DeLorean DMC-12 0–60 Times
The DeLorean DMC-12 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 3 verified production tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Road & Track and more. A further 1 modified or prototype run is listed by year but kept out of every record and average, per our methodology.
The fastest tested production DeLorean DMC-12 is the 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 9.50 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 17.00 seconds at 79.0 mph, according to Car and Driver.
The slowest tested production DeLorean DMC-12 is the 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe, which took 10.50 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 17.90 seconds at 76.5 mph, according to Road & Track.
Across the 3 verified production tests of the DeLorean DMC-12, the average 0–60 mph time is 9.99 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 17.50 seconds at 77.63 mph.
Separately, 1 modified or prototype run is on record for the DeLorean DMC-12, led by the 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 Back To The Future Time Machine Coupe at 14.10 seconds. These are not stock configurations and are excluded from the figures above.
Fastest 0–60 9.50sec 1982 Coupe · stock
Average 0–60 9.99sec Across 3 production runs
Fastest Modified 14.10sec 1981 Back To The Future Time Machine Coupe · modified
Avg ¼ Mile 17.50sec @ 77.6 mph trap
Slowest 0–60 10.50sec 1982 Coupe
Across 3 verified production runs, the DeLorean DMC-12 ranges from 9.50 to 10.50 seconds 0–60, with a 9.99-second average. 1 modified or prototype run is recorded separately and excluded from this range.
The DeLorean DMC-12 is ranked in these lists
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DeLorean DMC-12 Performance Overview
Built only from 1981 to 1982, the DeLorean DMC-12 occupies a very short production window in the performance record, covered here by 4 verified tests spanning those two model years. Across that run, the car remained tied to a single naturally aspirated 2.85-liter PRV V6, including the PRV ZMJ-159, with output fixed at 130 hp and gasoline power only. In the available data, 0-60 times range from 14.1 seconds to 9.5 seconds, while quarter-mile results average 17.98 seconds at 75.7 mph.
Chronologically, the earliest recorded benchmark is the 1981 Back To The Future Time Machine Coupe at 14.1 seconds to 60 mph, the initial pace setter in this dataset. By 1982, the standard Coupe lowered the mark to 9.5 seconds 0-60 and also posted the quickest quarter-mile figure at 17.0 seconds at 79 mph. With no second generation, no factory engine escalation, and no hybrid or electric variants, the DMC-12's performance story is defined by variation within one brief production era. Today, it stands in the data as a single-generation, gasoline-only coupe whose best verified results came at the end of its production run.
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DeLorean DMC-12 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
3 production tests + 1 modified · 2 years ▾
1982 DeLorean DMC-12
3 production runs Avg 0–60 9.99 sec
Avg ¼ Mile 17.50 sec
Production Tests 3
#01
1982 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe
9.50sec 0–60
17.00s ¼ mi @ 79.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 9.50 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 17.00 sec
- Trap Speed
- 79.0 mph
- Engine
- 2.85L V6
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 130 hp
- Torque
- 153 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 2,712 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 20.9 lbs/hp
- MPG EPA
- 18 Obs
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Coupe
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Car and Driver
- Overall Rank
- #1 of 3 production runs
#02
1982 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe
9.98sec 0–60
17.61s ¼ mi @ 77.4 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 9.98 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 17.61 sec
- Trap Speed
- 77.4 mph
- Engine
- 2.85L V6
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 130 hp
- Torque
- 153 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 2,712 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 20.9 lbs/hp
- MPG EPA
- 26.8 Obs
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Coupe
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Motor Trend
- Overall Rank
- #2 of 3 production runs
#03
1982 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe
10.50sec 0–60
17.90s ¼ mi @ 76.5 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 10.50 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 17.90 sec
- Trap Speed
- 76.5 mph
- Engine
- 2.85L V6
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 130 hp
- Torque
- 153 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 2,712 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 20.9 lbs/hp
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Coupe
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Road & Track
- Overall Rank
- #3 of 3 production runs
How we verify DeLorean DMC-12 performance data
Records and averages on this page cover verified production runs only; modified and prototype results are listed by year but never folded into them. We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same DeLorean DMC-12 trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
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DeLorean DMC-12 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a verified production test run
0–60 → ¼ mile →
Fastest Recorded run Slowest
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DeLorean DMC-12 performance FAQs
9 questions The 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe runs 0-60 in as little as 9.5 seconds. Other verified 1982 stock tests recorded 9.98 seconds and 10.5 seconds, so a low-10-second result is typical. All 1982 examples here use the 130-hp PRV V6, rear-wheel drive, and a naturally aspirated gasoline powertrain.
The quickest DeLorean DMC-12 on record is a stock 1982 Coupe at 9.5 seconds from 0-60. It is also the fastest quarter-mile car, posting 17.0 seconds at 79 mph. Across all 4 recorded DeLorean DMC-12 tests, the average 0-60 time is 11.02 seconds.
The fastest stock DeLorean DMC-12 is the 1982 Coupe, with a verified 0-60 time of 9.5 seconds. Since all 4 recorded DMC-12 tests are production vehicles, there is no modified result faster than that. The same 1982 Coupe also leads the quarter-mile with a 17.0-second pass at 79 mph.
Across the full 1981-1982 DeLorean DMC-12 run, the average 0-60 time is 11.02 seconds from 4 tests. The quickest example is the 1982 Coupe at 9.5 seconds, while the slowest is the 1981 Back To The Future Time Machine Coupe at 14.1 seconds. Output stays consistent at 130 hp in this generation.
The fastest DMC-12 from the 1981-1982 generation is the 1982 Coupe, which reaches 60 mph in 9.5 seconds. That same car also owns the quickest quarter-mile result at 17.0 seconds and 79 mph. Over 4 tests for the generation, no other version beats those marks.
The DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe averages 9.99 seconds to 60 mph across 3 tests. Its best recorded run is 9.5 seconds, with other verified results at 9.98 and 10.5 seconds. Quarter-mile times for those Coupe tests range from 17.0 to 17.9 seconds, with trap speeds from 76.5 to 79 mph.
The standard DMC-12 Coupe is clearly quicker. Across 3 tests, the Coupe averages 9.99 seconds from 0-60 and has a best run of 9.5 seconds. The Back To The Future Time Machine Coupe has one recorded 0-60 result of 14.1 seconds, making it notably slower in straight-line acceleration.
Yes. The fastest 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 Coupe reaches 60 mph in 9.5 seconds, while the 1981 Back To The Future Time Machine Coupe records 14.1 seconds. Even the other 1982 stock Coupe tests at 9.98 and 10.5 seconds remain comfortably ahead of the Time Machine car.
The quickest DeLorean DMC-12 quarter-mile on record is 17.0 seconds at 79 mph from a 1982 Coupe. Across all 4 tests, the average quarter-mile performance is 17.98 seconds at 75.7 mph. Other 1982 Coupe runs came in at 17.61 seconds at 77.4 mph and 17.9 seconds at 76.5 mph.
Sources
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
Road & Track
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a DeLorean DMC-12 can do, not a single marketing claim.
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