The DeLorean DMC was one of the biggest automotive fails in history, but at the same time, it’s also one of the most iconic and beautiful cars ever made, hands down. As it turns out, it doesn’t have to have four wheels in order to remain relevant.
That is, according to John DeLorean’s son, the one you probably knew nothing about until this moment.
In Newquay, Cornwall, UK, lives a man named Tyler DeLorean, and he’s been claiming to be DeLorean’s son for a very long time. As of this year, he’s doing a little more than just tell tall tales: he’s also gotten into designing and building DeLorean DMCs that have only three wheels instead of four. He calls the vehicle a DeLorean DMC 21, and proudly states that it is “the future.”
Speaking with CornwallLive in a recent interview, Tyler DeLorean claims that his car is based on original plans from 1981 and that, had it gone into production back then, it would have probably saved the company from ruin. He also calls the car a pure DMC, “the new” DMC, which makes it sound as if it’s built from the ground up. It is not.
Photo: Instagram / Tyler DeLorean
The so-called DMC 21 is a Reliant Rialto in poor disguise. The Rialto is a three-wheel vehicle that was introduced in 1982 and continued in production in various forms up until 1998. Legally a tricycle in its home country, it was – and is – the butt of many jokes, like countless other three-wheelers that popped up in that era and brought with them severe quality, safety and handling issues.
To DeLorean junior, it’s the perfect base for the car of tomorrow. After two years of tinkering with Rialtos and developing no less than five prototypes (one of which was called, at one point, the Rialto DeLorean, by the way), he believes he discovered the perfect, scaled-down DeLorean vehicle. It comes with a brushed aluminum finish, remote-controlled gullwing doors, waterproof stereo, a mini flux capacitor, DMC courtesy lights on the doors, and DMC branded carpets, steering wheel, gear knob and wheels. Lots of DMC branding, lest you forget what you’re driving.
Power comes from a 3-cylinder 850cc engine that takes the three-wheeler to a top speed of 100 mph (161 kph). At 88 mph (142 kph), “things are gonna start happening” anyhow, DeLorean says laughing, in reference to the Back to the Future movies. But at least you know for a fact that you can hit that speed with no problem.
DeLorean took the three-wheeler on display at the British Motor Show in August, where he claims it was met with such warm feedback that organizers asked him back with three more cars at the next edition. Meanwhile, he’s taking pre-orders on the vehicle and has plans to start a production line. He will ship internationally, too, so the price is either $25,000 or £20,000, depending on the area of delivery.
Photo: Instagram / Tyler DeLorean
If only there wasn’t this tiny but pesky issue of copyright infringement.
The DeLorean Motor Company, once based in Northern Ireland, where John DeLorean supposedly had a one-night hookup with DeLorean junior’s mother, still exists. It’s now based in Texas, where Liverpool car mechanic Stephen Wynne moved after he bought off all DMC trademarks and remaining inventory. He never gave up hope of bringing DMC back and, as we speak, there is serious indication that the iconic vehicle is poised to return, in some form of another.
Whatever form it will take, it won’t be that of a three-wheeler, let alone one based on the much-ridiculed Rialto. So the actual DMC has sued the alleged lovechild and his replica DMC for copyright infringement and passing off. He is free to claim to be the son of whoever he wants to be, attorneys for the company say, but he can’t take trademarked elements and used them on his products as if he owned them.
DeLorean junior says he will fight the DMC in court and win, so plans for an electric version of the DMC 21, a hot tub DMC 21 (you read that right), and a drone-operated DMC 21 still stand. Plus, every pre-order gets a free hoverboard, can you believe your luck?! Meanwhile, he’s launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for his legal expenses and, because he tells such a convincing story, he’s gotten exactly zero backers as of the moment of press.
Everyone’s game for innovation, until you shamelessly rip off a classic to get there. That’s where the fun stops.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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