New Reproduction DeLorean Left Front Fenders Are Here!

For decades, it has been known that the stainless steel DeLorean left front fender is the only body panel not readily available. It has been subject to conspiracy theories for years as to why the stamping dies for all of the DeLorean body panels were scrapped by the supplier after the original DeLorean factory closed. All that has been proven is that some were melted down, and others were dumped into the sea as netting weights for a fish farm off the coast of Ireland in 1984. In 2015, it was confirmed that the original dies were still at the bottom of Galway Bay in Ireland. 


It is known that they stamped out between 300-400 of one panel at a time before switching the tool for the next part. One can imagine they had just finished with a different body panel and were preparing to start the left fender production when the DeLorean factory was shut down and the need for more panels ceased. Over 40 years later, the demand for these elusive body panels has pushed the price out of reach for many, but Classic DMC is here to help!

We started exploring what it would take to make new left fenders by mounting a New Original Stock (NOS) fender to a section of a DeLorean underbody, then having a 3D scan created. Upon cleaning up the CAD (computer-aided design) file based on the latest version of factory drawings from our archives, we had 3D prints made for key areas such as the corners, wheel arch, and top mounting holes. A full-size, two-piece 3D print of the inside of the left fender was then created to allow us to check the final fit on a DeLorean underbody. 


Once we were satisfied with the CAD work, the file was sent to our supplier for quotes on tooling and production. We quickly received a formal quotation, allowing us to finalize the contract for the stamping dies and samples. Die development began in late August 2023, with the first sample completed and arrived at DeLorean Motor Company (Texas) in January 2024. We fit the sample fender to a DeLorean undergoing restoration at our facility, followed by metallurgical testing of the composition against an original part - and found our new fenders to be within 1% of an original DeLorean stainless steel panel! 

In September 2024, one of our senior staffers traveled to their factory to collaborate and sign-off on the production of the new fenders. Each panel starts as a blank sheet of bare 304 stainless steel, moving through a multi-step stamping and laser cutting process before being packaged for shipment to our warehouse in the United States. To see more behind the scenes footage of the left fender reproduction - click on the video below!


At the original DeLorean factory, a unique tool called the "fender blender" was created to securely hold a fender in a stationary position. At Classic DMC, we restored the only known surviving factory "fender blender" to utilize during the final stage of production - applying the brushed finish to the stainless steel parts. Each fender is carefully finished with a factory-correct ARO blending tool and DMC stainless steel blending pad to ensure that buyers receive a beautiful, install-ready fender. 

Left Fender Blending & Hand Finishing

As of early November 2024, new reproduction DeLorean left front fenders have arrived at our warehouse in Texas! We are so excited to be able to provide the first new DeLorean body panel in over 40 years! Left front fenders, blended and ready to install, are currently available for pickup or shipping. 


Published: 11/15/2024 at 1:00 PM

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