US man builds Tesla Model X-based ‘Back to the Future’ DeLorean tribute

“Are you telling me you built a time machine … out of a Tesla?”

A US film fanatic has revealed his Tesla Model X-based homage to the iconic DeLorean ‘time machine’ from the Back to the Future movie franchise.

In the 1985 film Back to the Future, Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd) builds a time machine out of a DMC DeLorean, which subsequently transports Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) to various points in time. 

Despite the coupe going out of production three years before the first film was released, the film and its sequels turned the DMC DeLorean into a cult classic and one of the most recognisable cars to star on the silver screen.

In a post on social media platform Facebook, Florida man Robert Selby has detailed the process of turning a Tesla Model X into a DMC DeLorean look-alike – starting with wrapping a black electric SUV in silver vinyl, giving it the appearance of the 1980s coupe’s stainless steel body panels.

Nicknamed the ‘TMC-12X’ – referencing the DeLorean’s ‘DMC-12’ codename – the Tesla Model X is as close as possible to a modern equivalent of the 1980s coupe than any car on sale, mostly due to its factory-fitted ‘falcon’ or ‘gullwing’ doors which resemble those from the film car.

The Tesla Model X’s standard 10-spoke rims have also been replaced by wheels similar to the 45-spoke alloys fitted to the original DeLorean, one of the car’s most iconic parts.

Additional changes to the Model X’s exterior include a translucent vinyl wrap over its tail-lights – resembling the DeLorean’s rectangular grid-style rear light units – and small ‘TMC’ badges on the front and rear bumper. 

It also appears the Tesla Model X is going to be fitted with a ‘flux capacitor’ – the device which makes time travel possible in Back to the Future – complete with a ‘Mr Fusion’ energy reactor on the boot lid.

Inside, the Tesla’s minimalist interior now has a number of time machine controls, though the almost 40-year difference between the equipment used in the film to now shows how quickly ‘advanced’ electronics and gauges from the time have dated.

While DeLorean still exists today – under completely different ownership – and plans to launch an electric car, company has been in the headlines within the past year due to legal proceedings against the owners of the Back to the Future franchise. 

In December 2022, the current owner of DeLorean filed a lawsuit against NBCUniversal, claiming it has a right to five per cent of the revenue generated by merchandising and commercial agreements related to Back to the Future due to a 1989 agreement between the car-maker’s original founder, John DeLorean, and Universal Studios.

According to the LA Times, NBCUniversal has denied such a deal was arranged.

The three Back to the Future films – released in 1985, 1989 and 1990 respectively – were a box office hit, reportedly taking in more than $US388 million ($AU580 million) combined.

The success of the movie franchise provided a financial boost to Universal Studios, but it also turned the DMC DeLorean into a cult classic – despite the coupe going out of production three years before the first film was released.

The ‘TMC-12X’ isn’t Mr Selby’s first modern take on a classic movie car.

In August last year, Drive reported on his Dodge Challenger Hellcat which had been turned into a tribute to Mad Max’s iconic ‘V8 Interceptor’ Ford Falcon XB coupe.

Named ‘Madcat’, it was complete with an Arcadipane-style nose, a (non-functional) supercharger sticking out of the bonnet and roof spoiler to make it look like the Road Warrior’s car of choice. 

The Florida-based film fan has also built tributes to vehicles from Breaking Bad, such as Walter White’s Pontiac Aztek and the Fleetwood Bounder RV-turned-meth lab.

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