1981 DeLorean DMC 12

The 1981 DeLorean DMC 12 in this build is a one-off restomod by designer Khyzyl Saleem (The_Kyza), reimagined as a twin-turbo LS-swapped hypercar in stainless steel. It debuted at the 2021 SEMA Show in the Toyo Tires Treadpass and later appeared at the Masterclass Automotive art display in Basel wrapped in gold for the model's 40th anniversary.

The Story

The DMC 12 is one of the most recognizable silhouettes in car history: gullwing doors, brushed stainless steel body, futurist wedge shape. This example was pulled out of that time capsule by Khyzyl Saleem, a designer known for reworking cult cars with a modern widebody vocabulary. The gold wrap unveiled at SEMA was a birthday statement piece; the car has since been returned to its raw stainless finish, closer to how John DeLorean first imagined it, but with everything underneath rebuilt from scratch.

Performance

Underneath the widebody sits a twin-turbo 5.3 LS V8, paired with a Porsche 996 six-speed transmission. The turbo system runs a pair of Garrett G50 mirror-image turbos plumbed in full titanium, individual throttle bodies with billet intake plenums, an Aeromotive Phantom fuel system, and a Haltech Nexus R5 engine management setup. Suspension is handled by KW dampers on an Air Lift Performance air ride system, so the car can drop over the SK17 three-piece wheels wrapped in Toyo Tires. Inside, Status carbon fiber-backed seats face a Haltech IC7 digital instrument cluster. It is a DeLorean built to actually be driven, not just parked.

Specifications

• Base: 1981 DeLorean DMC 12
• Designer: Khyzyl Saleem (The_Kyza)
• Body: One-off widebody kit, original stainless steel finish
• Engine: Twin-turbo 5.3L LS V8
• Turbos: Twin Garrett G50, full titanium turbo system and exhaust
• Fuel system: Aeromotive Phantom
• Intake: Individual throttle bodies, billet intake plenums
• ECU: Haltech Nexus R5
• Transmission: Porsche 996 six-speed manual
• Suspension: KW dampers, Air Lift Performance air ride
• Wheels: SK17 three-piece, Toyo Tires
• Lighting: One-off LED headlights and acrylic taillights
• Engine cover: Clear Lexan rear louver
• Interior: Status carbon fiber backed seats, Haltech IC7 instrument cluster
• Debut: 2021 SEMA Show, Toyo Tires Treadpass

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