Original BTTF Film Cars

[arranj]

Had someone ask me this today:

Hi , I have a quick question you may know the answer to , I was reading today's Sunday paper and there was a piece on 25 years since the first back to the future film , my question is where are the original cars from the film on show . I seem to remember a few years ago seeing a car in Devon that said it was from the original film but I'm not sure if this true . Anyway if you could help with any information I would be very greatful

Not totally sure of the answer any more. I know there is one out the back of Universal Studios in LA, and of course the Goldsmiths one is a replica - but how many were there, and what happened to them?

[jerzybondov]

Lots of threads about this on dmctalk. Probably worth a search on there...

[arranj]

OK - from DMC Talk: http://www.dmctalk.com/showthread.php?t=18311

Gary Weaver II has posted this a few times here before, so I shall quote him:

"Tom Silknitter can give you a complete history, but here goes.

Part I

* A-Car - Universal Studios Hollywood Tram Tour
* B-Car - Destroyed During Filming by the Train. Body panels reassembled and on display at Planet Hollywood. Time machine arts from the car put on Replicas built by Jay Ohrberg. One is rotting at Universal Studios Hollywood, the other is in decent shape at the Hollywood Casino in Tunica MS.
* C-Car - Rotted on the backlot for years and eventually destroyed by Universal

Part II and III

* Fiberglass Car - Destroyed by Universal
* Oxnard Car - Built as another Hero Car for filming. Currently on display at Universal Studios Florida
* Offroader #1 - Sat on the USH backlot for years until sold about 5 years ago. Currently under restoration
* Offroader #2 - Sat on the USH Backlot for years. Current location/condition unknown"

The best bang for the buck is the DeLorean on display at the tram tour aat Universal Hollywood. It is the original film car built by Filmtrix and was used in all three films. It is the "A" hero car, I had discussed details with Kevin Pike after the DCS show and he believe it to be the "B" car. Well that doesn't line up with the full history of what is on that car, plus the actual photographic history during the filming of all three films for all of the cars. The "A" car is rough condition. In summer of 1990 and through 1993 or so it was still in decent shape. They used it to film the Doc Lab Ride footage and they also used it for the filming of the cartoon series. After the tv show, most of the interior pieces were swapped with parts from one of the desert cars. Those pieces have yet to be found... they could have been trashed. In the late 90s/early 2000s it was restored a bit, some props were replaced with new replicas for display reasons.

The "B" built by Filmtrix was used in all three films as a "B" car. This car was the car that had the heat shields for the fire practical effects. These shields and the propane gas nozzles were on the vehicle the entire time through filming of all three films. At the end of Part 3, Micheal Lantieri mechanical effects supervisor had his crew "kit bash" the car. The car was used in the 1885 train scenes as the train "hero car." However when it came time to make the scene at the end, they ended up using the "B" car as the train wreck car. The entire car was cut up and a wood bracing frame was installed. They put explosives in key places. After filming the wreckage was left at Universal (some on offto55 have said this, and another source of mine has verified that was indeed the condition of the car). Jay Ohrberg was given access to the parts of the car to make his offical Universal Studio replica cars. Parts of this "B" car is on the show car at the Hollywood Casino in Tunica MS. Anyway Jay Ohrberg brokered a deal between Universal and Planet Hollywood.. Planet Hollywood was given the car in a pile of pieces. They had Jay rig it so it was formed in the body of a car. That is the car hanging from the ceciling of Planet Hollywood HI.

The next last original screen used DeLorean on display is the car at Universal Studios Florida. This car was built originally as a train wheeled DeLorean for second unit and stunt work in the 1885 scenes. This was the car that popped a wheelie and was also used in some of the scenes when the locomotive exploded. For the 1985 scenes, Michael J. Fox and his stunt double both sat in this car. Most of the original props on this car were on it and many are still on it with several layers of paint. After filming the car was used in the filming of scenes for the BTTF Ride. it was the stunt car that crashed into the Institute of Future technology and was also the car that Tom Wilson's interior shots were filmed in.

There is saved one of the desert DeLoreans, that is in private hands. Another DeLorean at Universal that may be the other desert car is said to be there still, I am still waiting for visual proof to stand behind that statement.

As for the statement above about them using one of the real DeLoreans for the crash scene, the comment above about the value of the DeLorean is a very true statement, and the prop statement probably more true. The first BTTF brought in millions so the DMCs were all paid for and then some. However from a filmmaker's stand point they are all just props to be used when they need them. The production had at the end of Part 3 a WHOLE fleet of DeLorean time machines in different conditions. They had the "A" hero car in full filming condition (minsus a Mr. Fusion). They had one fully dressed desert DeLorean. They had a second desert DeLorean that was stripped for parts for the other cars. They had the second train car that they put regular wheels back on, they had the cut up shot maker car and they even still had the fiberglass flying DeLorean. So they had plenty of DeLoreans for filming.

[arranj]

Does that mean that this car is in fact the "Oxnard Car" then, and in fact a "real" BTTF car?!

[Dan 6511]

Just watched that video. Love the comments at the end! "we like talking about this stuff because we're dorks" and bob gale saying "i look at you and think, thanks for helping to pay for my house"