Behind-the-Scenes: Making of the "Back to the Future" DeLorean time machine

One of the most iconic movie props to ever be developed and used on film was the DeLorean time machine that was used in Robert Zemeckis’ hit trilogy, Back to the Future. In the many years that have followed the films’ release, countless toys and models have been produced and sold of the famous vehicle. Also, some (lucky) people who possess a DeLorean today have even taken it upon themselves to modify the vehicle into the one used in the films.

So we see that it's clearly evident the production team behind Back to the Future struck gold in creating the DeLorean time machine. So how exactly did director Robert Zemeckis and his crew develop the original idea and look of the famous time traveling vehicle?

Interestingly, the original idea for the time machine in the film wasn’t for a DeLorean, or for a car at all for that matter. The very first form of the time machine used in the original draft of the screenplay was a laser device that was attached to a refrigerator. The refrigerator was then transported to a nuclear bomb site. Ultimately, however, the idea of the time machine being a refrigerator was abandoned, as Zemeckis stated that he feared children, after watching the film, would start climbing in refrigerators and get trapped. After the refrigerator, Zemeckis next came up with the idea of the time machine being a vehicle, as this would end up making the machine mobile (Back to the Future DVD).

After deciding on the machine being a vehicle, the question became, “What kind of car?” Ultimately, the decision landed on the DeLorean DMC-12. The specific reason for the DeLorean was mostly for the sake of the plot of the film. In the beginning, Marty (Michael J. Fox) travels back to 1955. Upon “re-entry” from 1985, he crashes into a barn. When the residents hear the crash and investigate, they see Marty (still with his radiation suit on) opening the characteristic “gull-wing” doors of the DeLorean, and as a result they believe the machine to be an alien spaceship. This is particularly why Zemeckis needed a "futuristic" looking vehicle with gull-wing doors, as the DeLorean sported (Back to the Future DVD).

Upon seeing a peculiar man getting out of a futuristic-looking vehicle, the residents at Peabody farm believe the car to be an alien spacecraft.

After choosing the type of car, the development moved to the look of the vehicle. Artist Andrew Probert was the first hired to develop designs for the exterior of the DeLorean. Probert came up with fantastic sketches of the time machine, but ultimately Zemeckis and writer Bob Gale felt that Probert’s designs were “too perfect”, as the time machine was supposed to be a vehicle that was built in a garage and made out of various parts from a hardware and electronics store. Eventually another artist, Ron Cobb, stepped in and started coming up with new sketches. Cobb added things like coils to the rear of the DeLorean, and even came up with the previously desired nuclear component by adding a nuclear reactor to the back of the vehicle. Ultimately, this was a vital choice by Cobb as the nuclear component of the time machine became a key plot point in the film. After adding the reactor, Cobb also added a single rear vent to the vehicle. Ultimately, however, to make the car more “symmetrical”, another vent was added to the back of the DeLorean so there was one on each side, thereby “balancing” the car. For the interior of the car, the production design team added several buttons and lights (including various aircraft parts) to not only make the vehicle look complex, but also to add appeal and interest for the viewer. Besides adding CGI to display the time travel, the production team added liquid nitrogen to the DeLorean in an effort to complete the time travel effect. This gave the impression of the vehicle being extremely cold due to traveling through time (Back to the Future DVD).

An early sketch by Andrew Probert of the DeLorean time machine. His design was perceived as "too perfect" and "too simple" by Zemeckis and writer Bob Gale.

A shot of the DeLorean after its first time travel voyage. Visible in the shot is the liquid nitrogen that was put on the vehicle to present a possible time travel effect: extreme coldness on the surface of the car.          

In conclusion, the DeLorean time machine used in Robert Zemeckis’ hit Back to the Future trilogy has perhaps forever sparked interest in the DeLorean vehicle. As already mentioned, countless toys and die-cast models have been produced and sold as a result of the series. After the film, the creator of the DeLorean and founder of the DeLorean Motor Company, engineer John DeLorean, wrote a personal letter to director Robert Zemeckis, thanking him for choosing and using his vehicle for the Back to the Future trilogy. Ultimately, the trilogy and the DeLorean have captivated audiences and will continue to do so for many years to come.


Written by Anthony Watkins

WORKS CITED
Back to the Future. Screenplay by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Prod. Neil Canton and Bob     
     Gale. 1985. Special Edition DVD. Universal Pictures, 1985.