It’s official, Fast X is on its way to cinemas in May and, as soon as once more, we will’t wait to witness the compulsory assortment of loopy automotive creations ripping up the tarmac – together with the Datsun 240Z road racer all of us noticed within the official trailer.
As devoted followers of modified Japanese imports, we’ve seen greater than our fair proportion of tuner automobile icons used on display since The Quick and the Livid stormed the scene method again in 2001. There’s even been a couple of true-blue JDM examples alongside the way in which.
In reality, there’s little doubt that the F&F films have develop into synonymous with Japanese automobile tradition through the years. With every thing from the Skyline GT-R and Nissan Maxima taking part in key roles to bona fide Japanese supercars such because the Lexus LFA and Honda NSX making cameos, these films have served to maintain Japanese steel within the modifying zeitgeist for over twenty years now.
And therein lies the query of the day: what are probably the most iconic Japanese vehicles to grace the massive display all through the Quick & Livid Saga? Properly, we’ve narrowed it all the way down to 10 of our all-time favourites.
1. 1994 Toyota Supra A80
Probably the most well-known JDM automobile of all of them? Properly, that’s most likely half true. The Lamborghini-Orange “Nuclear Gladiator” Toyota Supra will be the most well-known Japanese automobile of your entire franchise. However the turbocharged, targa-top hero used within the authentic film was a left-hand-drive US mannequin. So, strictly talking, you couldn’t name it JDM.
What this automobile was, nonetheless, was a real modified monster. And that was earlier than the movie was even in improvement. The Quick and The Livid was a comparatively low-budget flick, so – to save lots of on the finances – the automobile was rented from the movie’s technical advisor, Craig Lieberman. His A80 Supra was already sporting a closely modified 3-litre 2JZ-GTE engine and pushing out a whopping 570bhp – practically double that of a regular Twin Turbo Supra. In reality, the one adjustments that the manufacturing staff made for the film have been the wheels, physique styling and orange paint job (initially the automobile was yellow). Nearly every thing else was already there.
And for those who’re questioning concerning the ‘junker’ on the again of a tow truck within the film, that was certainly sporting a 2JZ engine – however not the legendary twin turbo lump they have been describing. It will have taken far more than 15k to get it as much as full ‘Race Wars’ spec too. In actuality, they’d have put effectively over 100k into this construct. However that’s Hollywood for you, eh?
Except for the real hero automobile, a number of different replicas have been constructed for stunts and racing scenes, a few of which have been repainted and used for Slap-Jack’s automobile in 2 Quick 2 Livid. There’s additionally a white 1995 US Twin Turbo mannequin on the finish of Livid 7, however this wasn’t a rehash of one in all these vehicles; that one was from Paul Walker’s private assortment.
So, what occurred to the orange Supra when filming wrapped? It merely went again to its authentic proprietor. Though it did flip up once more in 2021 the place it was bought at public sale for $550k. Not a nasty payday for a 90s Toyota, is it?
2. 1993 & 1997 Mazda RX-7 FD
Everybody’s favorite rotary-powered Mazda had two of an important roles within the franchise. First, one in all these launched Dominic Toretto to the sequence in The Quick and The Livid, and it was the one Japanese tuner automobile he raced earlier than breaking out the trademark American muscle vehicles. And second, the primary hero automobile from Tokyo Drift was Han Seoul-Oh’s widebody ‘Fortune’ RX-7 FD.
Within the modifying world, in fact, the Mazda RX-7 is one thing of an icon – the very purpose why it was utilized in each films. As with Brian’s Supra within the first movie, the frugal producers rented a ready-built instance (this time owned by Keith Imoto) and made a couple of beauty adjustments. The automobile was initially a left-hand drive US mannequin in gray with closely modified 13B engine and a roll cage. The producers painted the automobile purple, after which eliminated the cage, just because Vin Diesel couldn’t slot in it. A couple of clone vehicles have been additionally constructed, however these have been normal, aside from the outside styling and exhausts.
Dom’s Mazda is proven to have an enormous aftermarket sound system within the film, however these photographs have been really taken from one other automobile. The true-life model solely had a manufacturing facility audio system – it was a light-weight racer, in any case. This automobile was additionally repainted and utilized in 2 Quick 2 Livid by Orange Julius.
The 1997 RX-7 featured in Tokyo Drift, as you’d anticipate, is a full-on JDM mannequin. This automobile was additionally purchased prepared modified, however this time for a reported $150k from legendary Japanese tuners Veilside. Initially their firm demo automobile, it was first constructed to showcase their £15K Fortune widebody package on the 2005 Tokyo Auto Salon. It was additionally darkish purple, however the F&F staff repainted it in Home of Kolor Orange to verify it popped on display. Which – we predict we will all agree – it did properly.
