Why did Doc Brown use a DeLorean as his time machine in Back to the Future? Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 cult classic elevated the DeLorean DMC-12 to iconic status, imbuing it with a deep sense of nostalgia and deeming it a rare collector’s item. Within the Back to the Future franchise, the plutonium-powered DeLorean time machine is Doc Brown’s finest invention, which he demonstrates to his friend, Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly at Twin Pines Mall while putting the machine to test by sending his dog Einstein one minute into the future.
In order to understand why Doc Brown chooses a DeLorean DMC-12 sports car as his time machine, one must look into how the idea came to fruition. On November 5, 1955, Doc Emmet Brown was standing on the edge of his toilet to hang a clock in his bathroom, owing to the fact that clocks were his favorite collector’s items, as he dabbled in time travel research and synchronized them perfectly for observation purposes. However, as the porcelain was wet, Doc slipped and fell, hitting his head on the sink. This accidental trauma led to a vision of the flux capacitor when he came to, which urged him to sketch a preliminary schematic diagram that was used to complete the capacitor in 1985.
Then, the Doc went on to retrofit the capacitor with a DMC DeLorean vehicle, and based on his calculations, the car required 1.21 gigawatts of power, along with a speed of 88 miles per hour to facilitate time travel. During the machine’s first test run, the engine was first revved up to 65 mph while braked, which sent the car flying in the direction of Doc and Marty. The vehicle exudes an electric current/plasma similar to the Tesla coil and vanishes right before hitting the duo, creating fire trails caused by temporal displacement. When asked by Marty as to why he chose a DeLorean, Doc explains that if he was to build a time machine, he needed to “do it with style.” Moreover, he also mentions that the DeLorean’s stainless steel construction facilitates temporal displacement, hence making time travel in the Back To The Future movies possible.
While the eccentric Doc did not go into further details, as his timer beeped at this juncture, indicating that the DeLorean would return along with Einstein in seconds, it is clear that the make of the DeLorean, which is fiberglass covered in stainless steel panels, is the reason why Doc chooses the same. The vehicle’s unusual construction style, coupled with its aesthetics, play a seminal role in Doc’s decision, especially when the test is a success with the safe return of Einstein, along with a frosted DeLorean. Another reason why the DeLorean was chosen was that Zemeckis initially envisioned the machine as a pickup truck or refrigerator, which was to be mobilized using a car, and this is when the creators decided to use a DeLorean as the time machine in itself. Also, Back to the Future co-writer Bob Gale opted for this vehicle, as he believed that it would suit the eccentric nature of Doc Brown.
In order to achieve the required speed of 88 mph, Doc and Mary eventually decided to push the DeLorean with a steam locomotive, while replacing its standard wheels with a set designed to adapt to train rails. While Back to the Future’s legacy as a whole is one that hinges upon Doc Brown and Marty’s chemistry, the DeLorean time machine has evolved into a cultural token, being referenced in several films and video games, such as its appearance in Spielberg’s Ready Player One, in which, Parzival uses it to win the race within the OASIS, before it is destroyed by MechaGodzilla.
