DeLorean DMC-12 vs Porsche 911 Carrera: Iconic 1980s Sports Cars Go Head-to-Head

The Ultimate 1980s Sports Car Showdown: DeLorean DMC-12 Meets Porsche 911 Carrera

The 1980s delivered some of the most legendary sports cars, and few are as instantly recognizable as the DeLorean DMC-12 and the Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2. While both achieved a place in automotive history, their journeys couldn’t have been more different. The DeLorean DMC-12 became a pop culture phenomenon, forever linked to time travel in Back to the Future, while the Porsche 911 Carrera evolved into a benchmark for performance and engineering excellence. Today, we revisit this classic matchup to see which 80s icon truly claimed the crown.

Design and Aesthetics: Futuristic vs Timeless

Under the direction of world-renowned designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, the DeLorean DMC-12’s signature look was crafted. Its brushed stainless-steel bodywork and dramatic gullwing doors made it unlike anything else on the road. It stood out as a Hollywood star, defying convention and turning heads everywhere it went. The Porsche 911 Carrera, in contrast, built upon its already established silhouette, fine-tuning the sleek, classic lines and proportions that remain popular even today. It forwent extravagant touches for an enduring, well-balanced design rooted in German automotive tradition.

Specification Showdown: Battle of the Rear-Engined Legends

Both cars faithfully represent the sporting ideals of their decade: rear-mounted engines and rear-wheel drive for a pure driving experience. However, the similarities largely end there.

• DeLorean DMC-12: Its heart is a 2.85-liter PRV V6 (a collaboration between Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo), producing just 130 horsepower. While innovative in style, its real-world performance often fell short of expectations. Marketed at around $25,000 in 1981—equivalent to about $92,000 today—the DeLorean offered exclusivity and eye-catching looks but lacked in power delivery and refinement expected of a true sports car in its price bracket.
• Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2: The Carrera featured a 3.2-liter air-cooled flat-six engine that churned out 217 horsepower, mated to a smooth five-speed manual transmission. Backed by decades of Porsche engineering, the 911 Carrera delivered not just speed, but world-class handling and reliability—traits that made it a dominant force then and now.

Performance Comparison: On the Track

Once the rubber hit the road, the differences between the two became impossible to ignore. TFLclassics found it challenging to push the DeLorean past the now-famous 88 mph (the time-travel threshold in pop culture lore). The production car’s U.S.-regulated speedometer only went up to 85 mph, although some creative driving finally coaxed it to 92 mph. The quarter-mile times tell the tale: the DMC-12 posted a 19.04-second run—far from supercar standards.

The Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2, meanwhile, sprinted through the quarter mile in just 16.84 seconds, leaving its rival in the dust. Blending agility with raw power, the Porsche established itself as a pure driver’s machine, outpacing the DeLorean effortlessly.

Market Position and Lasting Legacy

While the DeLorean DMC-12 may not have been the fastest, it certainly wins in terms of charisma. Its stainless-steel construction remained unique until the Tesla Cybertruck broke cover decades later, and its place in cinematic history is unmatched. Yet, for enthusiasts craving true sports car performance, the Porsche 911 Carrera has always offered more—more speed, more engineering finesse, and more staying power.

Conclusion: 80s Icons With Contrasting Destinies

In the end, the DeLorean DMC-12 and Porsche 911 Carrera represent distinct philosophies in automotive history. The DeLorean is a dazzling showpiece, a collector’s dream, and a pop culture icon. The Porsche 911 Carrera is the standard-bearer of sports car excellence, consistently evolving and winning over generations of drivers. When it comes to outright performance and enduring value, the 911 proves it was in a league of its own. Still, the DeLorean will always have a unique place in our hearts—and perhaps, in our dreams of traveling through time.