Which company built the DeLorean DMC-12, the stainless-steel sports car launched in 1981?

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DeLorean Motor Company built the DMC-12, the stainless-steel sports car launched in 1981.

The DMC-12 was the only production model made by the original DeLorean Motor Company, founded by former General Motors executive John DeLorean. Its wedge-shaped body and gull-wing doors were designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, while Lotus helped engineer the vehicle's chassis and suspension.

Production took place at a factory in Dunmurry, near Belfast, Northern Ireland. The car used a rear-mounted 2.85-litre V6 supplied by the Peugeot-Renault-Volvo consortium. Its unusual appearance later made it a natural choice for the time-travel machine in the Back to the Future film series.

The name DMC-12 is often assumed to refer to a final sale price or engine size, but it came from the project's internal designation. The company entered bankruptcy in 1982 after producing fewer than 10,000 cars.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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