Photos: Profiles in History

Obsession: it is a rare but powerful quality that can propel genius to the top, or well, we see too much of the other side, too often. Those of us that call ourselves “thirty-ish” – or more – will surely remember the obsession of Doc Brown and his time travel exploits in the Back to the Future series.

The modified 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 is forever memorable in the episodes for its stainless steel skin, gull wing doors and implausible gadgetry. The three cars used in production of Back to the Future were built by a team – headed by Special Effects coordinator Kevin Pike – in just ten weeks.

The much sought-after Flux Capacitor.

Decades later, when Joe Walser set out to re-create Doc Brown’s transporter, it was to be the world’s most accurate replica. Walser gathered the most talented and dedicated prop builders for his project, one that would ultimately require four years for completion. A significant portion of that time was spent researching the exact nature of the various components that found their way into the on-screen DeLorean time machines.

Wherever possible, close wasn’t nearly good enough. Leads were tracked down relentlessly until components were found or firmly established that they no longer existed. Period vintage aircraft, military and electronics surplus parts had originally been used throughout the cars, meaning that they were already retired from use then.

Eventually, components such as ultra-rare military connectors and an aircraft fuel heater tank began to give up their secrets. Heavy duty 100 amp connectors and vintage nuclear reactor hoses joined the more recognizable pieces, such as the TRW keypad that Brown used to enter destination dates in the movies.

The result is a drivable tribute car whose level of detail accuracy extends to knowing and reproducing the correct direction of weld beads in fabrication. Going beyond the original car, this DeLorean incorporates a pair of 20-pound CO2 tanks in the trunk, with which this version can blow billowing white clouds of CO2 on command. The movie version used a technical to trigger a rigged CO2 fire extinguisher.

This amazing reproduction is going on auction as part of a special Hollywood “Profiles in History” Auction in November. Back to the Future screen writer and co-producer, Bob Gale, along with Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Team Fox are teaming up for the benefit of Parkinson’s Disease research. Gale and other collectors have donated or consigned additional Back to the Future-related items for the auction with benefits to Team Fox.

This Profiles in History event will take place at The Globe Theater, 100 Universal City Plaza Dr., Universal City, CA, on Saturday, November 6, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Additional information is available at the event web site.

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