US-built DeLoreans set to go on sale in 2017

Enthusiasts will have the chance to buy a new DeLorean DMC-12 after changes to US law mean the model can be put back into low-volume production.

Originally, around 9000 DMC-12s were built by the DeLorean Motor Company’s factory in Northern Ireland between 1981 and 1983.

Texas-based specialist Stephen Wynne began selling refurbished cars in 1995, but was unable to build his own because of restrictions in the US.

Wynne told Sky News, ‘We've been stopped from going into production until now because the US treats all manufacturers the same.

‘So up until this law was changed, if you wanted to produce cars you would have to follow the same rules and guidelines as if we were producing hundreds of thousands as opposed to producing just a handful.

‘The legislative process and the testing just makes it cost prohibitive for a small company to achieve that.’

But he added, ‘In December of last year, a low volume production bill was signed into law.

Wynne said, ‘It basically means if you are a global manufacturer of cars and you produce less than 5,000 cars a year, you can produce 325 replicas that match an original car that was made 25 years ago or earlier which fits us perfectly.’

The name of Wynne’s firm is the DeLorean Motor Company – but it has no links to the original business.

The first replica is expected to go on sale in 2017 and cost around $100,000 (£70,000).

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