De Lorean EuroTec

Intriguing question has arisen. What VIN started 83 model year cars? Mine appears to be an 83 model year, I.e. flat bonnet, moulded as one internal panels etc etc. VIN is 10264. Chap on facebook has an 83 model like mine but his VIN was changed by factory to 17000s from 10100s to apparently make it an 83 model year. Any idea what VIN started 83 model year? I assume by the above info it should be between his original VIN and mine.

Hi Ian

It's a good question which needs an even better answer

It's all explained here

http://www.citizenkidd.com/dmc/pages/vin.asp

Cheers Alistair. I think having read this, my understanding of model year aesthetics is all wrong. I was under the impression and as a basic rule of thumb, model years were identified by bonnets I.e. 81 cars had pleated bonnets and gas flaps, 82 model years had pleated bonnets and no gas flap and 83 cars were flat bonnets no gas flap and bonnet badge. Reading the link, I assume the model years are only distinguished by VIN irrespective of appearance. Is that right? If so then my car isn't an 83 yr car after all.

I don't know that there was such a thing as a 'model year' with the Delorean, as the changes were introduced mid production.

The bonnets for example went from grooved with gas flap to just grooved in August '81. The flat bonnet was introduced from VIN 10001 in December '81.
The integrated door pull straps from late October '81.
The one piece rear interior panels/side bolster in November '81.

Just go by the year that's stamped on your door vin plate.

Well the 81/82 transition was moderately clean - it's the 82/83 one that was a bodgerama to try and make the cars look newer!

"Model Year" was solely an American phenomenon back then (I think it is more prevalent world wide now)

Americans always prefix their car with the model year, even today they always say "(I drive a 2014 Ford Focus", or whatever) whereas in the UK it was just "I drive a Ford Escort", or at best "I drive a Mk II Escort". It is essentially the same as a 55-plate car vs a 65-plate car. Back in the 80s no-one would have said "I drive an A-reg Escort" or a "B-reg escort". The only time that info would appear would have been in the classifieds.

Often there is no difference between a 2013 Focus and a 2014 Focus but people here seem to need to announce that they are driving the latest model.

So by August/September 1981 DeLorean dealers needed to be selling 1982 DeLoreans so prospective customers weren't comparing the 1982 Corvette/911/whatever against "last years model" DeLorean

In June/July of a particular year, manufactures start stockpiling cars of the following model year. We are now getting bombarded with ads for 2016 models as well as "end-of-year" clearout sales of 2015 models.