"How Many Trips Did The DeLorean Make?"
"If you're going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?!"
Have you ever wondered how many times the DeLorean traveled through time?
Well, today is your lucky day!
Through the miracle of "Free Time O'Vision", we have compiled a summary of the BTTF trilogy by denoting each event where the DeLorean traveled through time.
We've also included some interesting observations regarding physics and how each trip changed the timeline.
Keep in mind that some of the DeLorean 's trips we didn't get to see. For those trips we estimated the number from the dialogue between Marty and Doc.
So, sit back and enjoy! If you have any comments (particularly about how many Deloreans are actually present in panel #20 "You were here yesterday!") e-mail me at: bttf@skippypodar.net.
Here we go!
 |
Rolling out the DeLorean
Twin Pines Mall: 1:17 am, Saturday October 26th, 1985 Temporal Odometer: 0 trips |
 |
Einstein & Doc Brown compare watches
Both watches are in perfect synchronization. |
 |
First Departure
Twin Pines Mall: 1:20 am, Saturday October 26th, 1985 |
  |
"Uh... what just happened?"
The DeLorean (with its passenger, Einstein) has just left Marty and Doc's temporal frame of reference (timeline) and has jumped ahead one minute to a point further down the timeline. So, from Marty and Doc's perspective, the DeLorean has disappeared. In less than a minute, Marty and Doc will catch up to the DeLorean in the timeline. Since they're standing in the same point in space where the DeLorean "vanished", when Marty and Doc arrive at the point in spacetime where the DeLorean reappears, they will occupy the same space as the DeLorean . In other words, they'll get run over if they don't get out of the way. |
 |
First Arrival
Twin Pines Mall: 1:21 am, Saturday October 26th, 1985 Temporal Odometer: 1 trip
|
 |
"This sucker's electrical..."
1.21 Gigawatts = Energy consumed by 12 million Easy-Bake Ovens. Energy Fun Fact #121: Now THAT's a lot of wattage! |
 |
Einstein & Doc Brown compare watches again.
Einstein has become the world's first time traveler. Notice that his watch is now one minute behind Doc's. From Marty and Doc's perspective, the DeLorean disappeared at 1:20 am and reappeared at 1:21 am. Essentially, Einstein and the DeLorean skipped over 1:20 am to instantly arrive at 1:21 am (EBT - Emmett Brown Time) In Einstein's (and the DeLorean 's) frame of reference, the trip was instantaneous. |
 |
The Temporal Display
This was a cool gadget. The top readout told you where you're going, the middle one told you where you are, the bottom one told you where you WERE. Unfortunately, after repeated trips, the top display developed a short circuit and kept displaying "JAN 01, 1885". This proves to be a critical plot point at the end of BTTF Part 2. |
 |
November 5th, 1955
While showing Marty how the DeLorean works, Doc enters several dates into the destination keypad. He reminisces fondly about the day he was inspired to invent the DeLorean 's Flux Capacitor and enters the date "November 5th, 1955". |
 |
Refueling the DeLorean 's Reactor
In order to generate the 1.21 gigawatts of electricity needed to power the DeLorean 's Flux Capacitor, Doc uses a nuclear reaction produced by some plutonium he "acquired". The one flaw in this design is that the driver must carry enough plutonium to travel from point A to point B in the timeline. One plutonium pellet = One trip. |
 |
Doc's Journey to 2010
With the first test run successful, Doc prepares to jump ahead 25 years. Unfortunately, Doc's plans are interrupted by the people from whom he "acquired" the plutonium. |
 |
"Let's see if you b*****ds can do 90!"
