Former GM executive John Z. DeLorean was always ambitious and willing to try new things, the talented engineer and salesman was planning to go his own way with a new sports car, one that would be more technically advanced and have greater safety features.

The DeLorean DMC-12 was built for the American market in 1981-1982. Manufactured in Northern Ireland under an agreement with the British government, one that partially bankrolled the DeLorean Motor Company, the DMC-12 was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro, of Italdesign. It featured distinctive gullwing doors and outer body panels of brushed stainless steel, over a rear-engined, Renault-powered chassis and suspension that was largely based upon the Lotus Esprit.

The car became iconic for its appearance in the movie Back to the Future as a modified time machine, as well as for the trials and tribulations of founder John DeLorean. Approximately 9,000 DMC-12s were made before production halted in early 1983.

The car is driven by a 173-cid V-6 engine and is paired to an automatic transmission. Four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel power assisted disc brakes are welcome additions on this platform. This example also has air conditioning, AM/FM radio, power windows and power steering. The car is reported to have been driven sparingly and is said to be “mostly original” with upgrades that includes seat covers, a freshly rebuilt transmission and fresh black paint on certain accent areas. Various books also accompany the DeLorean.