A 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 with 34,758 miles is currently listed for sale with an asking price of $59,900, offering collectors a well-preserved example from the model’s first year of production. The stainless-steel sports car features a five-speed manual transmission paired with the 2.85-liter naturally aspirated V6 that produced 130 horsepower when new. The vehicle’s brushed stainless exterior and largely original interior place it squarely in the category of collectible early-production DeLoreans still circulating in the classic car market.
The listing highlights a car that appears to have been maintained with an emphasis on originality while remaining mechanically usable rather than stored indefinitely. With just over 34,000 miles on the odometer, the vehicle sits in a mileage range that collectors often consider desirable. Cars that have been driven periodically tend to avoid the mechanical deterioration that sometimes occurs when vehicles sit unused for long stretches, particularly with seals and internal engine components.
This particular example carries the distinctive design features that made the DeLorean instantly recognizable when it debuted in the early 1980s. Its body panels are finished in brushed stainless steel rather than traditional paint, a design choice that gave the car its futuristic appearance and remains one of the defining visual elements of the model. The stainless panels are mounted over a fiberglass underbody, which itself is supported by a steel backbone chassis engineered with input from Lotus.
That chassis design played a significant role in the DMC-12’s road manners. While the car was never known for overwhelming horsepower, the structural layout gave it stable handling characteristics and predictable driving behavior for the time. Four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel power disc brakes were standard equipment, placing the DeLorean among the more technically advanced cars in its class during its production era.
The exterior condition appears to be a major selling point for this listing. Stainless steel panels are famously difficult to repair if they suffer dents or damage, since they cannot simply be repainted or filled like traditional body panels. Clean, undamaged panels therefore carry substantial value when evaluating a DeLorean’s condition and market price.
Inside the cabin, the car retains a largely original interior finished in black leather. Some DeLorean models later received grey interiors, but the darker trim found in this example reflects the configuration used on many early cars. The cockpit layout includes the thick center console that became a signature part of the DMC-12 interior design along with the original gauge cluster.
The car also includes several luxury features that were notable when the vehicle was introduced in the early 1980s. Power windows, climate control, and a cassette tape player were part of the equipment package, reflecting the blend of grand touring comfort and futuristic styling that defined the DeLorean’s market positioning at the time.
One of the most significant features on this particular car is its five-speed manual transmission. Among collectors and enthusiasts, the manual gearbox is widely considered the more desirable configuration for the DeLorean’s V6 engine. The 2.85-liter Peugeot-Renault-Volvo powerplant produces 130 horsepower and 153 pound-feet of torque, numbers that place the car closer to a grand touring machine than a high-output sports car.
With the manual gearbox, drivers are able to make better use of the engine’s modest output. Automatic versions of the DMC-12 often receive criticism for dulling the driving experience due to the engine’s limited horsepower. The manual transmission, by contrast, allows the driver to extract more engagement from the powertrain.
Another defining feature remains the DeLorean’s gull-wing doors, which open upward rather than outward. The doors are supported by gas-charged struts that counterbalance their weight and hold them in place when raised. On this particular example, the struts reportedly function as intended, allowing the doors to open and remain upright without issue.
The DeLorean DMC-12 itself remains one of the most recognizable vehicles of the 1980s, not only because of its unique styling but also because of the ambitious engineering behind its development. The project brought together several international influences, including the French-designed PRV V6 engine and chassis engineering associated with Lotus founder Colin Chapman.
At its core, the DeLorean represented an attempt to introduce a distinctive sports car that stood apart from conventional designs of the era. The unpainted stainless steel body panels eliminated concerns about exterior rust and gave the car a visual identity unlike anything else on the road. Combined with the dramatic gull-wing doors, the DMC-12 became instantly recognizable even among high-end sports cars.
Today the car occupies a unique position in the collector market. Production numbers were relatively limited, and the brand itself disappeared decades ago, yet the model continues to maintain strong visibility in automotive culture. Enthusiast groups dedicated to the DeLorean have remained active for years, supporting restoration projects and maintaining a steady network for parts and technical knowledge.
That support structure has become a major factor in keeping DeLoreans on the road. Despite the manufacturer no longer existing in its original form, the supply chain for parts remains surprisingly strong. Components for engines, chassis systems, and cosmetic elements are still widely available through specialized suppliers and enthusiast organizations.
For collectors, the appeal of the DMC-12 is rarely tied to outright performance numbers. Instead, the vehicle represents a snapshot of automotive ambition during a period when manufacturers experimented with unconventional materials, distinctive styling, and international engineering partnerships. The result was a car that continues to attract attention decades after its production run ended.
At an asking price of $59,900, this particular 1981 example lands within the range many buyers expect for well-maintained, low-mileage DeLoreans equipped with the manual transmission. The mileage, original presentation, and clean stainless bodywork all contribute to the value proposition for potential collectors.
For enthusiasts looking to enter the classic car market with a vehicle that stands apart from traditional sports cars, the DeLorean DMC-12 remains a compelling option. This listing offers a first-year example that combines recognizable design, mechanical originality, and collector appeal in a package that continues to draw attention more than four decades after the car first appeared on the road.
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