Hugely iconic ‘cult’ car is on brink of extinction with just 303 left on UK roads after four decades

ONE of the most iconic cars in existence is seemingly on the brink of extinction – with just over 300 left on the roads in the UK.

The DMC DeLorean, beloved by film fans as the star of the Back to the Future series, is truly a sight to behold in 2025 – not least because the cool-looking motor is so incredibly rare.

AlamyThe iconic DMC DeLorean is now on the brink of extinction – some 40 years after the release of the iconic Back to the Future film[/caption] www.carandclassic.comThe classic motor, loved by film fans across the world, is now a rare sight on UK roads[/caption] The car had a starring role in the film series but now just 303 are taxed for use on British roadsKobal Collection - Shutterstock

To mark the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future, released in 1985, online auction platform Collecting Cars has revealed the latest statistics about the cult car from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

They found that 303 are currently taxed for use on Britain’s roads, while another 114 have statutory off-road notifications – meaning they’re most likely rusting and gathering dust in barns or garages.

It comes as, four years after the film’s release, some 9,000 DeLorean DMC-12s rolled off the company’s assembly line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.

However, the brand collapsed just a year later – making the cars rare collector’s items decades later.

Such is their scarcity that Collecting Cars, as reported by Sky News, says it has sold just two in the past six years, with fully restored versions fetching as much as £80,000.

The auctioneer’s chief executive, Edward Lovett, claims a combination of rarity and Back to the Future’s popularity has pushed prices up.

In the film series, the car famously could travel back in time once the driver hit a speed of 88 mph – thanks to the brilliance of the eccentric Emmett “Doc” Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, who fitted the car with a Flux Capacitor.

Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, then travels from 1985 to 1955 and accidentally stops his parents from falling in love – which threatens his own existence.

Universal Studios’ special effects department built three main DeLorean time machines for the movie.

The hero car, which was used in the main action shots, was later restored and put on display at a motor museum.

The second vehicle, known as the stunt car, was used in all three movies, and the body section was later sold to Planet Hollywood.

After the famous chain shut down, the car was put on display at a museum in Hubbardston, Massachusetts.

The third car was used for interior shots and was ripped apart so cameras could fit inside.

This car was later sold to a Japanese company, where it was put on display.

The promotional replica has working lights simulating the famous time machine – but sadly will never reach 88 mph as it has no engine.

Back to the Future spawned two sequels and even has a popular musical in the West End, while reports suggest it could form part of the Universal Studios theme park announced for the UK.

DeLoreanA year before the firm went under, some 9,000 models rolled off the production line in Northern Ireland[/caption] mediadrumimages114 models have statutory off-road notifications – meaning they’re most likely rusting and gathering dust in barns or garages[/caption]