Gear Great Scott! This 1,872-Piece LEGO DeLorean is a Blast of ’80s NostalgiaIf you're a fan of the "Back to the Future" trilogy and you have steady hands, this collectible should have no problem finding a spot to park in your home.

Words Neal Wanderman
Images LEGO

The Back to the Future movie franchise spawned a host of quotable lines and a cast of unforgettable characters. The trilogy, released in 1985, 1989, and 1990, respectively, also took a car that was a footnote in automobile history, a veritable laughingstock of clueless rich-guy folly, and turned the DeLorean DMC-12 into a pop culture icon.

Now LEGO has paid homage to Doc Brown’s Delorean with an 1872-piece Creator set. (LEGO.com, $170).

Part of the LEGO Creator Expert line, the Back to the Future Time Machine honors all three films in the classic series with parts and accessories from each of the films. From a light-up flux capacitor and lightning rod from the first film, to Mr. Fusion and fold-down hover tires from Part II, all the way through Part III’s whitewall tires and hood-mounted circuit board. It’s really three LEGOs in one.

Doc Brown may not have been too interested in the aesthetic particulars of his time machine — for those who forgot, Brown was more interested in the temporal displacement qualities of the stainless steel body — but the folks at LEGO sure sweated the details with this set. Open the gull-wing doors to reveal the numbered date selector on the dash; string black conduit along its sides; watch the 1.21-gigawatt flux capacitor brick light up; and, best of all, the kit includes Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown and Marty McFly mini-figures, so you can play with your, er, toy when no one’s watching. Whether it gets up to 88 miles per hour or not is up to your filthy little imagination.

"When this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit." -Dr. Emmett Brown

One thing to keep in mind: This isn’t a kid’s toy. LEGO Creator Expert sets are designed for grown-ups and feature difficult builds that require a steady hand and plenty of patience. This is the same line that brings classic cars like the Ford Mustang and James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 to life. And of course, the legendary Ghostbusters ECTO-1 ambulance. It takes real skill to put one together, and the relaxing therapeutic benefits are easy to imagine. Designed for ages 18 and up, the Back to the Future Time Machine measures 5”H x 8”W x 14”L when fully assembled.

We know plenty of dads who’d have no problem finding the time to put in the hours required to build the LEGO DeLorean — and zero shame proudly displaying the finished piece in their office or workshop. However, if you want one, you better hurry: Creator Expert sets are well-known collectors’ items, and this Back to the Future Time Machine is bound to sell out. If that’s the case, eBay or Facebook Marketplace might be worth checking.

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