An internet auction for a replica of the Back to the Future DeLorean hit 88mph and just kept on going.
Auction bosses were left scratching their heads when the bidding war on Yahoo Auctions Japan spiralled out of control for a non-working ’replicar’ of the vehicle that starred alongside Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd in the blockbuster trilogy.
The auction hit a staggering ¥9,999,999,999 (AU$87.3m) late on Monday night, local time, after attracting a ¥1.5bn bid earlier in the night. It is the highest bid the auction site can accept.
The car was part of Universal Studios Japan’s Back to the Future: The Ride, which will be decommissioned at the end of June.
Management of the fun park are stunned at the excessive price – which has also sparked Yahoo Japan to demand the bidder make contact within 24 hours.
“We have to investigate the bidders. Although we do appreciate the bids, we must remove anything that are placed in an irresponsible way,” said Johta Takahashi from Universal Studios Japan.
Yahoo says the bid will be cancelled if the winner doesn’t make contact.
Proceeds from the auction are to be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research – the star himself suffers from the debilitating condition.
One of the most popular sci-fi film series of all time, Back to the Future’s legions of fans celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.
Kiwi Matt Bedogni took two years off work to create an extremely faithful replica of the DeLorean that actually works – even the electronics are operational “right up to time machine functionality” in the car, which is available for event hire.
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