3. 2003 Nissan Fairlady Z33
The JDM model of the Nissan 350Z is what you would possibly name a bona fide Japanese muscle automobile. In reality, this one is virtually an American fastback, merely from having an enormous 3.5-litre ‘V’ engine up entrance, rear-wheel-drive on the again and presumably a driver grinning like a madman within the center.
However, whereas massive capability VQ35DE V6 engines (which negate the necessity to mess about with turbochargers) was the order of the day for Nissan within the noughties, the JDM Fairlady Z utilized in Tokyo Drift was fitted with an aftermarket twin turbo package developed by Australian tuning home, APS. This gave our automotive anti-hero round 450bhp, which is about 170bhp over normal and greater than sufficient for any Drift King to interrupt out the sideways antics.
The Z33, which went on sale all over the world in varied specs between 2002 and 2009, has proved infinitely in style on the worldwide tuning scene. There’s nonetheless loads of modified examples on the present scene at the moment, they usually’re one of many few that may nonetheless be picked up for an affordable worth. With these curvy beauty, this automobile was forward of its time, and it’s one which has aged extraordinarily effectively… if in any respect.
It has additionally been effectively catered for by the aftermarket through the years. From the very starting, components producers have been falling over themselves to supply tuning upgrades, chassis components, physique styling and wheels. This contains the mighty Veilside who have been already concerned with the film with their Fortune RX-7, so it is smart that they’d provide their equally loopy V3 widebody aero package, large Andrew Evolution wheels, and an entire load of carbon fibre bolt-ons for the primary antagonist.
4. 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R V-Spec
The fabled R34 GT-R could also be one of many vehicles most related to the franchise – to not point out Paul Walker himself – however this automobile solely made a few main appearances. Most notably within the fourth instalment (Quick & Livid) and, maybe most famously of all, because the introductory hero automobile within the second movie.
Now, it goes with out saying that the R34 Skyline GT-R is among the most coveted Japanese tuner automobile icons ever conceived – a real cult traditional. This 2.6-litre twin-turbocharged monster might be THE automobile of the PlayStation technology, they usually command costs of effectively over £100k these days. However, as a result of the Skyline was by no means formally provided on the market within the US, the vehicles used (aside from a single UK mannequin) have been all JDM fashions. This additionally explains why they have been all right-hand-drive vehicles.
Surprisingly, the 2002 Bayside Blue GT-R used for slightly smuggling in Mexico in Quick & Livid wasn’t even a GT-R in any respect. As an alternative, the manufacturing staff created quite a few replicas utilizing non-turbocharged, 1998-2001 GT fashions. These additionally got here with primary rear-wheel-drive fairly than the legendary Nissan ATSSA AWD system.
In 2 Quick 2 Livid, although, that was a real 1999 JDM R34 GT-R. What’s extra, this one solely missed out on being the star of your entire movie due to a product placement cope with Mitsubishi (therefore the Evo VII and Eclipse Convertible getting used). The primary hero automobile was one other owned by Craig Lieberman and modified with an entire host of HKS engine upgrades and nitrous oxide. One other 4 vehicles have been imported by MotoRex and fitted with matching C-West physique kits, HRE wheels and the notorious Home of Kolor paint job with added blue stripes.
The final R34 constructed for the film – which was imported from Middlehurst Motorsport within the UK and modified accordingly – was solely used for the bridge-jump scene, the place it was destroyed.
5. 2002/2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII & IX
There’s been two Mitsubishi Evos used as hero vehicles within the early F&F films. First the 2002 Evo VII in 2 Quick 2 Livid, after which the 2006 Evo IX in Tokyo Drift.
The irony, in fact, is that the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has all the time been most well-known for its rallying prowess, and there wasn’t a dust monitor in sight in both film. Due to the legendary all-wheel-drive techniques utilized in all fashions of the Evo since its inception, it’s ironic that one in all these was chosen as a drift automobile within the third film too. Albeit an Evo IX that had been transformed to rear-wheel-drive particularly for this function. Then once more, this definitely received the automobile neighborhood speaking, so possibly that was the entire level.
