One of the questions I get asked from time to time is "what documents came with the car when new?" In this posting, I'll show these documents and briefly describe them.
There were two significantly different versions of the handbook, and the valet (vinyl pouch/handbook holder) that should have accompanied it. These were put into the cars not at the factory, but at the QAC as part of the final inspection.
A complete handbook/valet for a 1981 model (VINs ending in 000500* to 007199) should contain:
- Fifty (50) page, 5" x 9.25" 1981 Owners Manual, spiral bound across top
There were two significantly different versions of the handbook, and the valet (vinyl pouch/handbook holder) that should have accompanied it. These were put into the cars not at the factory, but at the QAC as part of the final inspection.
A complete handbook/valet for a 1981 model (VINs ending in 000500* to 007199) should contain:
- Fifty (50) page, 5" x 9.25" 1981 Owners Manual, spiral bound across top
- Goodyear Tire warranty tri-fold
- Craig Sound System Warranty for DeLorean Vehicles tri-fold
- Notification of Ownership and/or Address postcard
- 1981 DeLorean Consumer Information tri-fold
- 1981 Vehicles Maintenance Schedule/Record
- Warranties 1981 New Vehicles/Emission Warranties 1981 New Vehicle pamphlet (two sided)
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* Note that VIN's assigned to DMC employees would typically not have had these with the car, as they were not intended for retail sale as new cars. By the time these cars made it to the retail market (via Chestnut Fleet Leasing), DMC was in financial trouble and probably didn't supply them.
Some people believe the "National Dealer List" booklets were part of this package. This does not seem to be the case after speaking with some of the original owners and reports that they were given to owners at the dealerships. There were several different versions and styles of these.
Some people believe the "National Dealer List" booklets were part of this package. This does not seem to be the case after speaking with some of the original owners and reports that they were given to owners at the dealerships. There were several different versions and styles of these.
Some cars MAY have the "Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist", either intact or with one more of the three "carbon" copies, possibly blank (typically on cars that went to dealers after DMC closed in late 82) or completed on earlier cars.
These items were placed inside a black vinyl pouch, foil stamped in silver with the DMC DeLorean Motor Company logo.
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A complete handbook/valet for a 1982/1983 model (VINs ending in 010001 to 020104) should contain:
- Forty (40) page,5.75" x 8.25" saddle stitched DeLorean Owner's Handbook*
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A complete handbook/valet for a 1982/1983 model (VINs ending in 010001 to 020104) should contain:
- Forty (40) page,5.75" x 8.25" saddle stitched DeLorean Owner's Handbook*
- Goodyear Tire warranty pamphlet
- Notification of Ownership and/or Address postcard (typically 2)
- Consumer Information tri-fold pamphlet (no year on it, but a 1982 copyright date on back)
- 1982 Vehicle Maintenance Schedule/Record
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- Warranties 1982 New Vehicles/Emission Warranties 1982 New Vehicle pamphlet
- National Dealer List booklet
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As with the 1981 versions, some people believe the "National Dealer List" booklets were part of this package. This does not seem to be the case after speaking with some of the original owners and reports that they were given to owners at the dealerships. There were several different versions and styles of these.
*There were two different versions of this 1982 Owner's Handbook. The earlier version had a black and silver cardstock cover, while the later one (possibly printed/distributed with the cars sold by Consolidated International) was printed on a thinner, glossy paper without the cover, presumably as a cost saving measure.
For either 1981 or 1982 models, some cars MAY have the "Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist", either intact or with one more of the three "carbon" copies. As many of these cars were sold after DMC closed or sold directly by Consolidated, this document is unlikely to be present.
*There were two different versions of this 1982 Owner's Handbook. The earlier version had a black and silver cardstock cover, while the later one (possibly printed/distributed with the cars sold by Consolidated International) was printed on a thinner, glossy paper without the cover, presumably as a cost saving measure.
