The 85 mph speedometer that the DeLorean had was incorrect. What was the actual top speed of the DeLorean DMC-12?

The DeLorean sports coupe went on sale during 1981, but the company collapsed into bankruptcy in 1982, and this meant that the car was only ever marketed in the United States. In Federal form its PRV V6 engine had been enlarged to 2,849cc — as in the latest Volvo 76OGLE saloon, for instance — and it produced up to 130bhp. The unladen weight was only 2,8401b, which reflected great credit on the Lotus design team and their experience with such structures. It was not, however, anything like as quick as its looks suggested. Road & Track’s authoritative road test showed that the top speed was a mere 109mph — in fifth or fourth gear — that 0-60mph acceleration took a rather pedestrian 10.5sec, and that 0-100mph needed no less than 40sec and a lot of straight highway. All this helped to give the car its ‘gutless’ reputation, right from the start. Day-to-day fuel consumption was quoted as 19mpg (US gallons)/22. 8mpg (Imperial gallons).

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EHistory/DeLorean.html

Top speed of a stock DeLorean is more on the order of 130mph. The federal government mandated 85 mph speedos in cars from the early 80's.

both people close, but wrong. yes, the speedometer had to be at 85 because of us laws at the time. the delorean was marketed to many countries, the netherlands took a good shine to it, there is actually a DMC there. One of my deloreans is a completely stock, automatic i might add, car and it can top out at about 121, thats with a professional clock too. Also, i can hit 60 in about 9 seconds and 100 in about 23 seconds, not at all your clocks, once again, im going off my own stock car. last, the fuel economy on the D was set at 19 on the middle cars that were sold, some had 17 some had 18, but in fact, in todays world, deloreans are expected, and do unless there is a problem, get about 27 highway/21 city in the manuals, and 25 highway/18 city on the automatics. Just the knoledge of my years of working with the car, and steve, the man who now owns DMC. Thanks!