1. How did you get into collecting DeLoreans?

I fell in love with the Back to the Future Trilogy and the DeLorean DMC-12 car when I was quite young, and I always dreamt of owning one.

2. How did you get your hands on this glorious DeLorean?

As crazy as it sounds, this is actually our third DeLorean. The first came from a seller in Auckland and we imported the second from Beverly Hills back in 2017. We have since sold those two. I like to think I'm a bit like Goldilocks and this third one is just right! I was lucky enough to buy it from a friend here in Ōtautahi Christchurch and thankfully it's in phenomenal condition.

3. Do you know how many DeLorean’s are in Aotearoa New Zealand? There can’t be that many?!

They certainly are a rare vehicle. I believe there are around 14 in NZ – all in various conditions.

4. Do you ever have meet ups with your fellow DeLorean owners?

Absolutely, we keep in touch over social media and meet up whenever possible. One of the largest meetups in Aotearoa was back in 2014 when we had five together at the Groynes for San Francisco Filmmaker Jordan Livingston's documentary 'Delorean - Living the Dream'. The film is about Delorean owners from around the world and features Christopher Lloyd!

Fun fact – our first DeLorean is on the cover of the Blu Ray (taken up the Port Hills), and my third - the current car - is one of the five in the shots from that day. So, I've somewhat accidently owned two cars from that film. It's definitely worth a watch.

Another meet up was in San Jose, USA, just down the road from the famous Winchester Mystery House. That was the most Deloreans we have seen in one place in real life outside of a DMC garage/shop.

5. Do you fix it up, refurb, or modernise it at all? Or do you love it just the way it is?

We’ve contemplated how cool it would be to drive a replica movie car, but we also have an appreciation for what the car is — a unique sports car designed by an Italian designer for an American engineer and car executive who had a dream, which brought two conflicting groups together in Northern Ireland during ‘The Troubles.’

It's as much a piece of art as it is a part of automobile history. To own a car that, 42 years on, looks like it could have just rolled out of the manufacturer's gates in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, is one reason we maintain it as close to the original as we can. Obviously, some modern technologies have found their way in there - LEDs, improved fuel pumps, etc. Thankfully, DMC still has a vast collection of original stock parts that they obtained after the factory closure and there are still a couple of businesses that manufacture aftermarket parts.

6. What’s your favourite part of owning a DeLorean?

I love how the car brings people of all ages together and makes so many folk smile. It's a fun talking piece. I must admit that I do enjoy setting the common misconceptions and rumours straight. “Yes it's stainless steel… no it isn't aluminium”, or my personal favourite, "is it real or a kit car?" (There's no such thing). The car brings me a lot of joy and if I'm having a bad day, just sitting in it in the garage cheers me up. It's a shiny reminder that dreams can come true.

John DeLorean's dream was ambitious at the time. As I mentioned, the cars were built in Northern Ireland at a time when Catholics and Protestants wouldn't work together, and after obtaining a big loan from Margaret Thatcher, he built the factory on the border running right through the middle - and both sides worked together happily.

There's a fascinating story behind how they were built, and behind John DeLorean himself – not limited to his accusation and acquittal from cocaine smuggling charges – John was also responsible for the creation of the first muscle car - the Pontiac GTO, the Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Chevrolet Cosworth Vega when he was working for General Motors.

7. When did you first see Back to the Future?

From as young as I can remember (and it's the same for [my partner] Jono as well), the Back to the Future trilogy has been on TV and was one we'd hire from the video stores once our own VHS tapes became unwatchable. Jono even hired out a theatre for a recent birthday just so we could watch it on the big screen. I organised actress Claudia Wells (who played Jennifer Parker in the first movie) to create a personalised birthday message for him as we had met her in L.A the year before. On that trip, we spent a day visiting most of the filming locations from the first movie.

8. How many times do you think you’ve seen the film?

If my calculations are correct, I think I've seen it at least 100 times!

9. Favourite quote?

“It means your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has! Your future is whatever you make it. So, make it a good one!” - Doc Brown

10. Favourite scene?

That's a tough one. I always feel like cheering when George McFly knocks Biff out outside the Enchantment Under the Sea dance in 1955. A second scene would be Huey Lewis' cameo when he says, "I'm afraid you're just too darn loud," when Marty is playing Power of Love in his band 'The Pinheads' audition. The whole trilogy is so good though.

For more information/tickets for CSO Presents: Back to the Future in Concert, click here.

Miranda is in no way officially connected to Back to the Future or Universal Studios in any way.