When the first installment of Back to the Future landed in cinemas in 1985, it was the beginning of a cult following that would span another two additional films in 1989 and 1990. The original sci-fi flick tells the story of a sneaker-wearing 17-year-old Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) who travels back in time to 1955 thanks to a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 modified by eccentric scientist Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd). In the movie, the plutonium-powered DeLorean would time travel to the programmed date when it reaches 88 miles per hour. Although the vehicle’s flying and time transportation prowess are fictional, the stainless steel car is an actual working model manufactured by John DeLorean’s DeLorean Motor Company. Its aesthetics are incomparable and it is still among one of the most recognisable automobiles in pop-culture. Produced in 1981, the futuristic-looking DeLorean was already well ahead of its time in architecture. The car with the brushed stainless steel bodywork features gull-wing doors (the doors are hinged on the roof rather than on the sides) and a rear engine. It is estimated that 9,000 DMC-12 were made during that era but only 6,500 remain in existence, sealing their status as a collector’s item for fans of the franchise or simply one to pepper any sports car collection. Now, REC Watches is giving die-hard automobile junkies something that even DeLorean owners likely don’t own: a piece of founder John DeLorean’s personal DMC-12 company car. REC Watches didn’t acquire the car part through dubious means. In fact, it worked together with the car company’s current CEO on this SPX DeLorean project, making this merch a licensed collectible. REC Watches spared no expense to incorporate as many of the ride’s details into the watch, from the faceted shape of the stainless steel case that resembles a bird’s eye view of the car to the rubber strap indents that take after the rear sunshade louver of the ride. Even the minute indexes are said to reference the turbine wheels and the motif on the caseback takes after the grid-like pattern of the rear tail lights. Now, you’re probably wondering where the metal of the DeLorean cameos in this piece. According to the watchmaker, it is the outer ring of the watch face, which also features engraved lines that does double duties as minute markers. The timepiece is running on a modified self-winding Sellita movement, packed with 41 hours of power reserve. Only 456 examples, priced at US$1,995 each, will be made available. Better act fast or you might really need a time machine to get hold of one.

www.recwatches.com