DeLoreon survives ravages of time

Amid all the shambles, the car itself was, frankly, not a bad piece of kit. All body panels were stainless steel – expensive but it meant no rust treatment, no primer, no paintwork to go wrong.

It had gullwing doors and its mid-engine with rear-wheeldrive gave it good handling. All cars went to the US, so it was LHD from day one – another useful production line saving.

What really gave the car immortality was its central role in the Back to the Future trilogy in which, thanks to its plutonium-guzzling flux capacitor, it could travel through time as easily as lesser vehicles cross the Tay Bridge.

Even before the film, the car had a big US fan club which is still going strong today. A Texas-based firm today makes, sources and supplies all spare parts and one can even buy an all-new DeLorean (for $57,000) made from original and replacement parts.

It is thought some 6,500 of the original 9,000 cars produced are still on the road and the make has a devoted following, mainly in the US but in other countries as well. One occasionally sees them for sale in British classic car mags or websites.

It is interesting to ponder whether the car would enjoy its ongoing appeal without its rarity value and the impact of Back to the Future. As for John DeLorean, he died disgraced and forgotten in 2005 aged 80, possibly still wishing he’d found a financial flux capacitor in 1985 to save his great dream from the scrapyard.

The unique car has a strong following, largely in the US.