Classic DeLoreans could disappear from UK roads despite iconic Back To The Future status
Just 303 DeLorean cars immortalised by Hollywood classic Back To The Future remain on UK roads 40 years on from the film’s release, figures show.
The iconic vehicles have become highly sought-after collector’s items four decades after the science fiction adventure first hit cinema screens in the summer of 1985.
Data obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) reveals the scarcity of these distinctive automobiles on British roads today.
A further 114 DeLoreans have a statutory off road notification (SORN), suggesting they are being stored rather than driven.
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The limited number of surviving vehicles has contributed to their growing value among enthusiasts and film memorabilia collectors.
The cars are known for their distinctive gullwing doors and unpainted stainless steel bodywork that made them instantly recognisable.
Around 9,000 DeLorean DMC-12s were manufactured at the DeLorean Motor Company assembly line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, in 1981. However, the company’s success was short-lived.
The DeLorean Motor Company collapsed into insolvency the following year, just before the vehicles would gain worldwide fame through their appearance in the film.
This brief production window has contributed to their rarity and desirability among automotive enthusiasts and film fans alike.
The value of these vehicles has increased dramatically since their original release.
Edward Lovett, chief executive of Collecting Cars, said: “A combination of their scarcity and the Back To The Future phenomenon has pushed prices higher than people might imagine.”
When first released, DeLoreans cost around £18,000, making them more expensive than a Porsche 911 at the time.
Today, a fully restored model could fetch more than £80,000 at auction, according to Collecting Cars.
The auction platform has sold just two DeLoreans since beginning operations in 2019, with thee most recent sale achieving £56,000 in 2022.
Models converted to replicate the car seen in Back To The Future could command even higher prices.
In the film, eccentric scientist Dr Emmett “Doc” Brown transforms a DeLorean into a time machine, powered by plutonium and a fictional flux capacitor that enables time travel once the car reaches 88mph.
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The film’s iconic line, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads”, remains a popular cultural reference.
Reports suggest the DeLorean may also feature in the recently announced Universal Studios theme park planned for the UK.