October 21st, 2015.
A date that will live in pop culture infamy. This is, of course, the exact date Marty and Doc travel to the future in Back to the Future II. The entire trilogy is essentially celebrating its 30th birthday this year, and although the films never left our collective cultural consciousness at any point during the last three decades, its still fun to talk about an important aspect of all three movies: the cars themselves. 
Any discussion of the vehicles featured in BTTF are impossible without mentioning the DeLorean. After Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor heard Johnny Cash cover his song “hurt” for the first time, he famously remarked that the song did not belong to him anymore. The same can be said for the DMC-12. The car has become an icon, so its acknowledgement as the most visible car in the series, and pop culture history in general, is necessary.
John DeLorean’s boondoggle may have been center stage, but there were plenty of other cars that got their time to shine, like future Biff’s 1976 BMW 6331 CSi convertible. Apparently the filmmakers thought the world would have created flying cars by now, and almost all vehicles would be retrofitted with the technology.
The history of how the car made it to the screen is quite interesting, as is its status in the real 2015. Spoiler alert: it has not enjoyed as glamorous a life as you would think, although from watching the video, that may likely change for the better.
Iconic French vehicles also have a place in the 2015 envisioned by Robert Zemeckis, this time as taxi cabs. I wouldn’t mind taking a ride in one of these on the ground or in the air, and if Uber employs a DS in their fleet circa 2045, I’ll gladly take the ride.
The scenes taking place in 1955 are no doubt a treat for many readers. Young Biff’s 1946 Ford Super De Luxe is featured prominently in both films, and old Biff loves the old car just as much as we do.
Maybe you fancy one of the 80’s cars not explicitly a retrofitted and instead sort of passed off as a future vehicle instead?
Yes, there were not one, but two first generation Ford Probes disguised as future cars that may or may not been flight capable. Of course, we know two things didn’t make it to the real 2015 in this picture: a 21st century front wheel drive Ford coupe and the continued production of the Jaws franchise.
Sadly, we have to take terrorists seriously in 2015, although we aren’t exactly concerned with Libyans selling black market nuclear fuel to mad scientists. While contemporary terrorists prefer trucks like the Toyota Hilux, the Libyans preferred the Type 2 as their vehicle of choice. Not exactly the most inconspicuous choice, but if you’re going to commit major criminal acts, why not do it with some style?
Speaking of Toyota trucks, this 1985 model was the object of Marty’s eye in the first film, which he ended up owning in the altered 1985 he created. Aside from the disturbing implication that he literally would share no memories with the family in the new timeline, things turned out pretty sweet for the protagonist.
Since I could post literally dozens more screenshots of the vehicles featured in all three BTTF films, I’ll just leave you with a shot of my favorite DeLorean variant in the series. Any standouts that I missed? Also, did any of you think the future of the automobile would turn out differently than it did? Let us know in the comments.
All screenshots retrieved from imcdb.com
The Eagle that Jennifers father drives is pretty cool.
This! I remember seeing it as a kid thinking that is the coolest station wagon ever!
That is one beautiful Eagle wagon. I’d take that over almost anything else in this movie, except perhaps Doc’s Packard convertible.
I like it! It’s kind of the predecessor to todays AWD CUVs, but with more woodgrain!
Woodgrain makes everything better….
I had an ’87 AMC Eagle wagon years ago and always remembered that scene in the movie whenever I approached it from that angle in a parking lot.
I like that in the crapsack alternate 1985, Jennifer’s family were apparently still devoted AMC buyers: there’s a smashed up Hornet wagon on her front lawn when Marty leaves her on the porch swing.
I remember that scene with the Hornet. As a kid I assumed it was the exact same car, only having led a rougher life due to the alternate-1985 circumstances.
