The original DeLorean Motor Company was founded in 1975 by businessman John DeLorean, beginning production in 1981 of a distinctive sports car with  gull-wing doors and a stainless steel exterior. The company went into bankruptcy and ceased manufacturing in 1982. However, the prominent appearance of a DeLorean in the 1985 film Back to the Future and its sequels helped maintain interest in the vehicles. Businessman Stephen Wynne purchased the remaining parts for the car, selling them out of Houston, Texas, and adopted the name of the original company on the grounds that it was no longer a going concern.

In August 2007, Wynne announced plans to start selling refurbished cars.[8][9] At that time, a DeLorean could be assembled using a combination of new, original, and reproduction parts and a donor car (to still carry a 1980s title) for US$57,500. As of 2019, restored DeLorean cars can be valued from US$50,000 and more depending on the level of restoration completed and optional upgrades. Though DMC does not sell unrestored vehicles, they can cost from about US$35,000 on the used car market depending on condition.