History

The DeLorean DMC-12 is one of those cars that needs no introduction. Designed by former GM executive John DeLorean, the stainless steel sports car with its iconic gullwing doors rolled out of a factory in Belfast, Northern Ireland in the early 1980s. It was futuristic, a little weird, and honestly kind of underpowered for its looks. The company folded in 1982, not long after John DeLorean was arrested in a wild FBI sting involving cocaine. His story is dramatized in the 2019 film Driven, with Lee Pace playing DeLorean and Jason Sudeikis as the informant who got tangled up with him. It is worth watching if you have any interest in the man behind the car.

None of that stopped the DMC-12 from becoming arguably the most famous movie car ever made. When Robert Zemeckis cast it as Doc Brown’s time machine in Back to the Future (1985) and its two sequels, the DeLorean went from commercial failure to cultural legend.

The DeLorean is an icon and LEGO has known that for a while.

The Set and Its Place in the LEGO Lineup

This is actually the third time LEGO has given us a proper DeLorean time machine set. The first was the famous Back to the Future Time Machine #21103Back to the Future Time Machine
#21103 from 2013, released under the old LEGO CUUSOO banner before it became LEGO Ideas. It had gullwing doors that opened and wheels that rotated, which was fun. The overall shape and scale felt a bit rough by today’s standards though. I got three copies when that set released to display all three movie versions at the same time.

Then in 2022 came the big one: Back to the Future Time Machine #10300Back to the Future Time Machine
#10300, an 18+ Icons set at 1,872 pieces with incredible detail that finally did the car justice at a large scale. That one sits at $199.99 and is a full display piece. I have not gotten my hands on this one yet.

What’s in the Box?

The box has that classic Speed Champions look, with Back to the Future branding added throughout. Inside you get 5 numbered bags, 1 instruction manual, 1 sticker sheet with 6 stickers, 2 rubber hose pieces, and 1 large base piece for the chassis.

Five numbered bags is quite a lot for a Speed Champions set. The sticker count of six is very low for this theme, and as you will see in the parts section, that is because a lot of decorative work has been done through printed parts instead. First impressions are strong.

Instructions Booklet

The manual is the standard Speed Champions softcover format. Clear, well paced, and easy to follow throughout. Step 88 has a fun Easter egg moment that any Back to the Future fan will immediately appreciate.

Parts Breakdown

There are a lot of exclusives packed into 357 pieces, and the ratio of prints to stickers is well above average for Speed Champions.

New Molds

Wheel Rim 24 x 13.4 with Black Slick Tyre [Soft Rubber] | Flat Silver

New Prints

1 x 2 Brick with 'NOV 05 1955', 'OCT 26 1985', 'OCT 26 1985' print | Black

2 x 2 Dish Inverted [Radar] with Turbine, Orange/Silver Stripes print | Black

Tile Round 2 x 2 with Black Hubcap print | Flat Silver

1 x 1 Tile with Black Rectangle print | Light Bluish Gray

1 x 2 Tile with Silver '20', '15', '136113966', Rectangles print | Orange

Glass for Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat with Dark Bluish Grey Headlights print | Trans-Clear

Glass for Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat with Flux Capacitor print | Trans-Clear

6 x 6 x 1 Windscreen 1/3 with Black/Dark Bluish Grey Frame print | Trans-Clear

Slope Curved 2 x 1 No Studs [1/2 Bow] with Silver Plating print | Trans-Light Blue

1 x 1 Tile with Silver Paneling print | Trans-Light Blue

1 x 2 Tile with Silver Paneling print | Trans-Light Blue

2 x 2 Tile Curved, Macaroni, Center Anti-Stud with Silver Plating print | Trans-Light Blue

Slope 30° 1 x 1 x 2/3 (Cheese Slope) with Silver Surface print | Trans-Orange

Brick Round 1 x 1 Open Stud with Black 'MR. FUSION' print | White

1 x 2 Tile with Yellow Stripes, Red 'CALIFORNIA', Blue 'OUTATIME' print | White

Minifig Head Doc brown, White Eyebrows, Wrinkles, Open Mouth Smile / Scared, Bandages | Light Nougat

Torso , Jacket, Black Belt, ID Badge, Straps, Hose print White Arms, Light Nougat Hands | White