I guess as a teenager in the ’80s I hoped that Chrysler would return to building rear wheel drive muscle cars, which I guess they have, I detested Japanese cars, front wheel drive and economy cars. However, over the years my view point has changed I would never buy a domestic car even a pseudo domestic car from Chrysler. I appreciate the traction of front wheel drive and fuel economy doesn’t have to mean low performance.
Now they do, Chrysler 300 is almost the Fifth Avenue at the time, and Dodge Charger is a more stylish Diplomat. And they have Challenger too, even hood hinge reminds me of those from old ones.
You missed one: Doc’s Packard convertible, that was probably pretty out of style in 1955.
But perfect for an eccentric scientist!
Yep, Doc’s bathtub Packard for me.
The convertible is the one bathtub Packard I find beautiful. I saw one done up in two-tone paint; it was stunning. You do have to catch it at the right angle and good lighting reflection to look its best. And it looks best with its top down of course.
+1 on the Packard with Biff’s ’49 Ford ragtop at a close second
True, although I wasn’t trying to include every car from the movies.
My favourite are the first two BTofF movies. The first time I saw the first movie, I remember imagining myself going back to the 50s and 60s, when my parents were kids. The only difference was that instead of trying to change anything so that my mom would marry my biological father (she ended up doing that anyway). But to see how she lived when she was a girl, and my dad was a young man.
As a kid I thought that Toyota 4×4 was the coolest thing ever. Now, all-black-everything is done to death and I’d rather have one in a period color with the factory tape stripes and white spoked steelies.
For me it is the both the Toyota 4×4 pickup.(still the embodiment of Toyota 4×4 awesomeness) and the Pontiac Banshee IV concept car.
I still like the first Gen Probe.
The shape of the future Probe is not that far away from current cars really. High belt lines with short hood and trunk.
Honestly, they could’ve made a “real” 2015 car from the Probe by cutting in rear doors (something Ford should’ve done imo, and the Mazda 626 hard points made it very doable), adding exposed headlights and jacking it up a couple inches.
I recommend everyone head over to imcdb.org and search on “Back to the Future” to research the cars used in the films.
BTTF2 used several concept and custom cars in the background, including:
– car/spaceship from Last Starfighter
– “Spinner” flying police car from Bladerunner
– Pontiac Banshee concept car
– custom cars by Gene Winfield and George Barris
I remember spotting these cars and getting excited when I’ve watched BTTF2 before.
Love how the Studebakker dealer “Statler Motors” from 1955 is a Toyota store in 1985.
Studebakker – was that some obscure Dutch import? 🙂
Serously, I had forgotten that part. I need to watch these movies again.
And they sell horses in 1885 and Pontiacs in 2015.
Oh wow Pontiacs in 2015- what Toyota franchise would ever switch to GM? That’s some product placement there. I always think of the Texaco jingle too “Trust your car to the system with the star.”
I’m sure they’ve taken a few Vibes in as trade-ins.
I make no qualms about it. I. Want. That. Truck.
The Packard is also very high on the list of desire. they would make a nice two-car garage doesn’t it?
Agreed. A beauty!
” You can trust your car to the _MAN_ who wears the star ” .
Also Texaco had ‘ registered rest rooms .
Fun movies ! .
The 1955 Scenes of Biff in his garage are so cute ~ the sound stage flooring is better than any Dealership I ever worked in =8-) .
-Nate
From those angles the roof/greenhouse of the disguised Ford Probe looks like that of a Porsche 924 mounted backwards. Maybe that is where the idea came from?
A few, actually. Marty McFly’s Toyota pickup, of course, followed by Biff’s Ford ragtop and then the Packard.
I’d have to choose the DS – what other car from 1955 could look so space-age in 2015, either with or without the movie additions!
