This guy claims his car was used in BTTF

[EngineerGuY]

I'm in a group of prop replica fans on FB..... someone got a picture inside the A car recently which was cool. Anyways, in the comments a guy mentioned his buddy owned one of the cars used in the movie. My ears perked up as I am aware of only 3 that exist. He said it was used for the interior shots for the movie. Here is also an article where he claims it's the real deal. So..... what's the story behind this??

http://thenewsherald.com/articles/2015/10/20/entertainment/doc56173bb58a93e940417046.txt

[aotmfilms]

I'm in a group of prop replica fans on FB..... someone got a picture inside the A car recently which was cool. Anyways, in the comments a guy mentioned his buddy owned one of the cars used in the movie. My ears perked up as I am aware of only 3 that exist. He said it was used for the interior shots for the movie. Here is also an article where he claims it's the real deal. So..... what's the story behind this??

http://thenewsherald.com/articles/2015/10/20/entertainment/doc56173bb58a93e940417046.txt

Um, no. The only screen used car in private possession (Mr. Shea's) and that is the Part 3 car.

No Redford Theater on Future Day did not have a "Screen Used" Back to the Future Car. I was out at the Star on John R in Troy. Redford Theater is in Redford, not to far away from me.

Scroll down on my page in my signature for pictures.

--Doug

[EngineerGuY]

I'm aware there are only 3 left that were screen used. He has since came into the conversation on facebook and pretty much called me a troll. Like I'm just some guy who knows nothing about deloreans or how many movie cars there were. I politely gave him this link

http://backtothefuture.com/delorean/location

To which he replied " I paid well into six figures for this car and it is well documented, yes, the cars were dismantled and a lot of the parts were discarded, my car came from a prop master at universal, the parts are all marked and have been authenticated twice."

It appears he might have some original parts used in the move and put in his own delorean. He seems like a nice enough guy, some kind of DJ or musician and said he is private which is why not many people know his name in the BTTF community. I certainly wasn't looking to troll the guy, just wanted to get some clarification. Being a huge BTTF fan, and knowing only 3 cars exist.... and someone claims theirs was used in the movie, I needed to hear his side of it. Certainly not resolved, I only have more questions now but I'm not going to bother the guy. But promoting a car as screen used certainly isn't the right way to go about things if it wasn't, basically my only point. He does have a nice DMC.

[Mark D]

I'm interested to hear a better explanation of what this guy is claiming...the article didn't have much info at all other than:


Everyone assumes he’s a huge fan because he drives around in a DeLorean. But not just any model of the classic car, his was screen used for interior shots on the film trilogy.

PHOTOS: DJ Ego 7

“I was looking for a DeLorean, it’s just coincidence that this was used in the movies,” he said.

The DeLorean is definitely not screen used but it sounds like he may have some parts that might be?
Could someone post a link to that facebook discussion that was mentioned?

[aotmfilms]

45309
My roaming area this past weekend. Gratiot Cruise. I was all over the map. Redford is southwest of this picture.

Color me interested as well. Was it on "Back to the Future Forever" page on FB?

Also, Redford Theater (West side of Detroit) is in Michigan and if there is a DeLorean around here I generally know about it (I am on the North side of Detroit), especially one that is owned by a DJ and has a BTTF conversion.45311

Only one I know of here is Mike's (TIMEZUP) Mine is to the left (DOCBRWN)

--Doug

[EngineerGuY]

Here is the link to the group..... "Vintage Toys and Action Figures"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintageactionfigures/10154432674916908/?comment_id=10154435355961908&notif_t=like&notif_id=1470930263455633

45310

[Timebender]

Not to mention his handle is Ego7, and he's proud of it. I had a co-worker whose brother was working at a car storage in Beverly Hills and swore the converted Time machine replica they had was the original from the first movie. If I was a total jerk and liar, I could easily say "yes" every time I'm asked if mine was the one from "the movie", and it's not even a time machine. I think it being lowered with a spoiler makes people think it is.
But I'm neither a liar or jerk (well, try not to be a jerk)..

