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Screen-used DeLorean Time Machine Heads East to Find New Home

by Stephen Clark
January 29, 2012

For the first time since it was specially modified for use in Back to the Future Part III, the only screen-used DeLorean Time Machine in private hands has found a new home on the East Coast.

Last month, Profiles in History held their largest auction to date of film & television props and costumes at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, CA. The auction was aptly entitled “Icons of Hollywood”, and featured some incredible movie props such as Dorothy’s ruby red slippers and the Cowardly Lion’s costume from “The Wizard of Oz”. If you wanted to own Bela Lugosi’s Cape from Dracula or perhaps slip the wedding ring that Joe DiMaggio bought for Marilyn Monroe over your finger, this was possible at the high-profile auction.

 
However, it was not those items that motivated Massachusetts residents Bill Shea and his son Patrick to fly to the West Coast to attend this event. Rather, it was the opportunity to see, examine and possibly purchase the very car used in several key scenes in Back to the Future Part III. Pre-auction estimates ranging from $400,000-$600,000 certainly “separated the men from the boys”, so to speak. A recent episode of Hollywood Treasure featured a segment showing the former owner Desi DosSantos of ScreenUsed and Joe Maddalena of Profiles in History discussing the car in detail. At the time, Joe even estimated that the car could possilby fetch the magic price of $1,000,000.
 
Several other props from all three Back to the Future movies were also on the block, and the Sheas were quite interested in many of those as well. Bill had an instant infatuation with DeLoreans from the early 80’s, as there was a franchise right across the street from where he worked in Worcester, MA. He bought his first (VIN #5556) in 1995, and a second in 2009 (#5757) -- a “necessary” purchase when he decided to take the leap and turn the first DeLorean into a time machine. 
 
When the auction began, Bill and Patrick along with approximately 75 others were present in the auditorium. However, bidders from all over the world were also present via phone and the internet. The suspense and anticipation continued to build as the beautifully-photographed BTTF items appeared on the screens located on each side auctioneer’s podium during this second day of the three-day auction.
 
By the time the DeLorean (lot #586) came up on the block, Bill and Patrick had already secured the jacket Michael J. Fox wore as Marty at school and during the thrilling skateboard sequence ($36,000), as well as Christopher Lloyd's iconic shirt seen prominently during the clocktower scene ($8,400) and the "Clint Eastwood" Western outfit ($12,000) worn by Michael J. Fox while driving the exact car they came to see.  In their words, “the auction paddle was already nicely warmed up.”
 
The auctioneer spent a little extra time describing the significance of the time machine vehicle, reminding all who would listen that this is the only actual movie-used Delorean motor car that will likely ever be in private hands. Bidding began at $300,000, rising by $10,000 increments. The Shea’s bid of $440,000 seemed to hang in space for what seemed to them like an eternity as the auctioneer called out the proper cadence of “going once”, “going twice” then scanned the room, looked up at the staff on the phones and glanced over to the staff member monitoring the internet bids. Finally, the auctioneer’s gavel came down and the dream was completed.  A round of applause came from those present and a round of high-fives and a few yelps came from the row where the Sheas were located.
 
As is common with most auctions, the final bid doesn't reflect the required 20% premium, which means that the actual price paid was $528.000.00 -- the highest price ever paid for a DeLorean Motor Car in any way, shape, or configuration.
 
A few days ago, the DeLorean (VIN #4689) made its way across the country to a small community in North Central Massachusetts where it has joined the owner's other October 1981-assembled DeLoreans. However, the proud new owners don't intend on keeping the car there for long, as they have tentative plans to bring their new vehicle to the 2012 DeLorean Car Show & Convention in Orlando, FL this June 14-17 to provide the first opportunity for Back to the Future fans and DeLorean enthusiasts alike to see the car in person, and to raise awareness by raising funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
 

The Sheas have created a new website at www.88MPHTimeMachine.com, which chronicles their fund-raising activities and enthusiasm for their new collection. For detailed information about the multi-year restoration of the DeLorean while owned by ScreenUsed, please visit www.BTTF3DeLorean.com. 
 
 

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