A Classic Frozen in Time

Every car enthusiast dreams of stumbling upon a rare, untouched vehicle, but few finds compare to what a restoration team uncovered in southern Wisconsin. Hidden away in a dusty barn sat a 1981 DeLorean, the same stainless-steel machine that would later achieve cult status in Back to the Future. What made this discovery jaw-dropping wasn’t just the iconic gull-wing doors or the brushed metal body—it was the odometer. The car had logged only 977 miles since leaving the factory floor more than four decades ago.

The car’s condition was almost surreal. Aside from layers of dust and the surprise of a small mouse making its home inside, the DeLorean was nearly pristine, a time capsule from the early 1980s.

How the Discovery Happened

The find came to light when the nephew of the DeLorean’s original owner contacted Michael McElhattan, owner of DeLorean Midwest, a restoration company dedicated to bringing these rare vehicles back to life. The nephew had called from New Mexico, but the car itself was much closer—sitting quietly in Wisconsin, practically in McElhattan’s backyard.

“As soon as I heard it was nearby and had such low mileage, I knew I had to see it,” McElhattan explained in an interview. His excitement proved justified once he saw the car in person.

First Impressions: Dust, Mice, and Untouched Beauty

When McElhattan and his colleague Kevin Thomas opened the doors, they were greeted by a mouse scurrying across the center console. But beyond that comical introduction, they quickly realized the car’s core elements were in remarkably good shape.

The leather upholstery showed almost no cracking, the dashboard and instrument cluster were intact, and—most impressively—there was no sun damage, which is a common killer of vintage cars. Though the car clearly needed a deep cleaning and some mechanical attention, its bones were solid, and that’s what mattered most.

Video : Original 1981 DeLorean with less than 1K miles on it found in Wisconsin

Why the DeLorean Still Captivates

For those who weren’t around in the early 1980s, it’s easy to assume the DeLorean owes all its fame to Back to the Future. While the film certainly cemented its legend, the car was already a cultural curiosity before Marty McFly ever fired up its flux capacitor.

The DeLorean Motor Company (DMC), founded by auto executive John DeLorean, launched its one and only production model in 1981. Designed by the celebrated Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, the DeLorean stood out with its futuristic gull-wing doors and brushed stainless steel body panels. It was unlike anything else on American roads.

The Rise and Fall of the DMC DeLorean

Despite its striking looks, the DeLorean was plagued with problems from day one. Its performance failed to live up to the futuristic design, its build quality drew criticism, and the price tag was considered too steep for what it offered.

The early hype quickly cooled, leaving dealers with more inventory than buyers. The U.S. recession in 1981 and 1982 only worsened matters. Then came the bombshell: in October 1982, John DeLorean was arrested in an alleged $24 million cocaine trafficking sting. Although he was acquitted of those charges in 1984, the scandal, lawsuits, and financial collapse of his company ensured that the DeLorean Motor Company never recovered.

When DMC went bankrupt, the remaining unsold cars and spare parts were bought out by Consolidated International, a company that would later become Big Lots. For many, that seemed like the end of the road for the stainless-steel sports car.

Why Collectors Still Chase the Dream

Even though its production run was short and troubled, the DeLorean’s story became legendary. Between its unique design, Hollywood stardom, and the drama surrounding John DeLorean himself, the car carved out a special place in automotive history. To this day, car lovers around the world seek them out, and specialized restoration shops keep them alive.

For someone like McElhattan, stumbling upon a nearly untouched original is nothing short of a dream come true. “To take a car from this condition to what I know we can do with it is just—well, it’s an adventure anybody would want to be on,” he said.

Video : ‘It happened pretty quick’: Original 1981 DeLorean found in Waukesha County

From Barn Dust to Showroom Shine

The Wisconsin DeLorean will now begin a new chapter. While it may have spent decades collecting dust in silence, it’s destined to be restored, polished, and possibly even driven for the first time in years.

Imagine it: a gleaming stainless steel body catching the sunlight, gull-wing doors rising like wings, and an engine finally roaring back to life after more than forty years. For McElhattan and his team, it’s more than a restoration project—it’s a resurrection.

The Timeless Appeal of Forgotten Icons

The discovery of this DeLorean isn’t just about one car. It’s about the enduring magic of hidden treasures and the thrill of bringing the past back into the present. For car enthusiasts, barn finds like this are the closest thing to stepping into a time machine.

This 1981 DeLorean reminds us why some vehicles, no matter how flawed at launch, become legends. They tell stories bigger than horsepower or speed—they embody culture, nostalgia, and the dreams of entire generations.

Conclusion

The Wisconsin barn find proves that some legends never fade. Beneath the dust and beside a startled mouse sat a piece of history—untouched, unforgettable, and ready for revival. The DeLorean may have had a rocky start, but today it shines as one of the most iconic cars ever built.

And thanks to enthusiasts like McElhattan, a new life awaits this stainless-steel time capsule.

Because when it comes to the DeLorean, the past is never truly gone—it’s just waiting to be rediscovered.