[television is just wrong]

there was no way to maintain them across the US.

Not true. the car is based on standard off the shelf technology. I've got one sitting in my driveway 10 feet away.. It's got a Volvo motor. I can get parts at any car parts store. Anything else I can get from DMC of America in Texas. Or from my local, factory trained DMC mechanic.

[Lx]

I though the engine and transaxle was from Renault?

[Lx]

Oops, we're both right:
Technically, the DMC-12 is a solid automobile, powered by a rear-mounted, 130-horsepower Peugeot-Renault-Volvo fuel-injected, aluminum, 2.8-liter V-6 engine with a Bosch K Jetronic fuel-injection system. It sits on a Lotus-designed, double-Y,

http://www.delorean-owners.org/legend/index.html

[NHResident]

You couldn't support 8,000 drivers that way - the point is if you wanted to introduce a new model - you need to have a nation-wide network to support warrenties, do maintenance, stock parts, etc. Any car can be supported by a dedicated home mechanic - I have a friend who maintains his classic Aston-Martins for the cost of parts but I wouldn't say you could build a viable market for the typical driver based on that evidence.