Back to the Future Delorean sells for US$541K

The DeLorean, a genuine article from Back to the Future III, was used in the 1955 drive-in movie scene where Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) drives the car into 1885 to find Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). This unit was specially fitted out for the off-road use required for those scenes, so had body strengthening and beefed up suspension.

The example auctioned is one of three survivors and the only one in private hands, the other two belonging to Universal Studios. After filming wrapped for the 1990 movie, the car sat on the Universal backlot for more than a decade, with a short period on display at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles, before it was sold to the current owner in 2003.

Still fitted with movie-related props, the Delorean also came with a Universal Studios certificate of authenticity and an original Bill of Sale with the vehicle's VIN. Profiles in History estimated the Back to the Future III DeLorean would sell for US$400,000 - US$600,000, so the final sale price was well within that estimate. A percentage of the proceeds from the auction went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

While the DeLorean sold well, it wasn't the top seller from the Icons of Hollywood auction. That title went to the 'Gulf' racesuit worn by Steve McQueen in the iconic 1970 racing movie, Le Mans. The pre-auction estimate of US$200,000 - US$300,000 was shattered by the one-off collector's item, which sold for an incredible US$984,000.

For more details on Profiles In History's Icons of Hollywood auction, go to www.profilesinhistory.com


Image courtesy of Profiles in History and Nancy Seltzer & Associates.