Iconic Stainless Steel DeLorean Spotted in London!

With production of the Tesla Cybertruck fully ramped up, the stunning stainless steel bodywork of these vehicles is becoming a more common sight on the roads. It's much more surprising to catch a glimpse of a DeLorean but that's just what Mark Almond from BS Stainless was lucky enough to do recently. And it was in an even more surprising place...

Mark was enjoying a shopping trip at Selfridges on Oxford Street in Central London when he spotted the iconic vehicle. Yes, you read that right: in Selfridges! Occupying a prominent position on the shop floor, the glittering DeLorean made a bizarre juxtaposition with the racks of classy designer gear it stood amongst. 

Everybody knows that the DMC (DeLorean Motor Company) DeLorean was the world's first stainless steel car, right? Wrong! The first cars built with stainless steel bodies date all the way back to 1936 and were manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in collaboration with the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Company.   

Only six of these vehicles, named the Ford Model 68 Deluxe, were built. The vehicles were loaned to the best performers among Allegheny Ludlum's staff, a tradition that continued for ten years. At the end of this time, each car had clocked up more than 200,000 miles apiece yet the unpainted stainless steel remained in pristine condition.

It wasn't until 1981 that the DeLorean was produced and even then it was based on a previous concept car (the Porsche Tapiro) that was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1970. The DeLorean was not a huge success at the time, spending only two years on the market. What really brought the vehicle to public attention was its appearance in 'Back to the Future', the blockbuster film released in 1985.

Stainless steel's notable resistance to corrosion makes it ideal for the bodywork of vehicles, which suffer extensive exposure to dirt, salts and water when driving. The alloy's exceptional durability and strength also help vehicles to easily stand up to impacts, resisting scratches and dents. In addition, no other material can boast the same beautiful aesthetic quality as stainless steel.

We're not sure how long the gorgeous DeLorean will be at Selfridges so try and see it while you can! In the meantime, check out the BS Stainless website to discover our stainless steel product catalogue along with some of the many applications the alloy is used for in the transportation industries.