[EngineerGuY]

Here is the full convo from the guy stating his buddy owns one of the movie car, to the guy actually joining the convo.


http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz274/jasonalspaugh/convo%201_zpsgau2bywd.png (http://s835.photobucket.com/user/jasonalspaugh/media/convo%201_zpsgau2bywd.png.html)

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz274/jasonalspaugh/convo%203_zpsgw265ahl.png (http://s835.photobucket.com/user/jasonalspaugh/media/convo%203_zpsgw265ahl.png.html)

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz274/jasonalspaugh/convo%205_zpsohe6g2no.png (http://s835.photobucket.com/user/jasonalspaugh/media/convo%205_zpsohe6g2no.png.html)

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz274/jasonalspaugh/convo%202_zpsexswujlz.png (http://s835.photobucket.com/user/jasonalspaugh/media/convo%202_zpsexswujlz.png.html)

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz274/jasonalspaugh/convo%204_zpsnqua8uc5.png (http://s835.photobucket.com/user/jasonalspaugh/media/convo%204_zpsnqua8uc5.png.html)

[papanoel]

sounds like a real nice guy...

[Mark D]

Found a few photos of the props in his "screen used car".

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45329&d=1470947391
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45327&d=1470947389
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45325&d=1470947386

I really like to give people the benefit of the doubt but this guy clearly has no idea what he's talking about. It makes me wonder if people just wake up one day and decide to start lying about their car (or parts in their car), or if they have some legitimate reason to believe their car/parts are screen used. The guy is obviously misinformed about the history of his car, but why?

If I'm remembering correctly, a while back Universal auctioned off a stock DeLorean... it was not associated with the movies in any way, but it was a Universal owned car. I can't seem to find any old threads on it. I wonder if this guy bought it thinking it was a screen used car?

Or he knows it's not screen used but it has some paperwork with "Universal Studios" on it so he exaggerates the real story.

[Mark D]

Found a few photos of the props in his "screen used car".

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45329&d=1470947391
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45327&d=1470947389
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45325&d=1470947386

I really like to give people the benefit of the doubt but this guy clearly has no idea what he's talking about. It makes me wonder if people just wake up one day and decide to start lying about their car (or parts in their car), or if they have some legitimate reason to believe their car/parts are screen used. The guy is obviously misinformed about the history of his car, but why?

If I'm remembering correctly, a while back Universal auctioned off a stock DeLorean... it was not associated with the movies in any way, but it was a Universal owned car. I can't seem to find any old threads on it. I wonder if this guy bought it thinking it was screen used?

Or he knows it's not screen used but it has some paperwork with "Universal Studios" on it so he exaggerates the real story.

Looks like this isn't the first time he's made the "screen used" claim:
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45323&d=1470947382
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45322&d=1470947382

[SKnight]

Everything I've read says that the car used for interior shots (the "C car") was only dressed up on the inside and was actually cut into sections so that they get the cameras in closer. If true, there's no way this guy's car was used for any interior scenes. I mean how would you drive around a DeLorean that's been cut into pieces? If you scroll towards the bottom of the page in this link, you'll see a picture of the C car. I suppose it's possible he has some of the props, but the article says most supposedly went to Universal Japan and were put on a replica.

http://www.bttf3delorean.com/Where_are_they.html (http://www.bttf3delorean.com/Where_are_they.html)

[Dangermouse]

Nobody's thought to ask him for the VIN to authenticate?

[Mark D]

I contacted him on Facebook for more info, waiting on a response.

[Mark D]

Everything I've read says that the car used for interior shots (the "C car") was only dressed up on the inside and was actually cut into sections so that they get the cameras in closer. If true, there's no way this guy's car was used for any interior scenes. I mean how would you drive around a DeLorean that's been cut into pieces? If you scroll towards the bottom of the page in this link, you'll see a picture of the C car. I suppose it's possible he has some of the props, but the article says most supposedly went to Universal Japan and were put on a replica.

http://www.bttf3delorean.com/Where_are_they.html (http://www.bttf3delorean.com/Where_are_they.html)

You're correct, there is no way this is the C car. For one, the C car was an automatic. More importantly the car was literally cut up into pieces. None of the props in his photos are even close to matching the C car either (at any of the various stages of it's life)

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45345&d=1470972058
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45343&d=1470972053
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45341&d=1470972052
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45340&d=1470972046

[Mark D]

Also, this video confirms his time circuits were made by Bruce Coulombe. Note the same ridiculously incorrect buttons from the keypad in the video as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs8Z8ui4h28

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45349&d=1470973795
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45350&d=1470973796

[EngineerGuY]

But he paid 6 figures for his car :neener:

