DeLorean DMC Hovercraft - Sail to the future
The DeLorean DMC hovercraft is one of the most improbable custom builds in automotive history: a near-perfect replica of the iconic gull-wing time machine from Back to the Future, capable of gliding over flat water, asphalt, ice, snow, and sand. Built by Matt Riese over four years, it was sold on eBay within hours for $45,000, with 10% donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
The Story Behind the DeLorean Hovercraft
Matt Riese began this passion project in 2008 with no engineering background, just an obsession with the original DeLorean DMC-12 and the will to fund the build through odd jobs and a Kickstarter campaign that raised close to $6,000. By 2012, after four years of painstaking work, the build was complete. The most challenging element was matching the exact tint of the DMC-12's silver metallic paint, which Riese refined and then hand-applied to achieve a finish indistinguishable from the original.
How the DeLorean Hovercraft Was Built
The body is sculpted from Styrofoam covered with fiberglass, shaped to match the DMC-12's distinctive wedge profile and gull-wing doors. Underneath, a front-mounted fan pushes air down into a vinyl skirt, lifting the craft 6 to 8 inches off any flat surface. Power comes from a 23-horsepower Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engine driving the thrust system, paired with a Briggs and Stratton 875 Professional Series push mower engine running the 24-inch lift fan.
The result can reach a top speed of around 31 mph on flat water or smooth ground. Before listing it for sale, Riese spent months further refining the build, replacing thrust engine components, fuel pump, fuel lines, and the fuel filter to ensure reliability.
The Sale and the Cause
When Riese listed the DeLorean hovercraft on eBay at $45,000, he committed to donating 10% of the final sale price to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, a fitting tribute given the Back to the Future connection. The listing sold within hours of going live. Robb Report and Designboom both covered the sale; Robb Report described it as living out a Marty McFly fantasy, while Designboom detailed the construction process.
Own a Piece of DeLorean History or Something Just As Extraordinary
The original 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 is available through TheArsenale for those who want the genuine article. For amphibious thrills that are actually purchasable today, the Sherp ATV is a serious all-terrain amphibious machine that drives directly into water with no preparation. Browse the full watercraft collection at TheArsenale for more extraordinary vehicles designed to operate where roads end.