Torso , Jacket, Blue Patches, Stitches, White Checkered Shirt, Dark Red Shirt print, Blue Arms, Light Nougat Hands | Sand Blue

New Color Combinations

Slope 30° 1 x 3 x 2/3 | Black

1 x 6 Bracket - 2 x 6 Inverted | Light Bluish Gray

Tile Round 1 x 1 Special with Clip-Bar | Yellow

Rare Parts

Slope 30° 1 x 4 x 2/3 | Dark Bluish Gray

First seen 2026 in Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler #77984Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler
#77984

Slope 30° 1 x 4 x 2/3 | Light Bluish Gray

First seen 2026 in Ferrari F2004 & Michael Schumacher #11375Ferrari F2004 & Michael Schumacher
#11375, also in The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter #75442The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter
#75442

Slope 30° 1 x 3 x 2/3 | Light Bluish Gray

First seen 2026 in Mario Kart – Luigi & Mach 8 #72050Mario Kart – Luigi & Mach 8
#72050, also in The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter #75442The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter
#75442

Wheel Arch, Mudguard 4 x 2 1/2 x 1 | Light Bluish Gray

First seen 2022 in Aston Martin DB5 #76911Aston Martin DB5
#76911

1 x 2 x 2 Window Plane, Hollow Studs, Single Hole Top and Bottom for Glass | Light Bluish Gray

First seen 2025 in Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock Subway Train Scene #76321Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock Subway Train Scene
#76321

Minifig Neckwear Bodywarmer / Puffer Vest with Stud on Back | Red

First seen 2024 in Cooper's C-Rex Robot Dinosaur #71484Cooper's C-Rex Robot Dinosaur
#71484, also in Cooper #552501Cooper
#552501

What Stands Out

The print count here is exceptional for a Speed Champions set at this price.

The two window prints deserve special mention. The Glass for Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat Trans-Clear Glass for Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat with Flux Capacitor print
Trans-Clear is exactly as good as it sounds. The flux capacitor is one of the most recognizable props in movie history and seeing it printed cleanly on a transparent piece rather than slapped on as a sticker is a win. Right next to it, the Glass for Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat Trans-Clear Glass for Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat with Dark Bluish Grey Headlights print
Trans-Clear handles the headlight detail the same way. Together these two pieces do a lot to sell the front of the car. The 6 x 6 x 1 Trans-Clear 6 x 6 x 1 Windscreen 1/3 with Black/Dark Bluish Grey Frame print
Trans-Clear finishes the job across the top.

The Trans-Light Blue family of prints is the most interesting group. The set includes four separate printed pieces in this color: Slope Curved 2 x 1 Trans-Light Blue Slope Curved 2 x 1 No Studs [1/2 Bow] with Silver Plating print
Trans-Light Blue , Tile 1 x 1 Trans-Light Blue Tile 1 x 1 with Silver Paneling print
Trans-Light Blue , Tile 1 x 2 Trans-Light Blue Tile 1 x 2 with Silver Paneling print
Trans-Light Blue and Tile 2 x 2 Curved Trans-Light Blue Tile 2 x 2 Curved Curved, Macaroni, Center Anti-Stud with Silver Plating print
Trans-Light Blue , all with silver plating prints. That is a coherent set of parts for representing metallic panel details, and all four are new prints. Trans-Light Blue itself is not a new color, but having this many printed variants released together makes for a nice parts selection.

The Slope 30° 1 x 1 x 2/3 (Cheese Slope) Trans-Orange Slope 30° 1 x 1 x 2/3 (Cheese Slope) with Silver Surface print
Trans-Orange is an odd one. One face is printed gray to blend into the surrounding body panels while the other shows the orange blinker. It is a clever solution to a tricky geometry problem, and it is the kind of part that shows up in a set once and then disappears for years. Lets see if LEGO reuses it or if it becomes a one-off.

The Brick 1 x 2 Black Brick 1 x 2 with 'NOV 05 1955', 'OCT 26 1985', 'OCT 26 1985' print
Black is great. Seeing the three time machine destination dates printed on a single brick is a fun detail that rewards anyone who actually reads what they are building.

