1981 DeLorean with less than 1k miles uncovered in Wisconsin barn

In an exciting discovery for car enthusiasts, a 1981 DeLorean — boasting less than 1,000 miles on its odometer — was uncovered in a barn in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

Michael McElhattan, who runs the DeLorean Midwest restoration shop, and his social media coordinator, Kevin Thompson, secured the find. They were tipped off by a call from New Mexico. The caller, the nephew of the DeLorean’s 90-year-old owner, mentioned that they were considering selling the legendary car.

McElhattan was notably impressed by the car’s pristine condition, particularly the absence of sun damage which is common for vehicles of its age. He said, “The condition of the leather, the condition of the instruments, cluster in the dash… this car virtually has no sun damage.”

Produced between 1981 and 1983 by the DeLorean Motor Company, the DeLorean DMC-12 was the only car model ever made by the company. The company went under after its founder, John DeLorean, faced legal issues. However, the car’s legacy was cemented after it was popularized as a time machine in the “Back to the Future” film series.

The duo has chronicled their experience of discovering and acquiring the car in a video on their YouTube channel, DeLorean Nation. McElhattan, speaking about the find, remarked that although the car needs some mechanical tweaks and interior sprucing up, it’s an “absolute time capsule.”

The DeLorean has since been towed to Crystal Lake, where it awaits its restoration journey.