Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The DeLorean DMC-12 by Italdesign Giugiaro.
The cooperation between DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) and Italdesign began in 1974 when John Z. DeLorean, former GM vice president, and William Collins, DMC president, initiated a project to create a two-seater sports car with a rear-mounted engine. Aimed almost exclusively at the American market, the car needed to be both economical and immediately recognizable. To achieve this, the DeLorean DMC-12 was designed with a unique body made of unpainted brushed stainless steel and featured distinctive gullwing doors, a design element previously seen only on the 1954 Mercedes 300SL. The abbreviation “DMC-12” initially referenced its targeted sale price of $12,000, although the final price would rise significantly. DeLorean wanted a car that stood out visually while maintaining practical performance, and his inspiration for the design came from a few key prototypes. At the 1974 Turin Motor Show, John DeLorean took note of the Medici I and the Hyundai Pony, two Italdesign prototypes, and these models influenced his decision to choose Giorgetto Giugiaro to design the DMC-12. Giugiaro, one of the most influential automotive designers of the era, brought his innovative approach to the DeLorean, integrating sleek, angular lines and a futuristic aesthetic that contributed to the car’s iconic status. Despite production challenges and financial issues that plagued DMC, the DeLorean DMC-12 remains a symbol of bold automotive design, its fame further cemented by its starring role in the *Back to the Future* film trilogy. The collaboration between DeLorean and Italdesign resulted in one of the most recognizable cars of the 20th century.
Imagine strolling into a 1970 auto show and coming face-to-future with a vehicle so low and sharp it could slice the bell-bottoms right off your leisure suit. In the 1970s, Italian design houses like Pininfarina, Bertone, Ghia, and Italdesign were in a feverish race to envision the car of tomorrow – and apparently, tomorrow was shaped like a doorstop.
If you’ve ever driven a Volkswagen Golf or drooled over a Lotus Esprit, you have Giorgetto Giugiaro to thank. This Italian design wizard has penned everything from everyday hatchbacks to exotic movie star cars – all in a career spanning more than 60 years. Born into an artistic family in rural Italy, Giugiaro went from sketching cars as a teen to being crowned Car Designer of the Century in 1999. Along the way, he even dabbled in designing cameras, firearms, and yes, a new shape of pasta (because why not?). Buckle up for a ride through Giugiaro’s life and work – a chronological tour of the man who styled the cars we drive and the ones we dream about.
The famous Back to the Future car is ready for its second life, in collaboration with Italdesign
The DeLorean DMC-12 is the only car model built by the DeLorean Motor Company, from 1981 to 1982.
The DMC-12 featured gullwing doors and unpainted stainless steel bodywork. About 9,200 examples of DMC-12 were produced. The car became world famous for its appearance in Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future film trilogy, in which a specimen was used by Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown as the basis for his time machine.
