Great Scott! ‘DeLorean’ Hovercraft Spotted on eBay

Custom built Back to the Future DeLorean replica hovercraft may not go 88 mph, but it makes for one cool water ride. 

We came across a listing on eBay for a DeLorean Hovercraft and we had to know more. As it turns out, life imitates art quite nicely in this custom-built replica of the Back to the Future DeLorean. However, where this DeLorean is going it doesn’t need roads

Built by Matt Riese the vehicle (okay, boat) was created a a loving tribute to the film, and as a cool way to cruise on the water. According to Riese on his website, this is a fully functional watercraft.

Riese explains that “The body is made out of Styrofoam insulation that I glued together and carved into the shape of a DeLorean, fiberglassed, and painted with metallic paint.” And it does float, he posts a number of videos and photos showing the cool DeLorean in action.

So how exactly does this work? “The fan in the front pushes air down,” explains Riese. “Some of that air is diverted into the flexible vinyl skirt, which is like an inner tube around the perimeter of the hull and traps the rest of the air, which goes down under the hull. This lifts the craft about 6-8 inches off the ground/water…A second fan pushes air behind the craft driving it forward, and rudders behind this thrust fan turn the craft.”

The DeLorean is very faithful to the film, down to every last detail. It is powered by a six horsepower lawnmower engine in the front that powers the 24-inch fan. The 36-inch thrust fan in the back is powered by a 23 horsepower twin-cylinder utility engine. It can go up to 31 mph.

Check it out on the water:

It is a unique and very fun passion project that has been impressively executed.

If you are interested, you can check it out on eBay for $45,000. Riese is donated 10% of the sale to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

If you are the lucky bidder, you’ll own one of the sleekest boats in water. Only time will tell if it works as a time machine.

S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.