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United States market

DeLorean DMC-12

1981–1983

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  • Lowest price

    US$31,699

    Since 2020

  • Median price

    US$75,500

    Since 2020 · n=23

  • Highest price

    US$154,000

    Since 2020

  • Sold cars

    23

    All time

  • Sell-through

    100%

    Of 23 lots

DeLorean DMC-12

Based on 23 verified auction results

SELLDepreciatinghigh confidence

US$64,751

Market value · recent verified sales

-41.1%

12-month change

Wait or Sell

Prices declining. Sellers should consider acting; buyers should wait.

Median sold price down 41.1% over the last 12 months. Loss is likely to continue, especially for this segment.

MSRP

Collectibility

7/10

Highly Collectible

3-Year Forecast

US$22,501

-65%

5-Year Forecast

US$16,609

-74%

Market scores

53

Desirability

Thin

30

Liquidity

Poor

10

Resale Outlook

Option premiums

What every option is worth.

  • Manual gearbox

    US$11,611-15%

    14 with · 3 without · low confidence

  • Built ≤ 1981

    +US$5,330+7%

    16 with · 9 without · high confidence

Premiums compare the median price of sales with each option against comparable sales without it, mined from verified auction listings. Prices are adjusted to the model's median mileage before comparing. Sales are pooled across markets on a relative-price basis, so exchange rates and market levels can't skew the split. Options interact in ways a one-at-a-time split can’t capture — treat each premium as directional rather than gospel.

Marque analyst note

The DeLorean DMC-12 has retreated sharply to a median of $64,751, down 41.1 percent over the past year, signaling a decisive downward correction in the market. The sell signal reflects both the magnitude and consistency of recent declines across the eight transactions tracked in the past twelve months.

The thin liquidity profile—just eight sales in the most recent year and 23 total in the dataset—underscores the challenge facing sellers in a shrinking pool of active buyers. No current listings are tracked, but the modest transaction frequency means price discovery remains difficult and negotiation leverage is limited.

The DMC-12's 9,000-unit production run and status as a highly collectible appreciating classic have historically supported its appeal, yet current desirability is rated moderate, suggesting the novelty-driven premium of earlier years has faded. Average mileage sits at 21,111 miles, relatively low for the model's age and consistent with the careful ownership typical of this cult car.

The three-year and five-year base projections paint a stark picture, forecasting declines to $22,501 (down 65.2 percent) and $16,609 (down 74.3 percent) respectively. These figures assume continued erosion of speculative demand without a meaningful shift in collector appetite or cultural reassessment of the model's legacy.

For current holders, the outlook argues for liquidation rather than patient accumulation. The combination of thin trading, depreciating momentum, and steep near-term forecasts suggests the window for exit at stable prices has materially narrowed, and further compression remains the high-confidence base case.

Depreciation Benchmark

  • Current avg valueUS$64,751
  • Annual appr. rate-41.1%/yr
  • Segment average+3.0 to +9.5%/yr

Vehicle History Signals

  • Auction lots tracked25
  • Damage or salvage declared0 (0.0%)
  • No damage declared25 (100.0%)
No damage or salvage declarations found in the titles and descriptions of the auction lots we track for this model. That's a good sign, not a guarantee — always commission a professional inspection and history check before buying.

Est. Annual Ownership Costs

  • Insurance (agreed value)US$600
  • MaintenanceUS$2,010
  • StorageUS$3,220
  • Depreciation— (appreciating)
  • Total annual costUS$5,830
This car has historically appreciated — carrying cost is offset by value growth, not eroded by depreciation.

Market Liquidity

  • Active Listings0
  • Sales Last 12 Months14
  • Sell-Through61%

Market Snapshot

  • Active Listings0
  • Avg Sale PriceUS$79,500
  • Avg Mileage at Sale21,111 mi
  • Recent Price RangeUS$31,699 – US$154,000
  • Total Sales Tracked23

Recent sales

Showing latest 20
  • US$66,000

    mecum · 15 Aug 2026

  • US$47,000

    cars-and-bids · 10 Aug 2026

  • US$51,500

    Bring a Trailer · 6 Aug 2026

  • US$77,500

    Bring a Trailer · 5 Aug 2026

  • US$65,001

    Bring a Trailer · 28 Jul 2026

  • US$56,000

    Bring a Trailer · 20 Jul 2026

  • US$48,800

    Bring a Trailer · 8 Jul 2026

  • US$60,000

    Bring a Trailer · 3 Jul 2026

  • US$52,001

    Bring a Trailer · 26 Jun 2026

  • US$75,500

    Bring a Trailer · 20 May 2026

Indicative only — not investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future value.