Bonhams Cars : 1981 DeLorean Back to the Future III Universal, 1990.
![Bonhams Cars : 1981 DeLorean Back to the Future III Universal, 1990.](https://cars.bonhams.com/_next/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages2.bonhams.com%2Fimage%3Fsrc%3DImages%2Flive%2F2005-04%2F15%2F7055101-11-1.jpg&w=2400&q=75)
A number of cars were built for the Back to the Future trilogy. This particular vehicle was built for the third installment, and used in the scenes involving the DeLorean’s aerial acceleration to time-jump velocity. This car ran on the fictional flux capacitor. Its wheels (through special effects) retract, but this car does have a special functioning custom strobe installation in the undercarriage which, in front of a blue screen, simulated levitation and the effects of flight. This car was approved by the Universal Publicity Department for exhibition usage. One of the Back to the Future DeLoreans is on display at the Volvo Museum in Illinois. Back to the Future was an enormous hit. Stemming from the Spielberg production stables, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, it became the top grossing movie of 1985. It was an inventive, well-scripted, brilliantly shot twist on the time travel motif, and one that updated it and used it for a celebration and exploration of pop culture. It was a master stroke to use the DeLorean as the converted time machine (now that’s what we call a kustomization job). What car more perfectly expresses the tweak and excess of the 1980s. Its creator John DeLorean, had enjoyed tremendous success at GM. His Pontiac division oversaw the introduction of the immensely popular (and profitable) Firebird and GTO. He earned the unheard of annual salary of $650,000, and had the expensive tastes and lavish lifestyle to go with it. And he wanted more. He saw the DeLorean as his ticket to fame and high fortune. The problem was, it was considerably more expensive than its chief rival, the Chevrolet Corvette. Company fortunes rapidly declined, and faced with impending bankruptcy, in a quintessential ‘80s moment, DeLorean was caught on tape in a government sting attempting to buy several kilos of cocaine. Although he evaded jail, it was the end of his company. If it wasn’t for Back to the Future, it’s unclear just how well remembered this car would be. It is clear that the DeLorean has tremendous recognition today both because of this film and because of the notoriety of the car’s creator. It was in fact one of the most famous roles for any marque in the history of film. Without Reserve
![](https://www.classicdriver.com/sites/default/files/cars_images/delorean-lowres-watermerk-15.jpg)
1981 DeLorean DMC-12 Classic Driver Market
![](https://bonhamscarsonline.twic.pics/ddc75971-f307-4339-982a-03e1dcfbda99/8cd5537d-e02d-42e3-82ac-cb4cb6e0e1d5.jpg?twic=v1/resize=250)
1983 DMC DeLorean For Sale by Auction
![](https://cars.bonhams.com/_next/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages2.bonhams.com%2Fimage%3Fsrc%3DImages%2Flive%2F2021-07%2F12%2F25107977-13-27.jpg&w=2400&q=75)
Bonhams Cars : 1981 DeLorean DMC-12VIN. SCEDT26TXBD002734
![](https://bonhamscarsonline.twic.pics/ddc75971-f307-4339-982a-03e1dcfbda99/1be19e4a-3848-4632-b5e7-8d90a1afc5d3.jpg?twic=v1/resize=250)
1983 DMC DeLorean For Sale by Auction
![](https://bonhamscarsonline.twic.pics/8145a4b7-2887-4570-8c69-57366eca9d65/e9c9ba95-d40d-4d68-86d4-f023a5e5f76a.jpg?twic=v1/resize=250)
1981 DMC DeLorean For Sale by Auction
![](https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/influx/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/tumblr_l18s7jFiIb1qaxl6fo1_1280.jpg)
The Cult of DeLorean
![](https://bonhamscarsonline.twic.pics/0f113211-04f5-489b-a69f-7742b5947ffd/6064a291-e3db-4880-9ee0-9d4e555fc37d.jpg)
1981 Delorean DMC-12 For Sale by Auction
![](https://l450v.alamy.com/450v/2jage17/three-quarters-front-view-of-a-silver-1981-delorean-dmc-12-on-display-at-the-deal-classic-car-show-2022-2jage17.jpg)
Delorean Dmc-12 Film: Back To The Future Part Iii; Back To The Future Part 3 (USA 1990) / Location: Monument Valley, Utah, Usa Director: Robert Zemeckis 25 May 1990 **WARNING** This Photograph
![](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2JHDEJA/christopher-lloyd-back-to-the-future-part-ii-1989-2JHDEJA.jpg)
Back to the future movie car hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy