DeLorean's future is music to the ears

IT WAS one of the stars of classic 80s movie Back to the Future - and is set to enjoy a revival with the news that the film could be made into a Broadway musical.

But new research by car insurance data specialists The Trading Floor (now part of Callcredit Information Group) reveals that the iconic DeLorean DMC-12 sports car is now one of the rarest vehicles on the road today, with fewer than 30 left in England. It means that a few lucky owners could now see them rocket in value.

The figures also show that Redhill in Surrey can claim to be England's DeLorean capital, with three registered in the town alone. There are a further three registered in Essex, with others in locations around the country.

The DMC-12, which was converted into Doc Brown's time machine in the hit Michael J Fox film, was famous for its unusual gull-wing doors and stainless steel body. Although manufactured in Dunmurry, near Belfast, the cars were produced for the American market and the majority of models in England are left hand drive US imports. 

But the factory closed in 1982 after the original DeLorean Motor Company ran into financial difficulties.

Chris McDonald, Managing Director of The Trading Floor, said: "There's no doubt the DMC-12 was a great looking car in its day, and seeing Marty McFly and Doc Brown climbing in through the gull-wing doors to travel through time made it a cult classic, but unfortunately this wasn't enough to safeguard the future of the company.

"However, despite the cars being notoriously slow and unreliable, the news that there are so few left in England - combined with the making of the Back to the Future musical - suggests that those lucky enough to own one of the last remaining DMC-12s could soon see them shoot up in value."

The film's original director Robert Zemeckis, screenwriter Bob Gale and composer Alan Silvestri are behind the plans to transform Back to the Future into a musical. If they can't find an original DeLorean, they could consider using a new electric version of the car for the show.  The DMC EV, which will be the first electric DeLorean, is expected to cost approximately £65,000 and will feature 80 per cent of the DeLorean's original parts.  It will reach 60mph in just 4.8 seconds and goes on sale next year.  

The Trading Floor manages the UK's largest database of car insurance data, consisting of 8.8 million motorists.