One of the most iconic cars in the world: the DeLorean DMC-12. Most people will recognize it from the starring role in the Back to the Future trilogy with Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). In the Netherlands, we now see it in a new role: a 650 HP powerful, brute drift car!
Especially for Bernhard van Oranje, a DeLorean was converted in just under six months. The deadline? The Heineken F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2023 weekend at CM.com Circuit Zandvoort. To be precise: the support program of the Formula 1 from August 25 to 27.
Keeping its characteristics
Bas Koeten: ‘In every way, a unique project! The original 130 HP V6 engine that was in the back was dismantled by the crew, and a BMW V8 engine with a supercharger was placed in the front. We modified the chassis to create more space for the new engine and drivetrain. The body is almost unchanged to maintain the car’s recognizable appearance, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Of course, with the preservation of the legendary gull-wing doors and the matte stainless steel look!’
Project Specifications:
- BMW chassis as a base
- Wheelbase shortened
- Rear extended
- Stainless steel body panels from DeLorean fitted onto the steel BMW chassis
- Roll cage installed
- Drift suspension with a 70-degree steering angle
- Limited-slip differential
- 650 HP supercharged BMW V8
- Specially built for high-speed drifting
Bas: ‘The project called on all our technical insight and creativity. The goal was to deliver a technically sound car within the deadline. In the week of the Dutch Grand Prix, the organization gave us the opportunity to test on a secret location on Wednesday evening, and it went surprisingly well! Over the weekend, with The Stig behind the wheel alongside a few professional drifters, we put on an amazing show for a daily audience of 105,000 people. Goosebumps! This winter, we will continue working on this icon to fine-tune it and be able to give more demos in the upcoming year.’
‘You guys are crazy!’
We have quite a track record that includes remarkable projects. To name a few: the construction of a highly valuable replica of an Audi Quattro A2 rally car, 15 cars for the Red Bull Caravan Race for use during the Verstappen Jumbo Family Days in 2018, and the live restoration of a Cadillac Coupe de Ville in just 14 days at a festival in Abu Dhabi for the sheik in 2017. The DeLorean fits perfectly into this list. ‘Sometimes we are declared crazy, but we always succeed. Blood, sweat, and tears of joy. So, in the coming years, we plan to add many more unique projects that may not always be obvious to others,’ Bas laughs.