had to tune the car in BTTF, because it didn't make it to 88mph stock.

[@NorthernChev]

Sonicfan1661 How about, um, no.

[@NorthernChev]

Sonicfan1661 That's rediculous. Any 5-speed stick DeLorean will go 120 completely stock.

[@TiborRoussou]

Had a chance to buy one about a dozen years back. I hesitated since the guy had painted the stainless body ruining the beautiful stainless finish. in some ways, I wished I did buy it :/

[@LynxStarAuto]

Tibor Roussou you could remove the paint no problems

[@TiborRoussou]

Not if the stainless was sanded first ;)

[@russg1801]

Probaby HAD to be painted to cover up dents. Once the sheet metal is dinged it has to be either replaced with a brand-new stamping, or staightened as best it can, filled with Bondo, and painted. No other solution.

[@bradleybprentice1497]

A very similar history to the Bricklin. Even where is what manufactured draws comparison to Bricklin. Both New Brunswick and Ireland are famous in many ways for Potatoes.

[@johnericejr2902]

I kept wondering what happened to DMC

[@losmenposada7499]

Hi son. The Ages 3030. I love you.