The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car that was originally manufactured in Northern Ireland by John DeLorean‘s DeLorean Motor Company for the American market in 1981–1982. It is most commonly known simply as the DeLorean, as it was the only model ever produced by the company. The DMC-12 featured gull-wing doors with a fiberglass “underbody”, to which non-structural brushed stainless steel panels were affixed. A modified version of the car became iconic for its appearance as a time machine in the Back to the Future film franchise.

The first prototype appeared in March 1976, and production officially began in 1981 (with the first DMC-12 rolling off the production line on January 21) at the DMC factory in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland. During its production, several features of the car were changed, such as the bonnet (hood) style, wheels and interior. Approximately 9,000^[1] DMC-12s were made before production stopped in late 1982. Today, about 6,500 DeLorean Motor Cars are believed to still exist.^[2]

Texas entrepreneur Stephen Wynne started a separate company in 1995 using the “DeLorean Motor Company” name and shortly thereafter acquired the trademark on the stylized “DMC” logo as well as the remaining parts inventory of the original DeLorean Motor Company. The company, at its suburban Houston, Texas location completes newly assembled cars from new original stock (NOS) parts, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and reproduction parts on a “made to order” basis.^[3] The primary facility opened in 2008 in Humble, Texas. Additional facilities are currently located in Bonita Springs, Florida, Crystal Lake, Illinois, Bellevue, Washington, Garden Grove, California and Hem, The Netherlands.^[4] The current DeLorean Motor Company is not associated with the original company but supports owners of DeLorean cars.