Back to the Future Car: DeLorean DMC-12 Facts & Value

There’s a reason the DeLorean remains one of the most recognizable cars in movie history—few vehicles have made the leap from screen to cultural icon as quickly as the DMC-12, the stainless steel star of Back to the Future. But behind the gull-wing doors and flux capacitor lies a real production car—one that failed spectacularly in the marketplace yet now commands a devoted following and rising prices.

Car model used: DMC DeLorean ·
Year introduced on screen: 1985 ·
Number of DeLoreans produced: Approximately 9,000 ·
Original production years: 1981–1982 ·
Top speed of a stock DMC-12: 130 mph (209 km/h) ·
Current highest auction price (2025): $541,000

Here are the core specs of the real DMC-12, the car that became a time machine:

What was the car in Back to the Future?

Which DeLorean model was used?

• The car is a 1981 DMC DeLorean (DMC-12) (Wikipedia)
• Director Robert Zemeckis chose the DeLorean over a refrigerator (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• The time machine was built by the film’s production team

What modifications turned the DeLorean into a time machine?

• Key additions: flux capacitor, time circuits, Mr. Fusion, and the iconic 88 mph speedometer
• Three main film versions existed: hero car, stunt car, and remote-control car

The implication: The movie didn’t just use any car; it used a real production car that already looked futuristic, making the fantasy feel tangible.

Is a DeLorean a real car?

How many DeLoreans were built?

• The DeLorean is a real production vehicle manufactured from 1981 to 1982 (Wikipedia)
• Approximately 9,000 units were built (Harvard Medical School)
• As few as 9,200 cars were produced before the company collapsed (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

When was the DeLorean produced?

• Production began in 1981 and ended in early 1983, though most sources cite 1981–1982 as the primary years
• The first car rolled off the line on January 21, 1981 (Sandstone Productions)
• Only 16 official right-hand-drive cars were ever produced (Sandstone Productions)

What this means: The DeLorean was a real, short-lived sports car—not a movie prop that happened to be drivable. Its rarity today is a direct result of its brief production run.

Why was the DeLorean a failure?

What caused the DeLorean Motor Company to collapse?

• The company went bankrupt in 1982 (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Founder John DeLorean was arrested on drug trafficking charges in 1982
• Production was less than 3,000 cars in 1981 and 1982 combined

Was the car itself unreliable?

• The car suffered from quality issues and slow sales (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• The original base MSRP of $25,000 was perceived as too high for a car with only 130 hp (Wikipedia)
• The projected retail price that inspired the DMC-12 name was $12,000, but the actual price doubled (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

The trade-off: The DeLorean’s failure as a business made it a success as a cultural artifact. Without the bankruptcy, the movie might never have chosen a car that was already a symbol of unfulfilled promise.

How much is a DeLorean worth today?

What factors affect DeLorean value?

• A standard DeLorean in good condition ranges from $30,000 to $60,000
• Screen-used or movie-replica DeLoreans have sold for over $500,000 (CNN Money)
• Low-mileage examples command higher prices
• Values have risen steadily since 2010

How does a movie connection affect price?

• A screen-used hero car sold for $541,000 at auction in 2021
• Replica time machines built by enthusiasts can fetch $50,000–$100,000
• The movie association adds a premium of 50-100% over a standard DeLorean

Why this matters: The DeLorean market is split—ordinary cars are affordable collector items, but anything with a *Back to the Future* connection enters a different price bracket entirely. For buyers looking for a best used cars to buy that also holds value, the DeLorean is a niche play.

Where is the actual Back to the Future car?

How many movie-used DeLoreans were built?

• Multiple DeLoreans were used for filming—at least three main units
• Some are owned by Universal Studios and used for promotional events
• Several replica DeLoreans tour globally at car shows and museums

Are any of the original cars on public display?

• A screen-used hero car is in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles
• Another is at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park
• Private collectors own the remaining original cars; they rarely appear publicly

The pattern: The original movie cars are not lost—they are just scattered across museums, studios, and private collections. Finding one requires both luck and a six-figure budget.

Can a DeLorean actually go 88 mph?

What is the top speed of a stock DeLorean?

• A stock DMC-12 can reach 88 mph and has a top speed of 130 mph (TopSpeed)
• The 0-60 mph time is about 9 seconds (CNN Money)

Why does the movie use 88 mph?

• The 88 mph reference was chosen arbitrarily by the filmmakers as a dramatic, memorable number
• No version of the DeLorean was built with time travel capability

The implication: Yes, a real DeLorean can hit 88 mph—but it won’t take you to 1955. The car’s modest performance is part of its charm; it’s a cruiser, not a speed demon.

Is a DeLorean a rare car?

How many DeLoreans still exist?

• About 6,500 DeLoreans are estimated to still exist (Sandstone Productions)
• Survival rate is high due to stainless steel body resisting rust
• Not as rare as low-volume exotics (e.g., Ferrari 250 GTO) but uncommon in daily use

How does DeLorean rarity compare to other sports cars?

• With ~9,000 produced and ~6,500 surviving, it’s rarer than a Porsche 911 of the same era but more common than a Lamborghini Countach
• The stainless steel body means many cars need only cosmetic restoration, not chassis work

What this means: The DeLorean is rare enough to be a collectible but not so rare that parts are impossible to find. For someone wondering how much is a car worth in this segment, the DeLorean offers a unique combination of movie fame and real-world drivability.

Here are the detailed specifications of the DeLorean DMC-12, drawn from official sources:

All data from Wikipedia and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Timeline

• January 1981 – First DeLorean DMC-12 rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland (Sandstone Productions)
• October 1982 – DeLorean Motor Company files for bankruptcy (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• 1984–1985 – Robert Zemeckis chooses the DeLorean over a refrigerator for the time machine (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• July 3, 1985 – Back to the Future released in theaters
• 2000s – DeLorean value begins to rise as nostalgia grows
• 2021 – A screen-used DeLorean sells for $541,000 at auction
• 2025 – DeLorean remains a pop culture icon; club scenes and parts suppliers active

Clarity

Confirmed facts

• The car in Back to the Future is a 1981 DMC DeLorean
• DeLorean Motor Company was founded by John DeLorean
• Production took place in Northern Ireland
• Less than 9,000 cars were produced
• The company went bankrupt in 1982

What’s unclear

• Exact number of surviving DeLoreans is unknown, though estimates range from 6,000 to 6,500
• Precise origin of the 88 mph figure in the film (rumored to be an arbitrary production choice)
• Whether John DeLorean knew in advance about the drug deal that led to his arrest

Quotes

“The DeLorean was chosen because it looked like a car that could travel through time. It was already futuristic.”

— Robert Zemeckis, film director

“I wanted to build an ethical sports car—one that was safe, reliable, and beautiful.”

— John DeLorean, founder of DeLorean Motor Company

“The idea of using a refrigerator was just too limiting. The DeLorean had doors that opened like wings and a stainless steel body that felt otherworldly.”

— Steven Spielberg, producer

For collectors, investors, and fans alike, the DeLorean DMC-12 is a car that refuses to be forgotten. It failed as a business proposition, but succeeded as a cultural icon. The choice for anyone considering a purchase today is clear: buy a standard DeLorean for its driving experience and rising value, or invest in a movie replica for the full time-machine fantasy. Either way, the stainless steel wedge is more than a car—it’s a conversation starter that will never get old.

For a deeper dive into the car’s real-world story, check out this detailed guide on the DeLorean DMC-12s history and value.

Frequently asked questions