Again, I think the guy is nice enough, but he really went after me in that thread. I simply pointed out the 3 existing cars, and his wasn't one of them. And that I'm not some troll who doesn't know what he's talking about. I was certainly open to the idea he had original parts, of some sort, that he put in his car. I'm now thinking he's somehow made a lot of this up. I'd love to see his documentation on this. Was hoping someone else was going to chime in on that convo and set the record straight as well. He's certainly got a few people in that convo convinced his is screen used. Which is certainly not how he should be promoting his car in any way. Furthermore, if it WAS screen used..... who in their right mind would tear all the stuff out of it and restore the car?? It would be worth WAY MORE as a screen used delorean from the movie, which I tried pointing out, but what do I know.... I'm just a Troll 8)

[Nicholas R]

If I'm remembering correctly, a while back Universal auctioned off a stock DeLorean... it was not associated with the movies in any way, but it was a Universal owned car. I can't seem to find any old threads on it. I wonder if this guy bought it thinking it was a screen used car?


Actually I believe the owner of that car is on this forum; I believe it is TTait.

EDIT: Actually he won the car from Universal; maybe this is something different.

[Mark D]

Actually I believe the owner of that car is on this forum; I believe it is TTait.

EDIT: Actually he won the car from Universal; maybe this is something different.

Yeah this is the Universal car I was thinking of!

I found this quote from another thread:


I got a lot of documentation with my first D, and knew the original owners name, and that he had worked at Universal Studios about the same time I did (he sold to Universal and I rescued it from them a dozen years later). Every couple years I googled him but he keeps a low profile. Finally after 5 years he popped up on linked in and I got in touch. By this time he was then working at Disney, and moved over there shortly thereafter as well.

We scheduled a lunch, but his schedule got tight, so we just took a 20 minute drive in the car. The resto was still in progress but he he was pleased to reconnect with the car nearly 20 years after he last saw it. I invited him to come see the car at the company car show a few years later, not sure if he made it or not as it was a busy day. Unfortunately the car was totalled by a yahoo in a pickup a few months later - did not have the heart to tell him.

T


10902 was owned by Universal Studios Hollywood for a dozen years - but it was kept stock, not converted to a Time Machine. I have copies of the registration paperwork showing it registered and titled to Universal Studios Hollywood. The car is currently owned by Ed Uding at DMC-EU.

I'm not sure how this other DJ guy Rudolf could possibly own the same car. If he'd share the VIN then it could be confirmed one way or another.

[OverlandMan]

FWIW - according to the recently released documentary Outatime where the team restores the original "A" car, there were only 3 cars used for the film. The "A" car was used for the glamour shots. The "B" car was used for stunts and action shots. The "C" car was a cut-up car for interior shots only.

The "C" car was disposed of after the end of the series. The "B" car was destroyed by the train scene at the end of the 3rd film. The "A" car is the only surviving car left, which has now gone from Universal on loan to the Peterson museum (sitting next to a Magnum PI 308 GTSi).

So unless I'm missing something here, there are no other official BTTF original cars. BTW, a VIN pic of the "A" car from the documentary shows 5216, if memory serves me correctly, which would fit because it was a grooved hood, no gas flap.

[iflights]

Steve Concotelli at his screening of the film spoke about other DMC-12's that were used in the films, but because he needed to scope his movie to fit time and budget he purposely limited his movie discussion to only the A, B, and C cars.

[aotmfilms]

FWIW - according to the recently released documentary Outatime where the team restores the original "A" car, there were only 3 cars used for the film. The "A" car was used for the glamour shots. The "B" car was used for stunts and action shots. The "C" car was a cut-up car for interior shots only.

The "C" car was disposed of after the end of the series. The "B" car was destroyed by the train scene at the end of the 3rd film. The "A" car is the only surviving car left, which has now gone from Universal on loan to the Peterson museum (sitting next to a Magnum PI 308 GTSi).

So unless I'm missing something here, there are no other official BTTF original cars. BTW, a VIN pic of the "A" car from the documentary shows 5216, if memory serves me correctly, which would fit because it was a grooved hood, no gas flap.

Original Part 1 cars, yes, but the Sheas own the Part 3 car.

[mluder]

FWIW We know the legacy of the A (hero), B (stunt), and C (cutaway) cars from the first film. We also know Bill Shea owns the car from BTTF 3. Is this a car D? B was destroyed and C was hardly a car... Does any one have any information on if there were any others used in BTTF 2 or 3? If Shea's Ep 3 car is not A or B then it's possible they had another interiors car...

Personally I think the guys is either full of it or someone lied to him and he's trying to save embarrassment. I think it's probably the first thing.

Cheers
Steven

[aotmfilms]

FWIW - according to the recently released documentary Outatime where the team restores the original "A" car, there were only 3 cars used for the film. The "A" car was used for the glamour shots. The "B" car was used for stunts and action shots. The "C" car was a cut-up car for interior shots only.

The "C" car was disposed of after the end of the series. The "B" car was destroyed by the train scene at the end of the 3rd film. The "A" car is the only surviving car left, which has now gone from Universal on loan to the Peterson museum (sitting next to a Magnum PI 308 GTSi).

So unless I'm missing something here, there are no other official BTTF original cars. BTW, a VIN pic of the "A" car from the documentary shows 5216, if memory serves me correctly, which would fit because it was a grooved hood, no gas flap.

You have it backwards. It is VIN 5261 not 5216. By my calculations of 80 cars a day, roughly built on October 20th 1981. Mine was off the production line (5778 ) at around 2 p.m. on October 28th 1981. Mine was on the same dock at the same time as 5261. That one went to California, mine went to CT, then by truck to Troy QAC, then on to the Dealership in Grand Rapids, then via a Dealer to Dealer swap to Battle Creek where it was purchased by the previous owner on June 9th 1985 with 6,000 miles on it (Mine was used in Dealer promotions due to bankruptcy proceedings) :)

I am interested in this car because he is around Redford, about 30 miles from me. Curious to see who he is: Who I know (In our area), Byron (BYRON's D), Joe (1.21GW), Mike (TIMEZUP), Shannon, and me (DOCBRWN), if there is another DeLorean out there it would be cool to find it.

--Doug

[aotmfilms]

FWIW We know the legacy of the A (hero), B (stunt), and C (cutaway) cars from the first film. We also know Bill Shea owns the car from BTTF 3. Is this a car D? B was destroyed and C was hardly a car... Does any one have any information on if there were any others used in BTTF 2 or 3? If Shea's Ep 3 car is not A or B then it's possible they had another interiors car...

Personally I think the guys is either full of it or someone lied to him and he's trying to save embarrassment. I think it's probably the first thing.

Cheers
Steven

Here: http://www.bttf3delorean.com/Where_are_they.html

Dated but still good information.

--Doug

[SKnight]

FWIW We know the legacy of the A (hero), B (stunt), and C (cutaway) cars from the first film. We also know Bill Shea owns the car from BTTF 3. Is this a car D? B was destroyed and C was hardly a car... Does any one have any information on if there were any others used in BTTF 2 or 3? If Shea's Ep 3 car is not A or B then it's possible they had another interiors car...

Personally I think the guys is either full of it or someone lied to him and he's trying to save embarrassment. I think it's probably the first thing.

Cheers
Steven

For BTTF Part 2 the three cars from the first movie were used, plus Universal built a fiberglass replica with folding wheels for the flying shots. For part 3, they built the 2 desert cars and then one that was used as a stunt car during the scene where the DeLorean pops a wheelie as it's being pushed by the train. Like you said Bill Shea owns one of the desert cars, I think the other one was eventually destroyed, the train stunt car is now on display at Universal Orlando and is looking pretty rough.

I also think this guy is full of it, the props he has don't even look like the ones from the movies.

[OverlandMan]

Here: http://www.bttf3delorean.com/Where_are_they.html

Dated but still good information.

--Doug

What are the credentials of the author of the link you provided? I was under the impression from the documentary that only 3 cars were used for the entire trilogy.

[Ikeaboy1]

What are the credentials of the author of the link you provided? I was under the impression from the documentary that only 3 cars were used for the entire trilogy.

I recommend buying the OUTATIME DVD. The extra features are very good, and Steve and Joe go more in depth on the 7 cars that were used throughout the trilogy.

[OverlandMan]

I recommend buying the OUTATIME DVD. The extra features are very good, and Steve and Joe go more in depth on the 7 cars that were used throughout the trilogy.

I bought it and watched it. I only recall them citing the 3 cars (A,B, &C).

[dodint]

I bought it and watched it. I only recall them citing the 3 cars (A,B, &C).

I enjoyed the film and meeting Steve at DCS. One 'criticism' I had about it is that they were a little pedantic about the three car claim. It's very precisely worded that they're discussing ONLY BTTF1 cars, but they state it in a very nuanced way. They could have added a quick line or two about the provenance of the BTTF3 cars. The documentary is almost exclusively about the first movie's cars, which actually fits pretty well given the car was restored back to the Doc Brown car hauler reveal scene and not the more iconic Mr. Fusion setup at the end of the movie.

