If quantum fluctuations in the space-time continuum meant that the Back to the Future movies were set in the present day, what vehicle would they use for the time machine?
It’s got to be;
Available commercially and affordable, so no concept cars.
Look weird enough to stand out 30 years ago - so old man Peabody can mistake Marty for an alien.
Able to conceivably reach 88 miles per hour so you can see some serious shit.
Big enough to fit a flux capacitor, nuclear reactor and vents.
Here are my two suggestions but I’m sure you can better them - first thing that came to mind was the Nissan Cube for its aesthetics; then the bulbous Fiat Multipla which would make anyone in 1984 double-take. Whaddya reckon?
Depending on your age you might miss the joke due to context. It wasn’t just that the car looked weird and was easily recognizable. It was already a failed company and concept. The company went bankrupt in 82. John DeLorean was arrested for trying the smuggle cocaine to finance the company in October of 82. The first movie came out in 1985. So the reaction that Marty gave was not just because it was an odd looking car. The name DeLorean was a joke at the time. I’m sure by then there were three years of Carson punchlines involving the company and the man. I don’t think there is a car with anything like that backstory to be equivalent in a remake. But give Tesla a few years and see where it goes.
On the weird looking, I was thinking to people in the past not to Marty - this scene in particular, “you mutated son of a bitch!”
Although I did miss the context of the name being a joke in itself, I don’t think it’s a big thing in the movie although there is this scene which no doubt is a nod and wink to the audience.
ETA: That Audi is the coolest looking thing I’ve ever seen.
Its not a big thing in that you can certainly watch the movie without being confused if you don’t know the history. But I’m pretty sure the baggage that came with the car and name was the main reason why it was used. For the same reason why you would use an Edsel or Corvair for their backstory and not just looks.
While I don’t know if it necessarily fits your criteria for affordability and space, I’d nominate the Ariel Atom as the car that would look the most bizarre to someone used to the boxy excess of 1984.
It’s roughly the same inflation adjusted price. It’s the only model from the company (so far). And it certainly stands out compared to other cars, especially most of the boxy mid 80s cars.
The “can be mistaken for a UFO” thing wouldn’t really work anymore. We’ve had cars for too long now and seen too many concept cars, unlike the 50s when an older person could easily remember a time when automobiles weren’t common.
My first thought was the Smart ForTwo as well. The real-life parallels to a DeLorean are there (doomed concept using innovative construction), it would look weird in 1985 when Marty goes back to fix up his parents and getting one to 88mph is indeed a challenge (top indicated speed is ~90). And you could add a gag line about it being developed by Swatch, which was big in the 80s.
