Dreaming in stainless steelHow John DeLorean tried to reinvent the sports car

The DMC‑12 was born from John DeLorean’s attempt to break away from Detroit’s corporate culture and build a futuristic sports car under his own name. Production finally began in 1981 after years of hype, bold promises, and heavy spending. The car’s stainless‑steel body, gull‑wing doors, and wedge‑shaped profile made it instantly recognizable, even before a gold‑plated version appeared in the American Express catalog. Despite the spectacle, the company struggled almost immediately. Costs ballooned, sales lagged, and by 1982 the factory shut down. John DeLorean’s legal troubles soon overshadowed the car itself, though he was ultimately acquitted. Only about 9,000 cars were ever built, leaving the DMC‑12 a rare collector’s item today.