Only 303 ‘Back to the Future’ DeLoreans Remain on UK Roads as Numbers Dwindle, Data Shows
The DeLorean DMC-12: A Cinematic Icon on the Brink of Extinction
[Image: The DeLorean from Back to the Future (Credit: Daily Mail)]
The DeLorean DMC-12, immortalized by Back to the Future (1985), faces extinction on UK roads, with just 303 remaining. Once a symbol of futuristic design with its gull-wing doors and stainless steel body, only a fraction of the original 9,000 produced in Northern Ireland survive. DVLA data reveals 114 are declared off-road (Sorn), likely stored as collector’s items.
Soaring Prices & Pop Culture Legacy
Rarity and fame have driven prices skyward. Edward Lovett of Collecting Cars notes restored models resembling the film’s time machine fetch over £80,000. The DeLorean’s cultural impact exploded when Doc Brown transformed it into a time-traveling marvel powered by a "flux capacitor." Though the real car can’t hit 88 mph or time travel, its legend endures.
[Image: A DeLorean replica from the films (Credit: Daily Mail)]
Rise and Fall of the DeLorean
Launched in 1981, the DMC-12 initially cost £18,000—more than a Porsche 911. Production ceased in 1982 after founder John DeLorean’s arrest on drug charges doomed the company. Despite its short lifespan, Back to the Future revived interest, cementing its status as a cinematic icon.
Other Endangered Movie Cars
The DeLorean isn’t alone. Iconic cars from film history are dwindling:
- Aston Martin DB5 (James Bond): 311 left
- Lotus Esprit (The Spy Who Loved Me): 330 left
- Mini Cooper (The Italian Job): 950 left
- Ford Anglia (Harry Potter): 2,400 left
[Image: James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 (Credit: Daily Mail)]
A Collector’s Dream
Few DeLoreans hit the market—Collecting Cars sold just two since 2019, one for £56,000 in 2022. As road-going models vanish, its legacy thrives in garages and auctions, proving that even without time travel, the DeLorean’s magic is timeless.
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