In an attempt to evade the people from whom Doc "acquired" the plutonium, Marty escapes using the DeLorean . Unbeknownst to Marty, not only are the time circuits activated, but the "November 5th, 1955" destination date Doc entered is still on the display. |
  |
"Welcome to 1955, FutureBoy!" While trying to outrun his pursuers, Marty gets the DeLorean up to 88 MPH, activating the Flux Capacitor and sending him and the DeLorean back to November 5th, 1955. In Marty's zeal to escape, he unwittingly left behind the plutonium which powered the Flux Capacitor, thus stranding himself in 1955. Temporal Odometer: 2 trips (at this point)
|
   |
"Mmmm...lightning!" Marty manages to find the 1955 version of Doc and explains his predicament. Being the resourceful person he is, Doc Brown devises a way to harness the lightning from the famous Nov. 12th thunderstorm in order to power the DeLorean 's Flux Capacitor. Despite many, many obstacles, the attempt is successful and the DeLorean goes on its 3rd trip through time. Temporal Odometer: 3 trips (at this point)
|
   |
The DeLorean in 2015
Marty successfully returns to 1985, so Doc then travels forward 30 years ahead to 2015. After Doc spends considerable time in the future, he decides to come back to 1985 to get Marty and Jennifer. Doc brings Marty & Jennifer forward in time to help "do something about " their kids. Actually, Jennifer was unnecessary baggage, but she was in the scene and made good plot fodder. Marty has to prevent his son Marty Jr. from agreeing to an "opportunity" with Biff's grandson Griff. Temporally speaking, this whole story line would be impossible. Since Marty & Jennifer went forward in time, they wouldn't have been in Hill Valley between 1985-2015 in order to have kids. But we'll suspend our disbelief for a moment because...well, the movie's cool! Notice the addition of a Mr. Fusion above the DeLorean 's reaction chamber. Hence no more plutonium problems! Temporal Odometer: 7 trips (up to this point)
|
 |
The Clock Tower in 2015 Notice the damage to the clock from Doc's 1955 "weather experiment". |
  |
Hey! Come back here with that! I guess old people like sports cars too. There's nothing like a joy ride to make you forget about your arthritis. I'm living proof! :) Temporal Odometer: 8 trips (up to this point)
|
  |
The Bad 1985
Due to some unfortunate planning on Marty's part, Biff swipes the DeLorean , taking with him a book of Late 20th Century sports statistics. Biff gives his younger self the book, and it causes a significant change in the time continuum. Biff returns to 2015 with the DeLorean , but disappears from the timeline shortly thereafter. When Marty and company return to 1985, everything is wrong (from their perspective). Everyone who lives in Hill Valley thinks the events so far have been normal. Since Biff changed history, Marty, Doc, Jennifer and Einstein are now from a different timeline and therefore have different memories of Hill Valley's past. |
   |
The Bad 1985...continued
Causality really gets confusing at this point, because if Doc is committed to a sanitarium (as the newpaper reports), he won't be able to invent the time machine which Biff steals. Therefore, Biff wouldn't be able to go back into time to give himself the book which made him rich enough to corrupt Hill Valley and get Doc committed to a sanitarium. Don't you just love temporal physics? Temporal Odometer: 10 trips (up to this point)
|
   |
"You WERE here yesterday..."
Marty and Doc return to 1955 to retrieve the book from Biff. Notice that at this point in the timeline, (until approximately 6:38 PM on November 12th, 1955), there were THREE manifestations of the same DeLorean existing simultaneously!
Keep in mind, these are all the same vehicle, just at different points in our time travel chronology. Any interference with either DeLorean would cause a paradox that would ultimately negate their existence. Neat, huh? |
  |
"Mmmm...lighting! Part 2"
Marty and Doc are successful in retrieving the book from Biff, and history returns to normal. Unfortunately, in its current location the DeLorean is a perfect electromagnetic target. Lightning strikes the DeLorean and it promptly disappears from 1955...leaving Marty stranded. |
  |
"Where did Doc go?"
Remember that temporal display problem I mentioned earlier? Temporal Odometer: 12 trips (at this point)
|
   |
"How does Marty get Back To The Future?"
Thanks to Western Union, Doc is able to let Marty know that he's ok, and how he can get home (to 1985). The lightning bolt which sent Doc back to 1885 destroys both the time circuits and the flying circuits. Suitable replacement parts for the time circuits will not be available until 1947, hence...Doc is stranded in 1885. Doc carefully packages the time vehicle and buries it in an abandoned mine. Included with the DeLorean are instructions on how to build a new (albeit more cumbersome) time circuit using 1955 parts. At this point, our DeLorean is now over 70 years old. Fortunately Doc drained all the fluids out of it. Unfortunately, some of the rubber parts didn't survive the long burial. The tires being one of them. |
|
"Vaya Con Dios!"
Doc puts new tires on the DeLorean , fills the tank with gas, and off we go again! Temporal Odometer: 13 trips
|
|
"Isn't it ironic?!"
Marty joins Doc in 1885 to bring him back home (to 1985). While there, Marty and Doc pose for an historic picture. Just before the picture is taken, Doc mentions how fitting it is that they're present to witness the dedication of Hill Valley's new clock. Both Marty & Doc were present when the clock started in 1885, and when it stopped 70 years later. |
|
"Time to go home."
Upon arriving in 1885, the fuel line on the DeLorean breaks, causing its fuel to empty onto the ground. Since the DeLorean is unable to get to 88 mph under its own power, Doc devises a way that they can push it up to 88 mph. Doc & Marty "borrow" a locomotive for their "science experiment" and using a combination of chemically treated "Presto" logs, are able to push the DeLorean up to 88 mph... for its last trip through time. |
|
"Home Sweet Home."
Marty & the DeLorean are finally back in 1985. Doc unfortunately was unable to accompany him due to circumstances beyond his control. Temporal Odometer: 14 trips
|
