The DeLorean was chosen by filmmakers because it looked like a spaceship to people of the 1950s.
The 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 hero vehicle from Back to the Future has been added to the National Historic Vehicle Register. It is a classic vehicle in cinema history and is a fitting addition to this list.
The fascinating history of the DMC-12 in Back To the Future is fascinating. Robert Zemeckis, the film’s director, and co-writer explained why the model was chosen in an oral history for 2015 at the Golden Globes. The Delorean was chosen because it was the only car with gull-wing doors. It would also look like a spaceship to someone who had it dropped in their yard in the 1950s.
Multiple examples of a car are necessary for different shots and stunts in a film featuring it prominently. This was the car that was the hero, appearing whenever it was necessary to see all the details of the time machine.
The DeLorean was displayed at Universal Studios Hollywood after filming. The car was open to everyone, so people could get close enough to take photos. Some unscrupulous individuals even took parts of it. The vehicle also began to rot from years of sitting.
Bob Gale, Back to the Future’s co-writer, saw the iconic car in a poor state and began to make efforts to repair it. Experienced builders of replicas of DeLoreans from the film helped restore the original one. The entire process took almost two years. The machine was first loaned to the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2016. It was also present at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
The DeLorean DMC-12 had already been discontinued by 1985’s Back to the Future. After only constructing 9,000 units, the automaker was forced to close its doors in 1982.
The National Historic Vehicle Register listing states that the DMC-12 still has its original 2.85-liter V6 motor, but it is not in use at the moment. All interior gadgets were restored, including the time circuits display and flux capacitor.