Auction Date: Saturday 11th November | 10.00am GMT

• GUIDE PRICE: £70,000 - £80,000

+ buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter

Whilst the term 'Iconic' is conferred frequently and often without merit, we are just and correct in bestowing the title upon the DeLorean DMC-12. Instantly recognisable, it was the brainchild of ex-General Motors executive, John DeLorean, perhaps one of the most controversial motor industry figures of all time. The Belfast-based factory was established with £100,000,000 of funding from the British Government under an agreement forged by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with the support of US President Ronald Regan in order to help the Northern Irish economy suffering from decades of sectarian violence. The DeLorean Motor Company story is a unique entry in the annals of the motor car industry, and the DMC-12 is one of the most recognisable cars of the 20th century.

Launched in 1981, the DMC-12’s stylish coupé bodywork attracted international attention by virtue of its method of construction, a combination of fibreglass inner panels, a brushed stainless-steel outer skin and innovative gull-wing doors. The underpinnings were engineered under the guidance of Lotus founder, Colin Chapman. Competing with Porsche and Ferrari, sales never approached projected levels and DeLorean's 1982 indictment on, subsequently acquitted, drugs charges brought the project to its knees. The DeLorean is now seen as highly collectable, thanks in no small part to the Back to the Future movie series immortalising the car in the history books, and manual examples are particularly sought after.

The 1982 DMC-12 on offer here is simply immaculate and features a fascinating provenance with a captivating past. Its history file is nothing short of extraordinary, filled with a treasure trove of rare DeLorean artefacts and invaluable pieces of automotive history, both specific to this car and the broader story of DeLorean as a pioneering automobile manufacturer. From rare memorabilia to unique insights into the company's legacy, this collection of history is a testament to the enduring allure of the DeLorean brand.

In addition to the car's pristine condition, it was specified with the rare and hugely desirable manual gearbox and has covered a warranted 1,008 miles from new (at the time of cataloguing). First registered in Ohio in 1982, it made its way to the UK in 2016 where it underwent a meticulous and painstaking restoration with a plethora of photos and bills on file documenting the process, and now presents in fabulous condition, running and driving perfectly, flawlessly capturing the allure of its original glory.

Our enthusiast vendor has always kept the car in a temperature-controlled garage alongside the rest of his collection of important motor cars, to ensure the car's pristine condition stays exactly as that. Despite being in the UK since 2016, it has never been UK-registered, and is offered with a NOVA Certificate with all taxes paid ensuring minimal time and effort will be required to register the car wherever one may want to keep it.

For any automobile enthusiast or collector, this manual DMC-12 is a seldom seen opportunity to own a piece of automotive and cinematic history that has been lovingly restored and presented to perfection. A time capsule of automotive nostalgia, preserved with the utmost care and dedication, making it a truly unique find for those passionate about automotive heritage and the captivating DeLorean legacy, and we welcome your inspection of the car.