Zac Quinn 
Just a few days ago was October 21st, which means that nine years ago, on the day, the legendary Back to the Future film depicted what the future would be like. That meant self-tying shoes, hoverboards, and, most importantly, flying cars. None of those came to pass, and the closest thing we got to a “hoverboard” left the stage after spontaneously combusting while charging. That said, the legendary DeLorean brand is making a comeback, and it’ll be based on the current-generation Chevrolet Corvette.
C8 Corvette Based DeLorean: Details
According to Hagerty, the CEO of DeLorean Next Generation Motors (DNG), Kathryn DeLorean has sought to build an affordable DeLorean for the thousands of fans, and the best solution to do that was to buy a Corvette and replace the Chevy fiberglass with a body of DNG’s design, complete with the ever-critical gullwing doors. That said, the changes will be more than skin deep, as DNG is working with aftermarket performance builders to bring the car to the market. However, there is a snag in the plans to build a C8 Corvette-based DeLorean.
While DNG’s CEO is a member of John DeLorean’s family, there is another DeLorean company out there, one with the rights to use the DeLorean name. In 1995, Stephen Wynne founded Classic DMC after claiming the rights to the DeLorean name. Wynne created a successful business by servicing and reproducing parts for the original 9000 or so DMC-12s. On top of that, Wynne holds a minority ownership stake in what now bills itself DeLorean Motor Company, the makers of the Alpha5 DeLorean. This means there is bound to be a legal battle between the two companies, which may determine whether or not this epic C8 Corvette-based DeLorean will ever enter production.
That said, the products proposed by each DeLorean-named company couldn’t be more different. On one hand, we have a car designed by ItalDesign and unveiled at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Alpha5 is only available as an EV. Pricing is expected to start around $125,000, and while electric cars are quick, combustion engines are still cooler, which brings us to DeLorean Next Generation Motors’ creation. DNG has chosen a two-pronged approach, aiming below and above the Alpha5. The top-of-the-line car would be the Model JZD, a hand-built vehicle of which only 42 will be made. Due to unique craftsmanship, it will be priced well above the $125,000 mark.
Then, there’s the Corvette-based model, which doesn’t yet have its name. We can expect this version of the DeLorean to be built around the Stingray, which costs just below $70k and packs a naturally aspirated LT2 V8 engine producing 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The use of a Corvette becomes even more interesting when you recall John DeLorean’s origin in the automotive world, where he established his career at General Motors, where he spent 17 years working as the head of Chevrolet and, according to his daughter, pushed hard for the Corvette to adopt a mid-engine platform.
After John left Chevy in 1973 to found DMC, he attempted to purchase the engineering for the mid-engine Corvette, but that ambition was denied. So, a DeLorean-bodied C8 Corvette seems like the right move from a legacy standpoint.
