The DeLorean DMC-12: When a car is stuck in the wrong timeline

This car is probably well-known simply because people have seen the film Back to the Future, which ranks 37th among the best films of all time on the IMDb movie database. And closely linked to it is this silver, shimmering car with gullwing doors. However, you rarely see this car on Swiss roads. But recently, streetwheelz1 had the opportunity to take a closer look at one. Time for an ode to the DeLorean DMC-12.

This car is somehow everything at once: It looks typical for the 1980s with its wedge-shaped design, reminiscent of the Lotus Esprit, but also brings certain design elements from Pontiac. No surprise when you look at the history of this car. Yet the DeLorean also possesses features that today are considered futuristic, such as the unusual gullwing doors or the unpainted stainless steel body, something a certain Elon Musk has recently rediscovered for himself. Overall, the DMC-12 exhibits a clean, streamlined aesthetic that can be appealing even if you’re not a fan of science fiction.

The story behind the DeLorean is unfortunately not quite as clean. Its namesake founder had earned an excellent reputation as an engineer and manager at General Motors and was instrumental in the development of the Pontiac GTO, one of the first muscle cars. But John DeLorean wanted to implement his own ideas and eventually fell out with his employer. So, he founded his own company and worked feverishly on developing the prototype, which was initially called the “DeLorean Safety Vehicle.” However, there was little support from other automakers, and Porsche, for example, declined the offer to bring the model to market. Eventually, Lotus stepped in and completed the project in just two years.

But the skepticism in the industry was not unfounded. The tight schedule and limited financial resources meant that some ideas were underdeveloped, and the car’s technical specifications at launch were not particularly impressive. The original idea of a sports car was hardly reflected in its appearance, and the engine performance left much to be desired. Under the hood, the DeLorean had only a 2.8-liter PRV V6 engine with 130 horsepower. So, unfortunately, the DeLorean couldn’t accelerate quite as quickly as in the Back to the Future films. Instead of reaching light speed (or at least 88 mph) in a few seconds, it took a full 9.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h.

The car was a commercial flop. And it took both the company and its patron down with it. Only seven years after its founding, the DeLorean Motor Company went bankrupt in 1982. The founder was also linked to dubious drug deals, which may have been a last desperate attempt to save the company. DeLorean never regained a foothold in the automotive industry and filed for personal bankruptcy in 1999. Until his death in 2005, he lived a reclusive life on a farm.

Once again, it is evident that visionary leaders with big dreams are not necessarily successful. DeLorean faced similar challenges with his car back then as Elon Musk does today with his Cybertruck. But Tesla has better financial resources and more time to make improvements.

In Back to the Future, the DeLorean plays a central role. It allows the protagonists to travel through time, ultimately bringing them happiness and a better future. Unfortunately, this was not granted to the father of the DeLorean. And while the DeLorean is a cult car, it was not a commercially successful project. We will never know what the DeLorean could have become under ideal conditions. Perhaps it would have been commercially successful, but without that certain something.

However, if one believes in the Many-Worlds Theory, one might be inclined to imagine the DeLorean in an alternate timeline. Where the brand might have flourished in a more favorable world, and John DeLorean, who was very interested in sustainable technologies, could have been seen as a kind of Elon Musk, inspiring the tech world in that place.

In any case, the DeLorean is surrounded by an aura of mystery, which it undoubtedly owes to the film. Its simple design feels like a disguise beneath which incredible potential lies. A reminder that humanity strives for greatness, even for mastering space and time. And that is precisely what makes the DeLorean a timeless icon.

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The DeLorean in the picture
It was no coincidence to encounter this beautiful specimen. The Enter Technikwelt Solothurn is a museum for contemporary history and regularly organizes car meets. The pictures come from such a car meet. Website: https://enter.ch