Tim Moceri and his DeLorean at SEMA 2023

When Tim Moceri first unloaded the 1981 DeLorean DMC 12 in Las Vegas before SEMA, he knew they had something special. This DeLorean isn’t just like any other car; it sticks with you and, for many, brings up a lot of fond memories.

The DeLorean was initially shown at SEMA 2021 as a roller without the engine up and running.

“The 2021 version was more of a prototype, and this version for 2023 is more of a production car and user-friendly,” Moceri said. “It’s an actual car you can get in, drive, and enjoy, even though it’s probably one of the most radical DeLoreans out there.”

The build wasn’t where Moceri knew it could be, and he decided to overhaul the original design for SEMA 2023 with Air Lift Performance.

“We debuted the car in 2021 and did really well,” Moceri said. “I met with (Air Lift Performance) the next year at SEMA, and we discussed the concept of bringing the DeLorean back for 2023 and doing a full revamp of the car with the new Builders Series shocks management system.”

Using Air Lift Performances Builders Series to bag my dream car

Moceri built the vehicle out of his shop, Moceri Auto Craft, specializing in 80 and 90s cars and reimagining them with futuristic builds.

“This was our first outing under that flag, and getting to revamp and redo an old car and bring it up to speed, debuting it at SEMA was pretty amazing,” Moceri said. “We had a prime spot with Air Lift this year in the middle of the main hall, and the reception was absolutely insane. We had a great show.”

Moceri stripped the DeLorean down to its bare bones, redesigning the entire build, 3D printing a new body kit for the car, adding Air Lift suspension and management, and getting the car up and running again.

The DeLorean has Air Lift Performance Builders Series shocks in the front and rear, with an 18-inch FLO Airride billet air tank and the 3H/3P controller mounted securely in the center console.

“We squeezed in the Builders Series install, making sure the complete Air Lift system would fit and work, to get everything up to snuff so it functions properly and can drive how it should.”

The DeLorean build for SEMA 2023

Moceri said one of the biggest challenges was making the body kit from scratch. When he received the kit in the mail, it was just printed and needed bodywork to take it from plastic parts to being bolted on the back of the car. The DeLorean’s headlights were remade entirely from scratch by a friend from Skeptic Innovations.

The rear engine bay is Moceri’s favorite part of the DeLorean he built, with a clear deck lid to show it off.

“My favorite part is being able to show off the engine in the engine bay. It’s almost like a piece of jewelry,” Moceri said. “We started this process with maybe seven weeks out. It was a mad dash from start to finish the car.”

He said the reaction people have to the car is half the fun. As an 80s baby, he grew up seeing the DeLorean in Back to the Future.

“Whenever someone sees it, they smile and take pictures; they want to sit behind the wheel. As a builder, you want to differentiate yourself from the pack, but also, it’s my dream car,” Moceri said. “It’s been so cool to build something that’s been on your radar since you were seven. It’s one of the coolest cars I know; it crosses all boundaries. It goes from not just automotive and motorsport, but it goes into pop culture, too.”

Before SEMA, Moceri and the DeLorean did a photoshoot with Speedhunters, unloading the car in the middle of the night and driving it out in front of the Plaza Hotel.

“It was the first time I actually drove the car; it was kind of hair-raising,” Moceri said. “It was such a whirlwind.”

He said at SEMA, the DeLorean took on a life of its own.

Working the SEMA 2023 booth with Air Lift

“SEMA was nonstop. I lost my voice with the amount of interviews we did, and with the coverage, it was insane. It was like standing next to a celebrity,” Moceri said. “The car just took off and did its own thing, and then you’re just along for the ride.”

Moceri said having the DeLorean in Air Lift’s booth, representing the brand, was a lot of responsibility and pressure, but he thrives in those situations and was proud of his build.

“As a company, Air Lift is one of the best I’ve ever worked with as far as getting involved with the project and promoting it,” Moceri said. “Air Lift is one of those companies that are legit, you know. I know I’ll be working with them in the future and incorporating them as much as possible in my builds.”

Moving forward, there are more DeLoreans in Morceri’s future.

“We’ve got some pretty big irons in the fire right now,” he said. “I have two more DeLoreans in the queue right now. One will be nearly identical to the SEMA car, but it’ll be a little more driveable. The other is possibly going to be a full-out race car.”

Moceri’s DeLorean made it in the Top 10 of SEMA’s Battle of the Builders in Sport Compact/Import Performance vehicles to top off the successful week.

“When you’ve really hit the mark and created something special, the car kind of takes off and becomes its own thing, and you just let it fly,” Moceri said. “It’s one thing to be a builder or create something, but that’s the payment when someone likes it and appreciates it.”