[aotmfilms]

https://www.amazon.com/Back-Future-Ultimate-Visual-History/dp/0062419145

Where it says 7 cars were used.

--Doug

[Ikeaboy1]

I bought it and watched it. I only recall them citing the 3 cars (A,B, &C).

Watch it with the commentary turned on. They discuss all 7 cars. And also, the commentary is cool.

[Mark D]

Update on the guy with the (claimed) screen used DeLorean. I contacted him on Facebook and he's been giving me bits and piece of info as to the history of his car. He said he bought it from a guy who claimed to have purchased it from Universal Studios. I'm still hoping to get a VIN to see if we can verify at least part of the story. It would be interesting to know if the car itself was owned by universal at some point, as there have been other cars come and go through there. He said the time circuits have a "6" on the back, which apparently means they came from "Car 6" used in the BTTF trilogy. As i've already shown above with that You tube video comparsion they are almost 100% certainly Bruce Coulombe replica time circuits.

He also said the guy that sold him the DeLorean also used to own the Universal Studios replica/promo (non screen used) ECTO-1 that sold at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale, AZ in 2010. The way he worded his response about the ECTO wasn't particularly clear but he kinda made it sound like he thought that car was the real deal and not just a promo car.

[BladeBronson]

I bet the guy that sold him the DeLorean was George Barris.

[mluder]

I bet the guy that sold him the DeLorean was George Barris.

That was my first thought as well when the "screen used" ECTO-1 came up.

Cheers
Steven

[EngineerGuY]

Last year there was a "Barris" conversion in Chicago that Harry Caray's was going to give away if the Cubs won. It was even signed by Barris on the hood I believe. I have pictures, I'll have to find them and post them. The conversion wasn't all that great but unless you're a big bttf fan, most people didn't even realize the mistakes or how poor the conversion was. No idea who's this is but it wasn't given away.

4565445655456564565745658

[DMCMW Dave]

I believe that one is still on display at Volo Auto Museum.


Sent from phone

[videobob]

I looked at this guys page,
https://www.facebook.com/rudolf.michelle?fref=ts
and also his "props", none of them are "screen used" and none of them are mine either.
His Time Circuits are some of Scot Dorelaques old run that Danny Botkin continued to sell for a while.
Not sure about his Plutonium Gauges, Drive Switch or other stuff, they are all wrong, again, none are mine.
Everything this guy has and displays are wrong.
Either he is simply a tremendous liar and douchebag or he is incredibly stupid and was sold a bullshit story and paid a lot of money for the stuff.
I think it's a bit of both.

[aotmfilms]

The next time he has one of his appearances I will show up. According to FB he is over in Lincoln Park. That's about 40 miles, not to long of a stretch but not generally my neck of the woods lol.

More to follow.

--Doug

[81dmc]

If you can't get to his vin, take a pic of his license plate number and run it through carfax. He is obviously using the car for attention...

[Mark D]

Yeah that sounds great... I tried getting him to send me the VIN after asking him a bunch of other questions but he did not reply

[aotmfilms]

If you can't get to his vin, take a pic of his license plate number and run it through carfax. He is obviously using the car for attention...

Thank you. There is a car show over in Westland MI, a stretch for him that I am thinking about going to.

The problem with DeLoreans is we have a three of them around here (about 10 miles of me) and we barely see each other..... I only see Mike (TIMEZUP) on occasion. Gratiot Cruise, and just met Steve (IT IS) out of Novi at the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Joe (1.21GW) text but never have met so, it will be chancy me catching up with this guy from Lincoln Park but its doable.

Is it me or we introverted dudes? or just my area?

--Doug

[concotelli]

I enjoyed the film and meeting Steve at DCS. One 'criticism' I had about it is that they were a little pedantic about the three car claim. It's very precisely worded that they're discussing ONLY BTTF1 cars, but they state it in a very nuanced way. They could have added a quick line or two about the provenance of the BTTF3 cars. The documentary is almost exclusively about the first movie's cars, which actually fits pretty well given the car was restored back to the Doc Brown car hauler reveal scene and not the more iconic Mr. Fusion setup at the end of the movie.

