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An SFX spinning train-wrecked 2015 DeLorean license plate from the production of Robert Zemeckis' sci-fi adventure sequel Back to The Future Part III. Doc Brown's (Christopher Lloyd) DeLorean was the signature vehicle in the Back to the Future trilogy, used throughout each film by Brown and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as they scrambled to save history.

In the climactic sequence, Marty arrived back in 1985 and narrowly avoided death by escaping the DeLorean time machine when an oncoming Alco S6 locomotive destroyed it. The DeLorean's license plate was seen spinning on the train track before coming to a halt on the ground within the wreckage, and this shot was created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). The spinning plate was an homage to a similar shot seen in the first Back to The Future.

This heavily distressed version of the plate was designed to appear within the debris on the train tracks and for filming the spinning sequence but was ultimately not seen in the final cut of the film. A cleaner and less distressed version of the license plate was seen spinning in the film.

The plate is made of steel featuring foil decals including a barcode, the year "2015," and the letter "L," which would have been part of the word "California." It has been heavily distressed to resemble the damage inflicted by the train, with the shape warped, the orange paint finish partially removed, and signs of heat damage. Two small square pieces of metal have been welded onto the back, allowing the plate to be rigged on a SFX rig to achieve the special spinning effect. There is a welding spot mark on the rear bottom left corner and some edges of the foil decals have become unstuck over time. The plate and foil exhibit signs of rusting, and the steel exhibits minor surface scratches. Dimensions: 6" x 11.25" x 2" (15 cm x 28.5 cm x 5 cm)

Estimate: $20,000 - 40,000

View all lots from BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III (1990)

View all lots from BACK TO THE FUTURE - ALL ITEMS