1981-’83 DMC De Lorean

You already know the tragic details of John Z. DeLorean’s bid to build a safe, efficient, long-lasting, “ethical” sports car. Likewise, if you haven’t seen Back to the Future by now, you probably never will. (Spoiler alert: there’s a De Lorean in it.)

But for many enthusiasts — we’re looking at you, Gen Xers — the De Lorean automobile is more than a just a cautionary business tale or a plot device in a summer blockbuster. This wedge-shaped, brushed-metal icon is emblematic of the technology, the style, and yes, even the drug trafficking that helped define an era.

As Gen Xers moonwalk toward retirement, they’re packing a little disposable income to finally afford that De Lorean they’ve dreamed about since high school or college. There were fewer than 9,000 of these cars built for the 1981-’83 model years and today they run the gamut from battered beater to concours quality. Buying one requires some specific knowledge, because the De Lorean automobile is unconventional: rear engine, stainless body panels over a fiberglass-reinforced resin substructure, and all riding on a steel frame with independent suspension. For insight into these cars, we spoke with James Espey, vice president of the De Lorean Motor Company, based in Humble, Texas, (with locations around the country) and author of