Somebody else mentioned it, but I wanted to repeat it. In the bonus audio commentary with Joe Walser and I, we discuss the fate of all 7 vehicles (6 real, 1 fiberglass) used in the BTTF trilogy. We only discussed the A, B, and C cars in the main OUTATIME documentary, because going through the history of all 7 was just a bit too much for the main film. But, we knew BTTF fans would want to know the complete story, so we added it in the audio commentary.

Thanks!
Steve
www.OUTATIMEmovie.com

[Timebender]

Also, this video confirms his time circuits were made by Bruce Coulombe. Note the same ridiculously incorrect buttons from the keypad in the video as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs8Z8ui4h28

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45349&d=1470973795
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45350&d=1470973796

Actually Bruce said he didn't make the TDC - he bought it from someone who had it made by someone else, and fixed it so the time circuits would work. And he mentioned he was going to try and get the other more proper keypad to work with it. Once he had it fixed he was going to sell it on eBay. Looks like the person who is the main subject here bought it from the eBay auction (or the person who sold him the car).

[Timebender]

Actually I believe the owner of that car is on this forum; I believe it is TTait.

EDIT: Actually he won the car from Universal; maybe this is something different.

Tom actually got the car while working for Universal, partially in trade for a lot of work he had been doing for them. I got to go to lunch with him one day in it, before I got my own. It was a neat car, as he had replaced the cam (from what I remember) and it sounded beefier than most DeLoreans.

[AdamKontras]

I can almost guarantee this guy knows his car is not only not screen-used, it's not even screen-accurate. You don't put any real money into something without looking at, I don't know, maybe a PICTURE of the interior from the movie?

You also don't threaten legal action over a comment thread unless you're covering something up. This dude knows exactly what he has and is simply trying to keep up the charade.

[TTait]

Just saw this thread for the first time now many years later.

My former car, 10902 was in an accident in Pasadena and had probably $17k in damage, but was repairable. The morons at the insurance company filed the car with California as a total loss and it was forever going to have a salvage title in the US. Once they did that there was no way to roll it back even though they eventually came to understand the value of the car they paid me more than twice what the damages were and I purchased it back from them pretty cheaply. Once I realized I could not get the title restored I found that it was going to be nearly impossible to insure the car properly and therefore if there was ever a loss again I'd only get a very small settlement. This meant I couldn't drive the car again even if it was repaired.

Yes, I looked into agreed value insurance but that wasn't possible for reasons I no longer recall.


So it was a car with front end damage only but otherwise mechanically very good (perfect before the crash) with a perfect interior (if you don't mind a DMC reproduction dash and leather binnacle)That I could have repaired easily but could never feel comfortable driving because it would not be properly insured.

Fortunately, I struck a good deal with Ed Uding for the car and it was shipped to Europe where a salvage title doesn't matter. Europe has strict inspection processes instead of "labels". I'm told the car is fully repaired, possibly converted to a Time Machine, and possibly now in Italy. If anyone knows for sure it would be fun to find out.

To give some closure to this thread, 10902 was never in any of the movies, 100% guaranteed - but it was owned and titled to Universal Hollywood for many years and I bought it from them as a junker and restored it to beautiful condition (average if you looked at the underside as the frame wasn't perfect etc but mechanically perfect and beauty on the outside). It did have new cams and a Stage 1 exhaust. It sounded so good that a yahoo in Pasadena thought I was trying to race him and ended up smacking me into an oncoming car - lesson learned.

The car in these photos is likely not 10902 however. The seats look tired and the rest of the interior is not up to par with the car I sold to Ed. No idea whose car that was but I agree there is no way it was used in the movies, although it might have been owned by Universal.

There was another raffle car from Universal CA in 2007 I believe, but I doubt Universal actually ever held the title for that car, they probably only facilitated the raffle. Aside from 10902 Universal California did not own any other stock Deloreans between 1993 and 2005. Florida may have had a reproduction prop car to display.

[MrChocky]

To give some closure to this thread, 10902 was never in any of the movies, 100% guaranteed - but it was owned and titled to Universal Hollywood for many years and I bought it from them as a junker and restored it to beautiful condition (average if you looked at the underside as the frame wasn't perfect etc but mechanically perfect and beauty on the outside). It did have new cams and a Stage 1 exhaust. It sounded so good that a yahoo in Pasadena thought I was trying to race him and ended up smacking me into an oncoming car - lesson learned.

