ROME – A replica of the DeLorean time machine from “Back to the Future” is auctioned for charity. The proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for research on Parkinson’s, a disease affecting the movie star. This is not an original copy of the film, but it also features a “flux condenser” used on the screen, the part that allows travel through time and history. The flux condenser on this machine was used in all three “Back to the Future” films.
Aside from the other “Back to the Future” accessories, including giant air intakes at the rear and “time circuits” in the cockpit, the DeLorean appears mechanically as standard. This means that a 2.8-liter V-6 sits behind the driver (and flow condenser). This powertrain is linked to a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The DeLorean DMC-12 was the brainchild of former General Motors executive John Z. DeLorean, who decided to start his own carmaker after a successful career at GM that included the launch of the Pontiac GTO. At first this car impressed with its gullwing doors and stainless steel body panels, but over time it was a real financial failure.
By the time the DMC-12 landed its starring role in “Back to the Future,” the DeLorean Motor Company was already history. However, the film and its two sequels made the DMC-12 a cult in the popular imagination. The auction site – which will run until April 15 – estimates the value of this replica at $ 500,000, a bit expensive considering a car from the original film sold for $ 541,000 at a charity auction in 2011.
Despite the absence of a vehicle produced in the last forty years, the historic name of the car manufacturer is still active and is considering a return on the descents of the iconic model that could – given the times and circumstances – embrace eco-sustainable power technologies and clean.
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