It is one of the most iconic vehicles in movie history.
But new data reveals that Back to the Future’s DeLorean DMC-12 is on the brink of extinction – with just 303 left on Britain’s roads.
Known for their gull-wing doors and unique unpainted steel body, around 9,000 of these classic cars were produced by the DeLorean Motor Company in Northern Ireland.
According to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) figures obtained by Collecting Cars, only a handful of DeLoreans were taxed for use on public roads last year, while 114 have a road tax exemption called a statutory off road notification (Sorn), suggesting they are probably gathering dust in garages as collectors items.
This scarcity has driven the price for this legendary vehicle sky-high.
‘Today, a fully restored model treated to a film car replica conversion could attract bids in excess of £80,000 ($106,000),’ said Collecting Cars chief executive, Edward Lovett.
Back To The Future – which opened in cinemas in the summer of 1985 – catapulted DeLoreans into the public consciousness.
In the science fiction classic, mad scientist Doc Brown converts the obscure sports car into a time machine.
The DeLorean car is probably best known for appearing in the 1985 American sci-fi classic ‘Back to the Future’
Experts say this classic car is at risk of vanishing for good, with only 303 DeLorean DMC-12s left on Britain’s roads
In the film, eccentric scientist Dr Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown creates a time machine from a modified DeLorean, using plutonium to power a fictional gadget called a flux capacitor, which allows time travel once the car reaches 88mph.
Doc Brown’s comment, ‘Where we’re going, we don’t need roads’ has reached a legendary status in pop culture shared only by the DeLorean itself.
While the DeLorean was an extremely rare and expensive car even when it was first produced, prices have now risen even further.
The first DeLorean DMC-12 rolled off the production line in January 1981 but the company collapsed into insolvency the following year.
A deal had been put in place to save the struggling manufacturer but this fell apart after John DeLorean, the company’s founder, was arrested on drug trafficking charges.
Mr Lovett says: ‘Back in 1981, the sticker price was around £18,000, making it more expensive than a Porsche 911.
‘A combination of their scarcity and the Back To The Future phenomenon has pushed prices higher than people might imagine.
The DeLorean famously took to the skies at the end of Back to the Future Part II (pictured)
Even though the real DeLorean can’t fly, prices have soared due to scarcity and the car’s central role in this iconic film
A restored DeLorean converted to look like the prop from the film could sell for up to £80,000 according to car auction experts
Since it began trading in 2019, Collecting Cars has sold just two DeLoreans with the most recent going for £56,000 ($74,000) in 2022.
However, the DeLorean isn’t the only car from famous films at risk of disappearing from our roads.
According to DVLA data compiled by the How Many Left website, there were only 311 of the Aston Martin DB5, made famous by James Bond, left on the roads last year.
A further 73 Aston Martin DB5s were listed as Sorned, meaning they are probably only driven on special occasions like track days.
The Lotus Esprit driven by Roger Moore as James Bond in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved has fared slightly better with 330 on the roads and 374 Sorned.
Some cars from the silver screen are still remarkably popular, such as the Mini Cooper from the Italian Job of which 950 are still taxed for public roads.
Likewise, there are more than 2,400 Ford Anglias, used as the flying car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, left on the roads.