The car in these photos is likely not 10902 however. The seats look tired and the rest of the interior is not up to par with the car I sold to Ed. No idea whose car that was but I agree there is no way it was used in the movies, although it might have been owned by Universal.


Nevertheless fascinating, and thank you for sharing. As I often say, a story makes a car, and this sometimes a factor in driving prices above market.

I know I'm late to the party here, but the recent Hagerty Documentary (by and large, extremely well executed, and having Tamir cover JZD was an excellent choice) all too briefly goes into the history and what happened
with the 7 cars used over the 3 movies. What I hadn't realized is that at least one of the cars was parted out and parts now may be on many other cars - this no doubt confuses the history greatly.

What I haven't seen is the slightly older Discovery channel thing, which I understand is more a work of sensationalism than anything, but purports to track down all the cars.

I understand that the VIN of the C car remains in question.

[Mark D]

... the recent Hagerty Documentary (by and large, extremely well executed, and having Tamir cover JZD was an excellent choice) all too briefly goes into the history and what happened
with the 7 cars used over the 3 movies. What I hadn't realized is that at least one of the cars was parted out and parts now may be on many other cars - this no doubt confuses the history greatly.

Here's the breakdown from the recent Hagerty documentary for those who haven't seen it.

https://youtu.be/fgOb22gz_TY?t=3614

The fact that parts from the destroyed B car ended up on a few different replicas also complicates things. There were also some parts that got swapped around between cars when Jay Ohrberg was using the screen used cars as reference to build the replicas for the promo tour.

And there was a period of time where the history of each car wasn't as widely known, so it was easier for people to make up stories about their car, and those stories got passed from owner to owner.

[Helirich]

To give some closure to this thread, 10902 was never in any of the movies, 100% guaranteed - but it was owned and titled to Universal Hollywood for many years and I bought it from them as a junker and restored it to beautiful .

This is interesting. When you think of reasons for a movie studio to own vehicles, there are many.

1. Trucks (large and small) to transport equipment.
2. Cars and buses (and even aircraft) to transport employees.
3. In the case of famous VIPs, I suppose they have a number of Limos.
4. Motor homes might be used for “on location” living.
5. And, of course, vehicles that they actually use in the movies. (Both on film or camera transport)

The funny thing is, a Delorean doesn’t seem to fit any of these categories. (Except the film cars)

Do you happen to know what your car was used for?

[Michael]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRE3OEHUp0k

[BABIS]

I'm told the car is fully repaired, possibly converted to a Time Machine, and possibly now in Italy. If anyone knows for sure it would be fun to find out.


I can confirm this!

[TTait]

That is an interesting and kind of sad story.

Short story, for a Raffle Prize - but the long version is better...

The first owner of my car moved with it to California and in the early 90's was working on the lot at Universal Studios, perhaps as an executive - didn't think to ask him when we met. He had conversations with some folks in the publicity group putting together festivities for the Grand Opening of the BTTF Ride in California, and the studio purchased his car from him to raffle off on the opening day.

In the meantime - I also happened to be working at Universal on the BTTF Ride. My journey with the ride began back in '89 working for Doug Trumbull in the Berkshires. We got a call in 89 to make the ridefilm itself. We were the last best chance to make the ridefilm as others had tried and failed, to make footage for some kind of BTTF film for this ride. The original tests included going back in time and seeing Leonardo DaVinchi and other exploits more suited to Bill and Ted than Doc and Marty. Doug hired a writer to come up with the story for the ridefilm, and brought in legendary artist Ralph McQuarrie to do the initial designs.

We won the contract to make the film and I worked on it for a few years. We set up the World's Smallest Omnimax theater with a single ride vehicle, sound system, 30' dome and full 15/70 Imax projector so that everything could be tested as we made the film. We even had the A car shipped out to MA for the filming of the final scene of the film when it returns to Doc Browns lab and Biff is arrested. I got to drive the A car - about 20 feet ahead and back, a about 3 mph which was as fast as i would go with a neglected fuel system.

After production was complete I then went to Florida to help them set up the Attraction there, and it opened in Florida with a big celebration in 1991. Having met the Universal team, I was invited to come work at Universal in Hollywood as the ride was built there - so I first saw the car parked outside my office shortly before the opening.

What I didn't know at the time was the drama that was surrounding this raffle car. There wer advertisements on the radio etc. touting that someone in the park on opening day would win the stock Delorean (82, flat hood manual grey Vin 10902). The problem is that the promotion team that had purchased the car for $27k and then bought all the aevertising for the raffle, didn't think to clear the event with Universal Legal gurus.

