The DMC12 was supposed to be a futuristic car packed with innovation, and John DeLorean convinced investors – including the British Government – to part with millions to get the project off the ground.

Lotus did much of the development work, and a new factory was built in Belfast. However, the stainless steel, gullwinged car was plagued with problems at its launch in 1981 – not least that it was slow and unreliable. As the company plunged into debt, DeLorean grasped at a final straw; he was caught trying to smuggle cocaine to finance the business.

The DMC12’s renaissance came on the screen – it’ll be forever remembered as the time-travelling car in Back To The Future.

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