The license plate tile Tile 1 x 2 White Tile 1 x 2 with Yellow Stripes, Red 'CALIFORNIA', Blue 'OUTATIME' print
White and the Brick Round 1 x 1 White Brick Round 1 x 1 Open Stud with Black 'MR. FUSION' print
White are both pieces that will probably never appear in another set.

On the rare parts side, the Wheel Arch, Mudguard 4 x 2 1/2 x 1 Light Bluish Gray Wheel Arch, Mudguard 4 x 2 1/2 x 1
Light Bluish Gray is the most interesting find. It appeared once before in the Aston Martin DB5 #76911Aston Martin DB5
#76911 back in 2022 and has been absent since. Getting two of them here in Light Bluish Gray is nice. The two Slope 30° 1 x 4 x 2/3 Light Bluish Gray Slope 30° 1 x 4 x 2/3
Light Bluish Gray and Slope 30° 1 x 4 x 2/3 Dark Bluish Gray Slope 30° 1 x 4 x 2/3
Dark Bluish Gray are both from 2026, meaning this is one of only a couple of sets to carry them. The two new minifigure torsos are new prints too, and both are exclusive to this set.

The one part worth flagging with some concern is the Zipline 22L Black Zipline 22L with 2 Connectors Flexible
Black . This rubber piece forms the cable runs along the sides of the car. Rubber parts that need to hold a specific shape tend to sag or deform over time in storage or on display.

The Build Experience

Minifigures

Marty McFly shows up looking great. His red vest is not brand new (it also exists in Blue and Dark Bluish Gray ), but this is the newest set to include it in Red and it looks sharp with all its detail. The head is the same as in Back to the Future Time Machine #10300Back to the Future Time Machine
#10300, complete with two expressions. I do wish the head were a bit more boyish to better match Michael J. Fox in the original films, but it is a small thing.

Doc Brown is excellent. The torso has a detailed print on both sides, and the head is new with two expressions. While Marty’s head appears in 33 sets, Doc’s is exclusive to the set. The whole figure is instantly recognizable as the character from the movies.

Bag 1

Bag 1 contains two smaller bags. The first nine steps are basic chassis foundation work, and then a larger connection piece brings the front and rear sections of the car together.

The Microphone Black Microphone Plain
Black shows up here in the role of gearshift. This piece started life as a microphone and has been quietly finding new uses across different sets ever since. Spotting it in a build always puts a smile on my face.

The printed Tile 1 x 1 White Tile 1 x 1 with Keypad, Blue Slit, Red Button print
White is a simple but effective little computer tile that works well in the interior.

The Slope Curved 2 x 1 Trans-Light Blue Slope Curved 2 x 1 with Silver Plating print
Trans-Light Blue appears here too, which is a good example of the print-first approach this set takes compared to most Speed Champions builds.

Bag 1 ends with about half the chassis done. The build moves quickly and the pace feels right.

Bag 2

A single slightly smaller bag this time. The Bracket 1 x 6 - 2 x 6 Inverted Light Bluish Gray Bracket 1 x 6 - 2 x 6 Inverted
Light Bluish Gray pieces go in here as the door bases.

The flux capacitor window goes in too, and it is one of the best moments of the whole build.

The most interesting technique of the entire set shows up in this bag. Three Pneumatic Hose Connectors Dark Bluish Gray Pneumatic Hose Connectors with Axle Connector
Dark Bluish Gray , a Bar 2L Dark Bluish Gray Bar 2L with Stop in Center
Dark Bluish Gray , and two Arm Skeletons Black Arm Skeletons Bent / 2 Clips
Black come together in a way that is not immediately obvious. You build it without fully knowing what it is becoming, which is exactly the kind of mystery a good Speed Champions set delivers.

Bag 3

Bag 3 builds out the rear of the car. The printed dish goes in here and adds a nice focal point to the back section.

The Trans-Orange cheese slope with the silver surface print does exactly what it needs to do. Seen on its own it looks a little odd, but once the exhaust section is assembled the logic is clear and the result works well.

A sticker appears on a curved piece in this bag. A sticker on a curve never sits flat, and it always looks worse than a print would have. It is the most visually frustrating sticker in the set.

Bag 4

Bag 4 covers the door and side mirror. The time machine computer brick is the highlight of this bag and it looks incredible once it is in place.