It turns out that it's just fine for The Price is Right or Wheel of fortune to give away cars, because they are brand new coming directly from the manufacturer or a dealer - but this was an 11-year-old used car that would be given to someone directly by Universal Studios - a fat target for future lawsuits. Because the advertising was out there they couldn't cancel the raffle that had already been advertised they had to cover their butts somehow.

Before the raffle then the car was shipped over to 3 Delorean Specialists in Los Angeles, presumably Ed, Don and the mechanic in West LA - each with a virtually blank check and instructions to thoroughly go over the car mechanically and from a safety perspective and make the car 100% up to spec from a safety perspective. The second and third shops got the chance to review the work of those before them and make more improvements until it had rotated at no small cost (Ed Bernstien and Don Steger at least were not cheap and knew how to make the most out of a blank check to be sure).

In May? 1993 both the car and the ride were ready on the fateful day. I knew the car was being raffled and it was beautiful - only the second Delorean I had ever seen or touched after the A car. I knew as an employee thought that it would never be mine. I settled instead for an original Cylon head and the blueprints to the Jurassic Park Vistitors center set which I had both saved from the dumpster instead.

On opening day, as I was in line to meet all of the stars (including Leah Thompson - sigh) word came over the radio that I was needed in the Dome B projection room to re-load a broken 70mm loop cabinet - and Leah never got to meet me as I was rushed inside away from the party. In the meantime the Raffle winner was announced...

The winner got to get a few quick photos and sit in the car briefly, and were then taken to a meeting room where they were to sign all the paperwork. This one says you understand the car is used - ok. This one says that you have to pay taxes and registration - ok. This one says you are taking the car, not the cash alternative - o - wait - What?

By law Universal had to offer the winner the actual car, or its cash equivalent - in this case, the $27k they had paid for the car, fortunately not including the "improvements" and repairs from those 3 blank checks. Because the winners weren't people like us, they opted to take the cash.

Universal, having invested a lot of money into the car and then its subsequent tune ups, decided at this point that the smart thing would be to just hold another raffle later in the summer - so they did, and the winners again took the cash - a total of 3 times in fact.

Universal now owned a beautiful and mechanically perfect Delorean that they literally could not give away. So they made the only reasonable decision they could - they parked it by the tram garage, let rodents move into it, let it bake in the sun, spray painted something on the side, broke out some of the glass, and leaned pallets and jetskis on it - for years.

I saw the car erode away over the years - I came back to Universal after being laid off as a consultant to help them maintain and adjust the ride over the years and often stopped to look over the car at 3 am as I was leaving, and it always made me sad. Then in 2003 Universal asked me to help with the audio system on the ride. After it was fixed however they called to ask me to please not invoice them for a number of months when they reached their new fiscal year as they didn't have the budget to pay me the approximately $2500 they owed me at that point. I jokingly said I would take the car instead - more out of pity than greed. I was surprised when they said ok. They had no way to sell the car - the way the accounting department had written off the losses they felt unable to sell the car, but maybe they could give it away they thought.

In the long run - 2 years - it turned out they could not do what we discussed, Countless middle managers were given the task of working out the sale who just didn't want to (one of them told me as much years later). I did have a VP at universal on my side thought and they finally sold me the car for about $2500 in early 2005. To anyone with a brain, the car was totaled and should have been parted out - Instead I spent years refurbishing it (I save the term restoration for those who do it professionally). The interior was scrap - droppings and mold - only the plywood shelves were saved. The exterior was better - but still bad. Mice had eaten a lot of the wiring. I filled a 3 gallon shopvac with the droppings and carcasses from the intake area and the valley of death. It took a full day to get the sludge and tar out of the fuel tank, most of it came out with a putty knife like modeling clay.

We all have our list of items to fix or improve on our cars. I finally completed the list with no new items about 8 years later just in time for friends to use the car at their wedding. A few days after that it was in an accident with a drunk driver and a totaled by a clueless insurance company... It's now owned and repaired by someone in Italy.

There is the story of the Delorean Universal could not give away and why they had it in the first place.

Tom

[cineman]

Hi Tom,
I actually had VIN 10902 and made the BTTF conversion here in Italy. Now I sold the car to another member of the Italian Club, wich has another delorean car too.
I wrote you a PM, I'm trying to get in contact with you.
Let me know.
Andrea