DeLorean: Back to the future

3 March to 10 May 2026

The DeLorean DMC-12 from “Back to the Future” is one of the most famous cars in film history. A faithful replica can now be seen free of charge in the foyer of the HNF. 

In the 1980s film trilogy, the car served as a time machine to transport our two heroes Marty McFly and Doc Brown, played by Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, into the past and the future.

The copy on display at the HNF has been faithfully constructed by its owner Dr Josef Hesse from Münster, together with the film’s special effects supervisor Kevin Pike. The replica contains everything needed for time travel, including the flux capacitor. According to Hesse, it comes closer to the original than any other replica. 

The designers have paid close attention to many details. There is even a letter for the year 1985 on the dashboard, which plays a central role in the film. Also impressive are the interior and exterior lighting and the numerous attachments that give the car its unmistakable futuristic appearance. 

The basis for the time machine is a sleek sports car with gullwing doors, which was produced in Northern Ireland in 1981 and 1982, but was not a success due to quality defects. It wasn’t until it played a lead role in “Back to the Future” that the DeLorean became a cult car with a loyal fan base to this day. 

The car draws attention to the upcoming special exhibition “On the trail of the clock”, which will deal from 10 May with questions about time in a child-friendly and playful way.