The next sticker seemed unnecessary at first. It looks like a plain dashboard card. Then you read the text: “plutonium chamber.” That specific text is probably never going to show up in another LEGO set, which makes the sticker feel more justified than annoying.

Page 88 is a fun moment. You will know exactly what you are looking at when you get there.

The rest of bag 4 is pretty standard build with no particularly difficult sections.

Bag 5

The final bag contains a second smaller bag inside. The windscreen goes on here and it ties the whole look of the car together immediately.

More printed tiles for extra details.

The rubber cable pieces go on in this bag. They look good fresh out of the bag and the shape they form along the sides of the car is accurate to the movie vehicle.

After step 113 you make a choice: road version from BTTF 1, or flying version from BTTF 2.

For the BTTF 1 road version, you use the OUTATIME California license plate and a fishing rod piece as the lightning hook. Wheels go on normally.

For the flying version, you swap to the orange license plate, attach the Mr. Fusion engine, and flip the wheels out to the sides using four Plate Special 1 x 4 Light Bluish Gray Plate Special 1 x 4 with Bar Down
Light Bluish Gray pieces.

The Finished Product

I 3D printed a display stand for this one, and it was absolutely the right call. The flying version elevated on a stand looks like it belongs under glass. The proportions work well at this scale, the Trans-Light Blue cable tiles give the car that charged-up, sparking look, and the whole model reads as the DeLorean time machine from every angle. Marty and Doc fit in the cockpit, though getting them in and out requires removing the windscreen since the doors do not open.

The Real Talk

The Good Stuff

The model looks great. The size is right for Speed Champions, the price is hard to argue with, and those two minifigures are among the better figures this theme has produced. The ratio of printed parts to stickers is a clear win over most Speed Champions releases. The build has some clever technique moments across five bags that keep things interesting, but it is overall not a difficult build. The dual build option gives you two different looks, although they are not that different.

The Not So Good Stuff

The two build options are fun, but the absence of a third is noticeable for anyone who cares about the full trilogy. The BTTF 3 configuration with train wheels was actually possible with the 2013 Back to the Future Time Machine #21103Back to the Future Time Machine
#21103, so losing it in the newer set stings a little for trilogy fans.

The doors do not open. The gullwing door is one of the most iconic things about the DeLorean, and not having that feature at minifigure scale is a real omission. You have to remove the windscreen completely to get Marty and Doc into the cockpit. It works, but it adds friction to what should be a simple play interaction.

The Trans-Light Blue tiles runs along the sides of the car have a visual problem. The tiles do not connect cleanly because of the geometry of the surrounding bricks, so the cable lines look broken rather than continuous. You can understand the design reasoning once you look closely at the parts, but it is still a weak point on an otherwise clean model.

Compared to the 2013 Back to the Future Time Machine #21103Back to the Future Time Machine
#21103 though, this set is ahead in almost every other way.

Should You Buy It?

This set is easy to recommend for almost anyone. If you have any connection to Back to the Future, it is an obvious pickup. Speed Champions collectors will find the build quality and technique variety right in line with the best sets in the theme. If you are after parts, the exclusives and the two new minifigure torsos alone justify the ~$30. Kids will enjoy building it and playing with the two versions, and adult fans will want it on a shelf.

I am already planning to pick up a second copy to display both versions at the same time. A couple of frustrations keep it from being a perfect ten (missing doors, the tile cable alignment, no BTTF 3 option), but the price, the parts, and the overall look make this a very easy recommendation. Great set.

Where we’re going, we do not need roads, but we do need this on the shelf.

Final Score

Build Experience: 7/10 - A quick, enjoyable build with some genuine technique surprises.

Design: 7/10 - The car reads instantly and looks great on display, but the missing doors and the broken cable tile lines are real weaknesses.

Parts Quality: 9/10 - Exclusive color combinations, great prints, and two new minifigure torsos that parts collectors will want.

Playability: 7/10 - Two distinct build modes and two minifigures make for a solid play experience, even if the windscreen removal to access the cockpit is annoying.

Overall: 7/10 - A great set at a fair price with enough exclusive parts, strong design, and film accuracy to make it an easy buy.