For either 1981 or 1982 models, some cars MAY have the "Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist", either intact or with one more of the three "carbon" copies. As many of these cars were sold after DMC closed or sold directly by Consolidated, this document is unlikely to be present.
The valet for the 1982/1983 Owner's handbook was markedly different than the 1981 version. Made of a thin vinyl over foam front and back cover, the valet opened like a book (to accomodate the new design of the handbook) instead of having a flap at the top. A silkscreened line art drawing of the car with the doors up and the repeating DMC logo were on the cover.
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And what about 1983 versions? Well, as there were no DMC/factory built 1983 models (all 15XXX, 16XXX, and 17XXX 1983 models were originally built as 1982 models and given 1983 VINs by Consolidated International - see page XX in The Illustrated Buyer's Guide to DeLorean Automobiles) and the 20XXX VINs were built under the control of Consolidated International from partially assembled cars left on the line when the factory closed in late 1982, if they came with anything, it would most likely be what you see above for the 1982 models.
The operating controls for the ASI radio are not covered in the 1982 owner's manual, either. I once saw a little 8.5" x 3.5" leaflet that showed the operating controls, but have never been able to confirm if it was a DMC produced document or produced later by a club or Consolidated International.
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The 1981 manual has not been reproduced, most likely due to the fact that it's use of halftone photographs as illustrations makes creating a quality reproduction more difficult. The 1982 manual has been reproduced, though with a simpler, less expensive cover and is available through DMC dealers. In the mid-1990s I created a PDF version of the 1982 manual and made it available through the DeLorean Mailing List web site (www.dmcnews.com) where it can still be downloaded today.
Reproductions of the 1981 valet were created and offered by DMC (Texas) several years ago and are still available from DMC dealers. In order to preserve the values of the original and to accommodate the slightly larger 82/83 style reproduction handbook, they are made a bit larger and have their own contact information underneath the flap. Reproductions of the later, 1982/1983 style valet would be expensive and due to the smaller number of cars these would be applicable to probably not justify the cost.
From time to time, individual pieces and complete sets of the materials described here are offered on eBay and other sites like DMChelp.com and DMCtalk.org - values are pretty much all over the place and vary based on completeness, condition and what the seller thinks they are worth. It comes down to what you are willing to pay, in the end, but for a mint, complete 1981 valet/manual/documents I'd expect to pay $150-$200 and $200-$250 for a mint, complete 82/83 valet/manual documents with the black and silver printed manual cover - less for a plain white cover version.
The operating controls for the ASI radio are not covered in the 1982 owner's manual, either. I once saw a little 8.5" x 3.5" leaflet that showed the operating controls, but have never been able to confirm if it was a DMC produced document or produced later by a club or Consolidated International.
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The 1981 manual has not been reproduced, most likely due to the fact that it's use of halftone photographs as illustrations makes creating a quality reproduction more difficult. The 1982 manual has been reproduced, though with a simpler, less expensive cover and is available through DMC dealers. In the mid-1990s I created a PDF version of the 1982 manual and made it available through the DeLorean Mailing List web site (www.dmcnews.com) where it can still be downloaded today.
Reproductions of the 1981 valet were created and offered by DMC (Texas) several years ago and are still available from DMC dealers. In order to preserve the values of the original and to accommodate the slightly larger 82/83 style reproduction handbook, they are made a bit larger and have their own contact information underneath the flap. Reproductions of the later, 1982/1983 style valet would be expensive and due to the smaller number of cars these would be applicable to probably not justify the cost.
From time to time, individual pieces and complete sets of the materials described here are offered on eBay and other sites like DMChelp.com and DMCtalk.org - values are pretty much all over the place and vary based on completeness, condition and what the seller thinks they are worth. It comes down to what you are willing to pay, in the end, but for a mint, complete 1981 valet/manual/documents I'd expect to pay $150-$200 and $200-$250 for a mint, complete 82/83 valet/manual documents with the black and silver printed manual cover - less for a plain white cover version.
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