The Back to the Future time machine was built around a real 1981 DeLorean DMC-12—but its nuclear reactor, time-travel equipment and tire-tracked flames were movie additions. The film arrived in 1985. Here are 11 facts that separate the production car from the screen prop.
Why did Back to the Future use a DeLorean?
1. The filmmakers wanted a time machine that could move
The writers initially considered making the time machine a refrigerator. They decided it needed to be mobile, then considered putting it in a sports car. In the official 1985 production notes, co-writer Bob Gale said the DeLorean’s gull-wing doors offered comic potential. The screenplay was drafted beginning in fall 1980, according to those notes. Universal’s production notes record the origin of the idea.
How was the movie time machine different from the real car?
2. The time-travel hardware was made for the film
The production car was not nuclear-powered and could not travel through time. The filmmakers designed the time machine to look homemade, as if an eccentric inventor had assembled it in a garage, and added equipment meant to suggest a nuclear reactor. Artists and special-effects staff created the design; production notes credit Mike Scheffe with sourcing unusual pieces for details including the flux capacitor, dashboard, vents and side coils. The official production notes describe the intended look and construction.
3. Several specialists had distinct design and build roles
In a later clarification on the official franchise site, Gale credits Ron Cobb and Andrew Probert with the paper design, Kevin Pike’s special-effects team with building the vehicle, and Michael Scheffe with artistic supervision. The 1985 notes describe Scheffe as vehicle construction coordinator. Gale specifically says George Barris was not involved. Gale’s clarification helps distinguish the design, construction and artistic-supervision credits.
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4. Three DeLoreans were bought and modified
Universal’s June 5, 1985 production notes say three DeLoreans were purchased for the film and modified by Kevin Pike’s team. MotorTrend identifies them as used 1981 DMC-12s nicknamed the A-car, B-car and C-car: respectively, the hero car, a stunt car and an interior-filming car modified to fit cameras. That role-by-role breakdown is MotorTrend’s reporting, rather than a detail in the production notes. Universal’s notes establish the count; MotorTrend describes the cars’ reported roles.
5. The production added fire effects
The film’s four firejets were added to shoot flames as the vehicle accelerated and prepared to travel through time, according to the official production notes. Those effects belong to the movie’s modified prop, not the stock DMC-12. Universal’s production notes document the additions.
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What was a stock 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 like?
6. Its engine was a 2.8-liter PRV V6
Classic DeLorean Motor Company’s buyer guide describes the production DMC-12’s engine as a 2.8-liter, all-aluminum PRV V6, jointly manufactured by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo, rated at 130 hp. Factory transmission choices were a three-speed automatic or five-speed manual; interior colors were black or gray. These are production-car details, not specifications for the film’s fictional time-travel apparatus. Classic DeLorean Motor Company’s buyer guide lists the mechanical and factory-option information.
7. Stainless steel covered a bonded body shell
Haynes Motor Museum says the DeLorean’s body shell was formed in upper and lower sections, bonded together, then covered with brushed stainless-steel panels. Its gull-wing doors used preset torsion bars and nitrogen-charged struts. The distinctive exterior was part of the real car’s design, not a movie-only feature. Haynes Motor Museum’s collection entry describes the displayed 1981 car.
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8. Museum-listed performance figures are estimates for its displayed example
Haynes Motor Museum lists its 1981 DMC-12 at 2,850cc and 130 bhp, with 0–60 mph in 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. These are the museum’s specifications for its displayed car; they should not be read as fresh testing or as a guarantee for every surviving DMC-12. The museum’s 130 bhp figure and Classic DeLorean Motor Company’s 130 hp rating both describe the engine, using the units each source reports. Haynes Motor Museum provides the listed figures.
How many DeLoreans were made, and what explains the 88 mph detail?
9. More than 9,000 cars were made from 1981 to 1983
Classic DeLorean Motor Company says more than 9,000 DMC-12s were made between 1981 and 1983, near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Haynes describes production as ending after two years and gives an approximate total of 9,000. The specialist company’s figure is the more precise wording to use: more than 9,000, rather than exactly 9,000. Classic DeLorean Motor Company’s guide gives the production period and count.
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10. The film’s 88 mph speedometer was a prop detail
MotorTrend reports that the filmmakers made a fake speedometer template reaching 95 mph because the stock DMC-12 speedometer, like many period-car speedometers, stopped at 85 mph. The movie’s familiar 88 mph threshold is part of the story; it does not mean the production car’s original speedometer displayed that number. MotorTrend’s account describes the prop speedometer.
11. The VIN sequence does not straightforwardly identify build order
Classic DeLorean Motor Company’s specialist VIN guide says the first production car carried VIN 000500, and cautions that VIN sequence does not always map directly to build chronology. That information does not establish the VIN of any particular Back to the Future screen car. The company’s VIN guide explains the sequence caveat.
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Can owners still get DeLorean parts or service?
Classic DeLorean Motor Company says it is not connected to the original DeLorean Motor Company, but holds the rights to the name and logo as well as remaining parts, tooling and drawings. It reports selling parts and offering service and restoration. Since inventory and service availability can change, check directly with the company before planning a repair or restoration. Its buyer guide includes the company’s current support information.
Where can you find the film on disc?
Universal’s official film page lists a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray edition and DVD. Editions and included features can vary, so check the listing for the specific release before buying. Universal’s Back to the Future page lists those formats.
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