Rather than post all the cars how about a link:
http://www.imcdb.org/movie_88763-Back-to-the-Future.html
http://www.imcdb.org/movie_96874-Back-to-the-Future-Part-II.html
http://www.imcdb.org/movie_99088-Back-to-the-Future-Part-III.html
Oh, man. This is one of the films that made me a fan of the old American iron, you know. Especially the part staged in the 1950s. I can’t even choose a single favorite one from it, but the most memorable was perhaps this Willys (probably because of the tension-filled nature of the scene it appeared in)
The 1952 Buick the dignified elderly couple pulls up in and which Marty flags down for help after hiding the Delorean behind the billboard. Also, George McFly’s bike.
One of my favorite movies of all time.
Cmon guys what about the cool Jeep Wrangler Marty hitch a ride on his skateboard. Cool Mountain Dew cap.
I just noticed, Biff’s waxing a matte painted car.
Roads? Where we’re going…we don’t need roads.
Its a toss up between the Citroen DS and the V8 convertible in the classics of the modern cars the Toyota Taliban ute has to be it
I only saw the first one, so I have to say it was Doc Brown`s Packard convertible. Wonder how much De Lorean paid for his product placement. If I recall correctly, it was about the time of the cocaine scandal. Other than Biff`s Ford convertible and the band`s `49 Cadillac, none of the `85 models do anything for me. The flying Citroen DS taxi looks cool, but I doubt I`ll watch the sequel to see it.
It wouldn’t have done any good for Deloreon to pay for product placement, as the company was bankrupt and the cars out of production as of 1982 (2-3 years before the movie was made). Maybe if that movie would have happened while the company was in business, the Deloreon story would have been a happier one. I think it was just choose because it was a neat car, as Doc Brown said. I can’t imagine it as any other car now!
Hmmm… nice power line towers behind the house – probably enough stray energy to illuminate fluorescent lights for free.
I liked the first BttF, the other two – not so much, the magic was gone. Kind of along the lines of the Indiana Jones flicks. You only need the first one and perhaps the third because Nazis always make for a “fun” time. That – and of course, Sean Connery!
I went to high school for a few years with the guy that created the DeLorean for the movies. He was a serious gear head with eclectic taste in cars, not a typical California teenage hot rod guy. I seem to recall he had an interest in Tatras. By the way, the 1985 solid axle 4wd Toyota pickup, particularly in fuel injected SR5 trim, is much sought after these days in the US.
They had a triple feature last night at a movie theater in North Little Rock that showed all three movies back to back.
The Willys Aero was a pleasant surprise, Doc Browns Packard was nice on the big screen and Biff’s Ford was the three I would have loved to own. As far as the movies go the first and the third were by far much better than the second.
I only saw the first one, so I can`t comment on Two or Three. Somebody told me that Two was darker in content than One,and Three was set in the Old West. If thats the case with Three, I`ll probably try to see it because I love Westerns, but I`m not expecting a “Fort Apache”,”Stagecoach”,”Magnificent Seven” or a Sergio Leone-Clint Eastern “Dollars” spaghetti Western.
Favorite vehicle from Back to the Future, is hands down, Marty’s 85 solid axle Toyota 4WD pickup… Last of a breed.
Love the black modular wheels, cheap, but so 80’s.
After watching it not that long ago a line in the movie stood out to me, when Biff says:
“You caused three hundred bucks damage to my car, you son-of-a-bitch….”
$300 bucks? Wouldn’t that have bought like 5 1946 Fords in 1955? Also, where would a seemingly unemployed teenager get the equivalent of $4300 today in a couple of days?
Why even fix the Ford? Buy another one for $75.
Also, Biffs car is too nice for a 10 year postwar convertible.
Welcome back, Mr Kotter.
Vinny Barbarino:
What?……….. Where?…………
While all the conccepts and customs/Kustoms are very cool, the one that always sticks out in my mind is the DS taxi. Futuristic in the 50’s, futuristic in 1985, futuristic in 2015’s both real and alternate.
Anyone else ever catch the irony that Biff appeared for a while on Ghost Whisperer, which used the same town square (Universal backlot?), only in that show it’s Granview, NY?