Everyone remembers the DeLorean Doc Brown used to time-travel in Back to the Future, but what about that Toyota truck Marty McFly lusted after? A faithful replica of the black Toyota SR5 Xtra Cab that made its debut in BTTF has sold for $110,000 at a Mecum auction in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What Happened to Marty’s Pickup?
Every Back to the Future fan knows that the Toyota truck is Marty McFly’s dream vehicle. The film’s combination of a gripping story, timeless soundtrack, and iconic vehicles made it one of the most beloved movies Hollywood ever produced. The DeLorean may have stolen the spotlight as the movie’s star car, but Toyota’s four-wheel-drive 1985 SR5 Xtra Cab pickup stole our hearts. Sadly, the truck used in the film didn’t fare as well after production wrapped. It was stolen and ended up in Mexico at the hands of drug cartels. However, it was eventually found and has been restored to its former glory.
The coveted Back to the Future truck features the exact same color and accessories as it did on-screen, including its custom sidesteps, front bumper guard, rear roll bar, spotlights, and even its original chrome wheels and tires. It is powered by a factory Toyota 22RE engine that delivers 105 horsepower to the front and rear wheels. The truck was built by the experts at The Future Factory, a company specializing in building precise car replicas from popular films and TV shows. They partnered with Team Fox, the Parkinson’s Research charity founded by Michael J. Fox, to build this exact model and raise money for the organization.
In the movie, Marty McFly goes to Twin Pines Mall to meet Doc Brown and his modified DeLorean time machine. After a quick chat, Doc reveals that his car runs on Plutonium and is capable of traveling up to 88 mph.
Before Marty can test the car, he is attacked by Libyan terrorists, and Doc is murdered. The terrorists leave a note behind that says, “Find the black pickup.” Marty realizes that his truck is in his garage and heads to Twin Pines Mall, where Lorraine is waiting for him at the Twin Pines Mall parking lot.
The new timeline Marty created by traveling back in time had an altered version of his family and Biff. He also had a Toyota pickup that was painted black, just like the truck in the movie. The truck became a cultural touchstone and helped inspire electric vehicle startup Alpha Motors to create a truck that the iconic BTTF Toyota strongly influences.
Marty’s Pickup Was Stolen
The 1985 movie Back to the Future is one of Hollywood’s most iconic movies, thanks in large part to its cast of beloved characters and gripping story. And while the DeLorean DMC-12 may get most of the attention these days, Marty McFly’s Toyota pickup truck really stole the show.
If you’re a fan of the film franchise, you probably know that the black four-wheel drive pickup featured in the movie was a real truck. But what you might not realize is that the truck had a pretty wild and dangerous past before being rebuilt into the famous replitruck seen in the movie. At one point, it was even used to transport drugs, guns, and human heads for the Zetas cartel.
Thankfully, the pickup was eventually found and returned to its rightful owners. And despite its shady past, the truck was then completely restored by Bill and Patrick Shea, a father-son restoration duo who happen to be self-professed Back to the Future fans. The result is a stunningly accurate replica of the truck that was used in the films, and it’s sure to make fans of the franchise happy.
In addition to being the exact truck that was used in the films, the replitruck features all of the correct components, including tubular bumpers, suspension lifts, roll bars, and towing mirrors. It also has KC HiLites auxiliary lights and a new repaint in the same black that the original film truck was drenched in. This specific Toyota SR5 Xtra Cab also happens to be equipped with the same California license plate number, 2EZP916, that was assigned to Marty’s truck in Back to the Future.
This particular replitruck will be sold at this week’s Mecum auction in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It will be auctioned off alongside several other Back to the Future-related memorabilia, including a destroyed DeLorean model, a VHS camera, and Marty’s shoes from the future.
Those interested in bidding on the replitruck can head over to the Mecum website to place their bids, which will be accepted through Thursday, October 16. The sale will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Chattanooga Convention Center. MotorTrend will cover the auction live from Chicago on our YouTube channel and online, so be sure to check it out.
Marty’s Pickup Was Restored
When most people think of Back to the Future, they probably picture the DeLorean DMC-12, but there’s another vehicle from that film that’s also worth a closer look: Marty McFly’s Toyota truck. Although the Toyota’s on-screen time was limited compared to the iconic car, the truck has become a symbol of one of the most popular and memorable movie franchises of all time. While the DeLorean may get all the fanboy attention, there’s no denying that the black pickup with the yellow KC Daylighters is a movie icon in its own right.
The Toyota SR5 Xtra Cab that Marty McFly lusted after was actually a real-life truck, and it had quite the history before being restored by Bill and Patrick Shea, a father and son team of hardcore BTTF fans. The Sheas bought the truck from the fictional Statler Toyota dealership in Hilldale and began the painstaking task of restoring it to its on-screen glory. Along the way, they had to rely on the help of other BTTF fans and a few YouTube videos to find the right parts for the project.
By the time the Sheas were done with their work, they had a truck that looked just like the one in the film. However, they had to make a few minor changes to the engine and other mechanical components to ensure that it was running as smoothly as possible. They also had to rework some of the body panels because, as you can imagine, the truck went through a lot during its time on the set of the movies.
As the world prepares to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future this October, Toyota is doing its part by releasing a special creation to commemorate the occasion. It’s a 2016 Tacoma that looks just like the truck that Marty and Doc used to hop around the 20th and 21st centuries.
While the Tacoma isn’t an exact replica of the SR5 from the movie, it is the closest thing to it that you can find on the market today. It even has the same paint color, mud flaps, and backdated headlights that the SR5 in the film had.
Marty’s Pickup Is for Sale
While everyone and their dog seems to have a DeLorean time machine re-creation these days, there’s no denying that the Toyota truck Marty McFly lusted after—and later owned—in the Back to the Future films was a pretty sweet 4x4. And now it may be your chance to drive (or at least own) that same dream truck.
It’s being auctioned off this weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee, by Mecum as part of its bigger sale. All proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.
The auction listing doesn’t include any details about what the truck looks like or whether it’s an original, but Mecum does say, “The Truck features a black exterior with a matching lift kit, roll bar, aftermarket wheels, and upgraded exhaust.” So, it’s probably safe to assume that this is the gloss-black 1985 Toyota SR5 Xtra Cab we saw in the movie.
As you may recall, that truck made Marty’s heart flutter in the film when it was being sold at the fictional Statler Toyota dealership. He wished he could take it with him to his future home with Jennifer in Hill Valley.
In the first film, the pickup is identified by its license plate number 2EZP916 and has a single roll bar and no KC lights in the bed. But in the second and third installments, it gets a double roll bar and KC covers.
Mecum’s listing doesn’t specifically mention if it’s the same truck used in the film, but a picture of it from the auction company’s website shows that it is. The photo also shows a sticker that appears to be on the window, which reads “The Original SR5 from Back to the Future.”
As for what happened to the truck after the filming was over? Well, it was sold and eventually totaled. The studio bought another one and outfitted it with the same custom trimmings, but that truck was stolen while filming the sequels. Luckily, the one that’s now up for grabs was recovered by the Shea family, who bought it to restore it.
