The DeLorean DMC-12’s brushed stainless steel body panels were chosen partly for their distinctive appearance, but primarily because the manufacturing process to create smooth painted surfaces proved so technically difficult that the company opted for raw steel—which then required an unexpectedly complex multi-step polishing and passivation process that ultimately took longer than conventional painting would have, transforming a cost-saving measure into a more expensive solution that accidentally became the car’s most iconic visual feature.
Car Fact #96 — September 20, 2026
