[Pic from actual, honest-to-goodness DMC website...]
Here's the kicker: Low-mileage variants are selling, used, for insane amounts of money. Cars that, quite frankly, were never that great to begin with are selling for 2-3 times the original price. Base price was around $25K, which was comparable to a new Corvette. Interestingly enough, used Deloreans are *still* the price of a new Corvette. I blame Back to the Future and/or The Wedding Singer...
Obviously, the Renault 2.8L V6 would have to go, but what in its place? As a recent Mopar fan, the Hellcat V8 would be amazing to stuff into the DMC - 700+ horsepower might cause those gullwings to take flight, though... Going back to the Corvette, the stock 6.2L V8 in the new 'Vettes puts out 455 HP to start; might be a place to look as well. Of course, we could get all kinds of crazy retro and stuff a Grand National turbocharged 3.8L V6 under the hood, if we wanted power that stayed relatively true to the original...
I think whatever was chosen would have to be an American engine, most likely an 8 cylinder. It would be wrong to have the DMC making Ferrari-like rumblings or ultra-quiet Mercedes AMG madness, as would one of the twin-turbo Japanese 6s like the Supra or Skyline GT-R. Maybe go with a Chevy 350 like would have been done in the '80s?
It's a fun hypothetical, isn't it?
That is all.
9 comments:
Go for the triad and get a Pantera and Brickl1n as well.
Gerry
There just isn't room in the back for a V-8 and a transaxle that will take the power.
In fact, there are damn few transaxles that will take serious power that will also fit in the track available.
It's not a very big car at all.
Changing the engine and trans in one is in the same boat as a Fiero upgrade.
Buick GN Turbo would be fun... :-) Of course you'd be changing transaxles every month... :-)
Buddy of mine had a Delorean with the automatic. Didn't drive it much, bought it for the "BTTF schtick". The Peugot-Renault-Volvo (PRV) V6 in the Delorean was a real pig of a motor, and hung out the back of the car. Made old Porsche 356s and early 911s look stable by comparison in decreasing radius turns. Very prone to swapping ends.
I'd transplant something aluminum and V-8. I've been restoring a BMW 540i lately and have come to appreciate their M62 engine. 4.4l aluminum block and head, 4-valve, lightweight, powerful, can run forever if taken care of (oil and timing chains). The M62 is used in a bunch of BMWs (anything with a -40 in the name) in addition to Land Rovers. And with a good exhaust can sound like a Mustang or NASCAR if that's your liking.
Keep your eyes peeled for a DMC with a high polish. Damn thing looks like a nickle plated car.
Have seen it on both The Beltway and I-66. On a sunny day you can see it for MILES.
Chevy 350 and I'll help you blueprint that puppy.
Old Buick aluminum V-6, the one they sold to the Brits for the Range Rover.
Suitably modded, rodded, balanced, printed, injected and tweaked for the magic modern motor mapping modem.
With the right crank and firing order and exhaust, it can make good power and nice sounds. It's relatively light, and American made.
Hell, throw a turbo in the mix if you think the tranny can take it.
Does raise the question though. Which service bay does a Trans-axled car pull into?
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
Buy it for an ornament. Back in the day I sold several. Assembled in Belfast by drunken Irish malcontents using cheap European parts bin cast offs and Lucas electrics. Uncomfortable and drives like a pig. If you get one, get the indispensable accessory, a 16' car trailer and something to pull it.
Porsche 911, turbo or not, with a matching transaxle...
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