“You made a Time Machine? Out of a DeLorean?”

After months, maybe years of speculation, the LEGO Group have revealed a large scale model of the Time Machine from the 1980’s Back to the Future Movies. Based on the Delorean car which underwent significant conversion at the hands of Doc Brown in the Universal Movie ‘Back to the Future, ‘ the set is due for release on April 1, 2022 (honestly). It will be priced at £149.99 / €169.99 / 169.99USD / 269.99 AUD / 219.99 CAD

The model is 35 cm long, 19cm wide and has 1872 elements, including two minifigures, as well as an information plaque similar to those seen with UCS Star Wars sets, as well as the Star Wars Buildable Sculptures.

Any vehicle is defined by the relationship between the lines and angles of its shape, and designer Sven Franic has gone out of his way to get these right.

The distinctive stainless steel panels are built in grey, while the front fender and line down the sides at the rear are both built using rolled silver elements. The car can be built in any of the three configurations that it is seen across the movie trilogy.

The set comes with a variety of fuels to power the vehicle, be it plutonium, or household rubbish to power ‘Mr Fusion’. It also comes with interchangeable number plates, as well as Marty’s Hoverboard.

Inspiring fans to fire up their brick building engines, the LEGO Group and Universal Brand Development have revealed a brand new three-in-one reproduction of one of the most iconic movie vehicles of all time – the LEGO® Back to the Future Time Machine. 

Inspired by the DeLorean car seen in the time travelling adventure film franchise from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the LEGO Back to the Future Time Machine set allows builders to create the car from either the first, second or third movie.  What’s more, it comes complete with a light-up flux capacitor, a box of plutonium, Marty’s hoverboard and LEGO Minifigure versions of Doc Brown and Marty McFly.

“Universal, Amblin Entertainment and the Back to the Future filmmakers are delighted to have partnered with the LEGO team in the creation of this fantastic kit,” said Bob Gale, co-writer and co-producer of the trilogy. “In the movie, Doc Brown spent almost 30 years and his entire family fortune to build his Time Machine. Fortunately, you’ll be able to build this LEGO model in significantly less time and with far less expense – although your completed version will be unable to travel through time!”

To celebrate the launch, the LEGO Group are taking Doc and Marty back on one more mission in the new “Brick to the Future” animated short.  Premiering on Lego.com/bttf today, the adventure sees the intrepid LEGO Minifigure duo race through time to try and retrieve the lost Flux Capacitor.

In addition, the LEGO Group went back to where it all started – the famous Backlot at Universal Studios in Hollywood, where Back to the Future was filmed, to capture the three LEGO models alongside the original DeLorean Time Machine as seen in the films.

“This has been an incredibly exciting project to collaborate with the LEGO Group on – from Easter eggs that nod to each of the three Back to the Future films, to iconic elements from the DeLorean Time Machine like Mr Fusion, to making Doc Brown and Marty McFly into mini figures – the fans are going to love going back in time with this LEGO set,” said Joe Lawandus, senior vice president and general manager, global toys and hardlines for Universal Brand Development.

Proving that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. Our brick builders will have to choose which Back to the Future Time Machine they want to create first, as each build requires elements from the full set.

Faithfully recreated details from the film trilogy include wheels that fold down for flight mode, the iconic light-up flux capacitor, (sticker) dashboard dates, opening gull-wing doors and hood and many more Easter eggs including Marty’s hoverboard and swappable license plates. The set even comes with a banana and tin can, to power the Mr. Fusion device as seen on the vehicle at the end of the first movie.

Sven Franic, LEGO Set Designer commented: “Since its release in 1985, Back to the Future continues to be a cult film and a favourite for generations of fans all over the world – including myself. I had so much fun reliving my favourite moments from all three films on this exciting and nostalgic design adventure.

“The shared timelessness of LEGO bricks and the Back to the Future franchise is something we really wanted to capture for this set, so we hope fans will enjoy racing through time in LEGO style.”

The new LEGO Back to the Future Time Machine set is available for the recommended retail price of £149.99 / $169.99 / €169.99 at LEGO stores and on Lego.com/bttf from 1st April 2022.

Of course, while this set is the largest version of the Back to the Future Time Machine in LEGO form, it is not the first. Or even the second. The first was seen in the LEGO Cuusoo (Now LEGO Ideas) set 31103, with 401 elements and 2 minifigures.

This version has been retired for many years and, over the last 6 months, has sold for an average of $266 Mint in seal box. Sometimes more. Given the price of the new version, this could be a way for collectors to afford a new one with minimal outlay, just by selling an unbuilt hoarded version of this classic CuuSoo set?

And there is another, released in 2015, as part of the LEGO Dimensions Video game. The Hill Valley Time Travel adventure level pack 71201 included Marty McFly, the DeLorean Time Machine and a Hoverboard. There was an additional fun pack – 71230 – which included Doc Brown, as well as the time Travelling Train from BTTF 3.

Now, I suspect that the new set will offer a significantly improved build experience compared with either of these sets based on the Back To The Future Time Machine.

The BTTF Time Machine goes on sale on the 1st of April 2022 (no joke!) Are you willing to take the chance of speeding up to 88 Miles per hour in order to get Back To The Future? Will you buy just one? Why not leave your comments below, and until next time…

Play Well.