Future Looks Sunny for DeLorean

Can you think of any other make that was discontinued nearly a quarter-century ago and yet has its own dedicated full-service garage network and parts infrastructure? Welcome to the world of DeLorean, whose owners are so dedicated to the short-lived orphan make that some of them have even set up shop.  Like Toby Peterson, owner of DMC Northwest, which has only been in business since March of this year but has rapidly become a hub of the vibrant Pacific-Northwest DeLorean community. When I visited Toby’s shop in Bellevue over the weekend with DeLorean owner Dave Jacobs, it was a hive of activity, with six cars in for service, one in the outer shop, another parked outside, and an entire De Lorean fiberglass underbody and the famous half-car trailer on display in the showroom. Toby says that now is the best time in history to own a DeLorean, and after viewing his extensive parts inventory, I certainly believe him. When the original DeLorean Motor Company ceased production in 1982, there were enough parts left over to complete at least another 20,000 cars, meaning plentiful new-old-stock exists to this day. DMC Texas, meanwhile, has been aggressive about increasing the range of reproduction parts offered; and interest in these cars has probably not been more intense since the Back to the Future movies of the 80’s. With an increasing number of DeLoreans being bought and restored, as well as a reconsituted DMC beginning production of new cars, reproduction DeLorean parts will become ever more widely available and affordable. If you never thought you could own a DeLorean, you might be surprised to find you can pick one up in mint refurbished condition for less than the cost of a lot of new cars.