# Great Scott! The return of the DeLorean. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 25, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960 "2020-01-25T16:15:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/1 "2020-01-25T16:15:14Z")
Plans are in motion for the iconic vehicle from _Back to the Future_, the DeLorean, to return in a limited edition run, according to the _Robb Report_. The new DeLorean will sport modern headlights, have a 350 hp engine, and a modern sound system with connectivity. It was made possible by new legislation that is loosening up modern safety standards. > [@](#): > > In 2015, the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act was signed into law. This gave small-scale manufacturers the ability to build up to 325 cars per year without needing to adhere to modern safety regulations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was tasked with implementing the law, but things screeched to a halt following the 2016 presidential election. After receiving a little nudge from the Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA), the NHTSA has finally released guidelines for the law which means work on the DeLorean 2.0 can officially begin. > **[Back to the Future Again: A New DeLorean Could Be Coming Soon](https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/new-delorean-dmc-12-models-coming-soon-2894768/)** > > DeLorean Motor Company has confirmed that plans are underway to prepare for a limited production run of a next-gen DeLorean. We’re still gonna need roads, though. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/2 "2020-01-25T16:23:52Z")
I have no expertise in DeLoreans beyond having watched the trilogy many times, but the first thing I thought of when I read this was that for some reason this ought to be an electric vehicle. How outlandish is that? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/3 "2020-01-25T16:24:21Z")
I thought DeLorean died, like 15 years ago. Makes you wonder how authentic it might be, or whether they are mostly ripping off his name. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/4 "2020-01-25T16:41:51Z")
[DeLorean Time Machine: Tour and Road Test](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5dtcoCfKw4) Home built to boot. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/5 "2020-01-25T16:57:18Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > I have no expertise in DeLoreans beyond having watched the trilogy many times, but the first thing I thought of when I read this was that for some reason this ought to be an electric vehicle. A battery would never be able to produce 1.21 gigawatts. Stick with the plutonium power source. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/6 "2020-01-25T17:19:15Z")
350 HP? WOW! If I recall correctly, the original engine only had approx 150 HP. One sec while I go check. According to the following link, the original had only 130 HP. So this one should be quite a wonderful beast. I am drooling at the prospect. [https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=de+lorean+horsepower](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=de+lorean+horsepower) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/7 "2020-01-25T17:52:45Z")
I used to own a Delorean (inherited it). I hope they improved the reliability. Damn thing was always overheating, and needed special equipment to re-pressurize the cooling system once it cooled down. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/8 "2020-01-25T19:19:55Z")
I liked the idea of the stainless steel exterior finish. A Brillo pad takes care of scratches and dings! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/9 "2020-01-25T19:25:35Z")
I want one that runs on garbage. (_oh, it needs to fly, as well_) (:)) ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/10 "2020-01-25T20:54:48Z")
If anyone may be interested, there is an excellent biopic of Patrick Swayze who loved his De Lorean almost as much as his wife. It’s titled, “I am Patrick Swayze” and a fair bit is devoted to his De Lorean. > **[I Am Patrick Swayze (2019) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9779560/)** > > I Am Patrick Swayze: Directed by Adrian Buitenhuis. With Jennifer Grey, Sam Elliott, Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze. An inside look at the life of Patrick Swayze as told by the people who knew him best. It’s probably not worth watching if you only want to hear about his De Lorean. But if you enjoyed any of his work or you are interested in his life (which was really amazing), it is well worth checking out this film. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/11 "2020-01-25T22:07:10Z")
If you get one, you must make sure that it has the proper accessories: [![](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3187/2377719774_43ff327054_z.jpg) ](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3187/2377719774_43ff327054_z.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/12 "2020-01-25T22:51:34Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I thought DeLorean died, like 15 years ago. Makes you wonder how authentic it might be, or whether they are mostly ripping off his name. The Texas-based [DeLorean Motor Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLorean_Motor_Company_(Texas)) is not affiiliated with John DeLorean’s original company of the same name; however, they purchased the remaining parts inventory and the name and logo back in the 1990s, and remain THE source of parts (both new old stock and aftermarket) and service for the cars. Under the terms of the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, whatever is produced must be “replicas” of vehicles designed at least 25 years earlier, so the design will have to conform fairly closely to the original specs. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/13 "2020-01-25T23:53:20Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I liked the idea of the stainless steel exterior finish. A Brillo pad takes care of scratches and dings! > ~VOW Stainless steel body was cool, but the frame was not stainless steel, and mine rusted rather badly. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/14 "2020-01-26T00:37:10Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It was made possible by new legislation that is loosening up modern safety standards. As a major car fan and especially of weird, eclectic, and rare vehicles, I never understood why the “safety standards” - i.e. equipment necessary to qualify for legal road usage - for four-wheeled cars were so stringent, when the same for motorcycles was so lax. You can be riding a motorcycle with whatever crazy forks and tiny wheels and nonexistent safety equipment and a 1500cc engine, and that’s fine, but drive an old-style open-wheeled sport car of modest performance and suddenly it’s run afoul of a million “safety” violations. Never made sense. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/15 "2020-01-26T01:41:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Stainless steel body was cool, but the frame was not stainless steel, and mine rusted rather badly. That is really sad. Not the car. The double-dealing crooks who just wanted to get as much money as they could and cared nothing for their customers. Shame on those crooks! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/16 "2020-01-27T16:53:53Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > As a major car fan and especially of weird, eclectic, and rare vehicles, I never understood why the “safety standards” - i.e. equipment necessary to qualify for legal road usage - for four-wheeled cars were so stringent, when the same for motorcycles was so lax. You can be riding a motorcycle with whatever crazy forks and tiny wheels and nonexistent safety equipment and a 1500cc engine, and that’s fine, but drive an old-style open-wheeled sport car of modest performance and suddenly it’s run afoul of a million “safety” violations. Never made sense. That’s because motorcycles tend to be Darwin in action (stupid people tend to stop driving them due to accidents) whereas any moron can drive an auto equipped car and must be protected from themselves. My buddy suggested we replace airbags with 6 inch metal spikes to equalize the problem of moron reproduction. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/17 "2020-01-27T17:27:39Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > Under the terms of the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, whatever is produced must be “replicas” of vehicles designed at least 25 years earlier, so the design will have to conform fairly closely to the original specs. This is unrelated to the DeLorean, but on the subject of the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, I remember reading a year or two ago that there was a company that had plans to revive the iconic Checker taxicab under this law as well. No idea if they still plan to move forward, like I said that was a year or two ago. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/18 "2020-01-27T17:46:44Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Stainless steel body was cool, but the frame was not stainless steel, and mine rusted rather badly. You had one?! Once again confirming my suspicion that QtM is one cool dude! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/19 "2020-01-27T18:19:57Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > My buddy suggested we replace airbags with 6 inch metal spikes to equalize the problem of moron reproduction. Takata is way ahead of you. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960/20 "2020-01-27T20:14:48Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > You had one?! > > Once again confirming my suspicion that QtM is one cool dude! I had a Delorean, a Boeing Stearman N2S3, and a Prindle catamaran 16 footer to meet my transportation needs. I had a Bolens diesel Iseki 4 x 4 with PTO and a bucket on the front to play around my farm with. All inherited from my dad. He never worried about being in style, he just lived with style. He was one hoopy frood who always knew where his towel was. Me? I try, but I will never match him for coolness. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-scott-the-return-of-the-delorean/846960.md?page=2)