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1981 DeLorean DMC12 Coupe Up for Auction

A valuable piece of automotive history is to be offered for grabs by Bonhams at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 2, 2010. The car in question is, in fact, a 1981 DeLorean DMC12 Coupe, previously owned by Miranda Guinness, Countess of Iveagh.

The car, which has been on long-term display at the Robert Guinness Steam Museum in Dublin and the Irish Museum of Transport, has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £15,000 – 20,000.

“The brainchild of ex-General Motors executive John Zachary DeLorean, the DeLorean sports car project found a home in Northern Ireland following a grant from the British government. Under the helm of ex-Pontiac designer, Bill Collins, the car attracted much attention for its stylish coupé body and doors that opened in a 'gull-wing' fashion,”
a statement from Bonhams reads.

The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car that was manufactured by the DeLorean Motor Company for the American market between 1981 and 1882 in Northern Ireland. The only model ever produced by DMC, it was made famous by its starring role in director Steven Spielberg's Back to the Future trilogy.

Its most interesting features were the gullwing doors, reminiscent of the original Mercedes 300 SL. The car sported a fiberglass "underbody", to which non-structural brushed stainless steel panels were affixed.

As for production figures, an estimated 9,200 were built between 1981 and 1982, part of which were still in stock when DMC dissolved.

This left-hand drive example of the car has only 19,400 miles on the odometer and has reportedly been maintained to the highest standard. Moreover, Miranda Guinness has been the only owner of the car.
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