Today is the date made famous by Marty McFly, Doc Brown and the DeLorean time machine in Back To The Future II.

Back to the Future was first released in 1985, where heroes Marty and Doc accidentally time travelled to 1955.

In its 1989 sequel, they were transported to October 21, 2015, a futuristic leap of imagination and hoverboards.

Central to the plots, and that of the third in the film franchise, was the "time machine," a customised DeLorean.

Mr Alekna is co-owner of Sell Block, retailers of collectible whimsy and memorabilia, with wife Nicky Parker.

The culturally iconic DeLorean was an impulse purchase for a man who admits to a history of "Holdens and Toyotas".

About 18 months ago, "the idea was suggested to get a car to turn into a time machine replica" for the shop's marketing.

"We went searching, found one, and took it," he said: a feat, as only 10,000 or so were built in the 1980s; about 80 are in Australia.

The DeLorean was in good condition, but to make it into a replica would have meant "drilling a lot of holes."

"So I said, no, it's in too good a condition. Let's just park it outside the shop and drive it around the town."

Mr Alekna said the left-hand DeLorean was "fun to drive" but hadn't succeeded as a vehicle, commercially.

"I think it was just ahead of its time," he said. "The engine and the engine management system were state-of-the-art.

"What made it unsuccessful was build quality," with many cars having to be reassembled after they were sold.

"The old joke was, you'd take it for a drive around the block to make sure the wheels wouldn't fall off.

"But once it's serviced and everything, it seems to be quite a good, reliable car, even if it is 34 years old."

Mr Alekna said the DeLorean was "the most unusual car I have ever owned and now synonymous with the business.

"We've been told people have come from as far as Dubbo, Bathurst, the South Coast and Albury-Wodonga to see it."