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1981 Delorean DMC-12: market value and price history

1981 Delorean DMC-12 Market Value & Price History

The 1981 Delorean DMC-12 has a current market value of $48,186 as of Oct 9, 2026, based on 143 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex, with half of the verified USD sales since 2004 between $36,750 and $59,888. Based on US sales through Sep 25, 2026. 16 have sold in the past 12 months. The median sale price is down 8% over the past 12 months versus the prior year.

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Market Value
$48,186
Sales through Sep 2026
Median Sale
$50,500
Typical Range
$36,750 – $59,888
middle half of sales · full $15,125–$243,000
Auction Sales
143
Avg Mileage
18,683

Data: DriveIndex. 143 verified auction sales for the 1981 Delorean DMC-12 (137 in USD, the basis for every dollar figure here), latest sale Sep 25, 2026. Value as of Oct 9, 2026. Methodology

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1981 Delorean DMC-12 Price History

The median 1981 Delorean DMC-12 sold for $52,001 in 2026, against $19,250 in 2010. Each row is the median of the verified sales recorded in that calendar year, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself.

YearMedian saleSales
2026$52,00113
2025$60,59412
2024$56,50015
2023$51,75018
2022$66,41716
2021$54,38918
2020$47,75010
2019$36,2508
2017$25,8503
2014$25,7136
2011$20,0753
2010$19,2504

Years with fewer than three verified USD sales are omitted — a one-sale “median” is a single car, not a market.

Recent 1981 Delorean DMC-12 Auction Results

SoldPriceMileageGearbox
Sep 25, 2026$47,08024,000 miManual
Sep 15, 2026$55,50025,000 mi—
Aug 31, 2026$30,00063,000 miManual
Aug 28, 2026$57,92531,000 mi—
Aug 6, 2026$51,5009,000 mi—
Jul 20, 2026$56,00016,000 miManual
Jul 8, 2026$48,800100 miManual
Jun 26, 2026$52,00155,000 miManual
Jun 17, 2026$50,50023,000 miManual
Apr 16, 2026$69,50119,000 mi—
Apr 1, 2026$46,00026,000 miManual
Mar 28, 2026$65,00012,000 miManual
Jan 2, 2026$61,98515,000 miManual
Dec 11, 2025$68,25015,996 miAutomatic
Oct 26, 2025$41,00032,000 miManual

Verified results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.

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Delorean DMC-12 by Year

All DMC-12 →198319821981
Which DMC-12 year should you buy? Every year compared →

1981 Delorean DMC-12: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a 1981 Delorean DMC-12 worth?

A 1981 Delorean DMC-12 is worth approximately $48,186 as of Oct 9, 2026, based on 143 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex. Based on US sales through Sep 25, 2026. Half of all verified sales fall between $36,750 and $59,888; the full verified range is $15,125 to $243,000. Condition, mileage and options move an individual car within that band.

How many 1981 Delorean DMC-12 sell per year?

16 have sold at auction in the past 12 months. DriveIndex has tracked 143 1981 Delorean DMC-12 sales in total.

Are 1981 Delorean DMC-12 sale prices higher or lower than a year ago?

The median 1981 Delorean DMC-12 sale price is down 8% over the past 12 months versus the prior year, based on verified auction sales. That figure tracks the median of what actually sold, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself. The full Value Signal classification (appreciating, stable, bottomed, or depreciating) and its 1–5 year projection are part of DriveIndex Pro.

Where can I buy a 1981 Delorean DMC-12?

DriveIndex tracks for-sale listings and auction results for the 1981 Delorean DMC-12 from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.

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