Great Scott! A Halloween Treat: Sotheby’s Motorsport Offers a 1983 DeLorean ‘Back to the Future’ Time Machine Replica

LOS ANGELES — ● Created over approximately two years by Danny Botkin, whose experience includes work on the original “Back to the Future” film’s “A” car.

● Inspired by the Time Machine seen in “Back to the Future Part II” and “Part III,” with an illuminated flux capacitor, working time circuits display, and distinctive Mr. Fusion assembly.

● Featured in content by Zach King and used in promotional activities for the “Back to the Future” Broadway production.

Some cars capture an era. Others travel between them—at least on screen. Sotheby’s Motorsport is offering a 1983 DeLorean DMC-12 Time Machine replica, bringing together the stainless steel silhouette of an unconventional sports car and the imaginative detail of a beloved cinematic creation.

Converted by Time Machine replica specialist Danny Botkin over approximately two years, this DeLorean recreates the Mr. Fusion-era configuration featured in “Back to the Future Part II” and “Part III.” Botkin’s experience includes work on the original film’s “A” car, now displayed at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. This example is a tribute to that cinematic legacy, built with an understanding of the details that make the Time Machine instantly recognizable.

The transformation extends well beyond its distinctive rear assembly. Inside, an illuminated flux capacitor and working time circuits display evoke Doc Brown’s improbable invention, surrounded by movie-inspired controls and props. Custom wiring and lighting bring the displays to life, while carefully executed exterior assemblies give the familiar DeLorean profile its unmistakable second identity. The effect is theatrical by design, with craftsmanship behind the spectacle.

Beneath the imagined technology remains a decidedly earthbound sports car. A rear-mounted 2.8-liter V-6 is paired with a three-speed automatic transaxle driving the rear wheels. The DeLorean retains its signature stainless steel bodywork, gullwing doors, and gray leather upholstery, and shows 37,764 miles. Even without the time-travel equipment, its silhouette belongs to an ambitious chapter of automotive history.

Since its conversion, this example has found an audience of its own. It has appeared in content by filmmaker and internet personality Zach King, served as a promotional vehicle for the “Back to the Future” Broadway production, and been displayed at Doc Brown Day in Pasadena, California. Those appearances add a public-facing chapter to its history, connecting the recreation with audiences beyond the collector-car world.