- DeLorean swapped its original Renault-sourced V6 for a 453-hp Ferrari V8.
- It debuted at the 2024 SEMA Show but wasn’t ready to drive until now.
- Backbone chassis was reinforced to handle the extra power and reduce flex.
There’s no denying the DeLorean has a certain mystique. Call it movie hype, call it novel design, call it whatever you want, but the DMC DeLorean is one special car. What’s far less compelling is the stock Renault-sourced powertrain. The original V6 is famously underwhelming, and it can’t offer anywhere near the performance promised by the car’s looks.
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That’s where the creative force of the aftermarket world comes in. One team tackled the DeLorean’s performance shortfall by swapping in a fire-breathing Ferrari V8. After months of custom fabrication and problem-solving, the car is finally ready to make its debut drive to an event under its own power.
Performance Meets Preservation
FuelTech sponsored this build and, in the process, managed to salvage two important things. The first is the DeLorean, which was sitting around with no engine, and the second the Italian V8 that used to power a (now wrecked) 2012 California. The mill displaces 4.3 liters and makes 453 hp (337 kW). To handle all that power, the builder added a six-speed manual gearbox from a Porsche 911.
The team also beefed up the suspension with KW coilovers, upgraded bushings all around, and aluminum control arms. The wheels are larger than stock but maintain the original look, while larger brakes have been fitted in order to reel the car in when it’s running hard and Toyo R888 tires ensure it has more than enough grip. All of this is imperative because the DeLorean has one major concern: chassis stiffness.
Backbone Under Pressure
Unlike modern ladder or box-style chassis, this car sits on a backbone chassis, so it’s prone to flexing. That’s true with just the original V6, so imagine how much more force it must deal with now that it has a far more powerful Ferrari V8 under the rear decklid.
Still, these modifications make the car more capable of handling the forces at work. And they enabled it to embark on its first trip under its own power.
That trip was to an event called Caffeine and Octane. Set in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s a somewhat famous meet-up. Sometimes, that’s for the antics that take place before and after. Others, it’s for the wild creations that show up. In this case, the attendees seemed very stoked to see such an intricate build up close.
When this car first debuted at the SEMA show last year, it wasn’t quite ready for what you see it take on in the video below. Here’s to one more crazy cool machine on the road for us all to drool after.