Shimohara-san established a website that connected members, shared information, and facilitated owner meet-ups. At the time, Japanese DeLorean owners struggled to find the technical support and replacement parts needed to maintain their cars. Shimohara-san founded the club in 1994 after buying his first DeLorean. “I’m the president of the DeLorean Owners Club of Japan,” Shimohara-san says. A few more are imported each year.” That seemed optimistic and I was curious how he knew. “Oh, there are over 100 in Japan, maybe as many as 200. I ask if Shimohara-san if he knows of any others. They must be extremely rare here in Japan. as their sole export market outside of Europe. The DeLorean Motor Company manufactured the DMC-12 in Belfast, Ireland from 1981 to 1982, with the U.S. “I have used the original rack option for a snowboard and have even taken it camping.”
“There are multiple storage spaces,” he says. Over my shoulder, Shimohara-san told me it's been surprisingly practical. The dashboard evoked a wave of nostalgia.
I poked my head under a gullwing and saw that it had a 5-speed manual and a lightly worn grey interior. “In Japan, you can’t drive faster than 120 km/h, so it’s fine. I recall that the original Peugeot-Renault-Volvo 2.85-liter V-6 engine left the cars underpowered, so I asked if the shop added any horsepower. I learned that he had recently retrieved the car from the shop after an engine rebuild. We both admired his car the 40-year old design was at home among the variety of classics and the newer, far more expensive supercars scattered around the lot. “I bought one when I lived in Italy, so I had two at one point,” Shimohara-san shared. Our conversation turned to his DMC-12, and he told me that he has owned at least one DeLorean throughout the past 27 years. The gentleman’s name was Osamu Shimohara, and our chance meeting would result in an unexpected summer tour of Japan and its diverse car culture. “Yes, I loved the car and named my daughter Erena. Still uncertain that I had heard his daughter’s name correctly, I sought confirmation. “I already had my first DeLorean and soon learned that I could not afford to own two sports cars, so I sold the Mach I.” A Seventies-era Mach I had recently made an appearance in my Tokyo neighborhood, so I asked if he still owned it. Unfortunately, young love ended in heartbreak when it was traded for a brown ‘74 Pinto. My earliest automotive memories were of my parents’ British racing green 1964-1/2 2+2 fastback. Halicki film was the best.” He then told me how he’d once bought a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach I, yellow with a 351 Cleveland motor, 2 barrel carburetor, and FMX transmission. “The original 1974 Gone in 60 Seconds, of course! The H.B. I sensed a frown form under his protective mask as he vigorously shook his head. “Your daughter is named after Nicholas Cage’s Mustang?” 1982 DeLorean DMC-12: Vintage Road & Track Test