What’s additionally fascinating is that the Evo VII wasn’t ever accessible within the US. The Evo VIII mannequin was launched later in America, however that wasn’t till after 2 Quick 2 Livid was launched in 2003. As an alternative, the on-screen vehicles have been donated by Mitsubishi Japan for the filming and modified by the manufacturing staff with new hind lights to appear to be the upcoming Evo VIII. Mitsubishi shipped over 4 in whole and the explanation these fashions have been left-hand-drive is that they have been initially destined for a rally staff in Austria earlier than being diverted to the US.
Each the F&F vehicles have some critical high-performance heritage. Initially supposed solely as a JDM mannequin, the Evo I got here alongside in 1992 and has “advanced” by way of 10 completely different variants, all powered by a 2-litre turbocharged engine. The Evo X was retired again in 2016. Such was the early success of those vehicles on the gray import market that Mitsubishi formally provided them on the market worldwide in 1998. They’ve since gone on to develop into extraordinarily profitable in motorsport, and one of the crucial iconic vehicles within the modifying neighborhood.
6. Nissan Skyline GT-R C10 ‘Hakosuka’
This notably retro instance could not have had an enormous quantity of display time, however there’s little doubt that the looks of a C10 GT-R in Quick 5 was one thing that delighted connoisseurs of JDM classics.
The Hakosuka is a particular automobile. The primary Skyline mannequin to sport the enduring GT-R badge, it was initially accessible as a 4-door sedan in 1969 and later as a 2-door coupe in 1971. Each variants got here outfitted with a 160bhp inline straight 6 engine, rear-wheel drive, and even a restricted slip differential, making these pumped-up examples of the third-generation Nissan/Datsun Skyline far forward of their time.
A bona fide holy grail Nissan, the nickname “Hakosuka” wasn’t formally sanctioned by Nissan; as a substitute, it turned in style on the streets of Japan the place the automobile was referred to as the “Field Skyline” due to its chunky physique. “Hako” is the literal translation of the phrase field and “suka” is a shortened model of the phrase “sukairain,” which implies skyline.
Lower than 2000 examples have been ever produced, they usually’re one of the crucial sought-after Japanese fashions by critical automobile collectors. These days, you’ll be able to anticipate to pay one of the best a part of £200k at public sale, making Brian’s 1971 GT-R Coupe turning up in Brazil one of many priciest cameos for a JDM Kyusha (outdated automobile) over your entire F&F franchise.
7. 2000 Honda S2000
The Honda badge is one which’s develop into synonymous with the road tuning and modifying scenes all over the world, and once they launched the convertible S2000 in 1999 it was an prompt hit. It’s simple to see why: with its light-weight body, high-revving 2-litre VTEC engine and actually 1000’s of aftermarket components accessible, this little 2-seater stays in style to today. Though fashionable traditional standing implies that costs are presently rising, they’re nonetheless accessible for affordable cash too.
The S2000 made a few key appearances within the Quick and Livid saga. First as Johnny Tran’s anti-hero automobile in The Quick and The Livid, and second as Suki’s automobile in 2 Quick 2 Livid… yep, the one which jumped the bridge with Brian’s R34 Skyline.
Opposite to in style perception, and regardless of being listed as completely different years within the film specs, these two have been really the identical automobile. The three S2000s (together with the primary automobile and stunt vehicles) used for the primary film have been repurposed for the second.
The unique Johnny Tran hero automobile was a US mannequin rented from RJ DeVera, the actor who performed Danny Yamato (the man who drove the white Honda Civic within the first road race). Reasonably than having “greater than 100 grand beneath the hood,” there have been just some efficiency modifications, together with a Comptech supercharger, pushing the automobile to round 290bhp. So it was a fast S2000 for positive, however it was no 10-second automobile.
For two Quick 2 Livid, the automobile was bought by the manufacturing staff the place they repainted it pink and altered the wheels.
8. 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Though a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is used as Roman’s automobile in 2 Quick 2 Livid, an important Eclipse within the sequence will all the time be the 1995 Kawasaki Inexperienced coupe from the primary film. In spite of everything, it’s the very first road racer we see over the entire saga… and it introduces Paul Walker’s character to the franchise.
5 clone vehicles have been created for varied photographs, however the authentic hero automobile was a silver US mannequin rented from John Lapid. This got here prepared modified other than the outside paintwork.
Regardless of being a fairly epic-looking present automobile clad in a full RoboCar physique package, and having a couple of efficiency modifications resembling an consumption and nitrous oxide system, the road racing credentials weren’t fairly as spectacular as depicted within the film. This automobile had round 140bhp and wasn’t sporting a turbocharged 4G63 engine as said, so it’s unlikely it might be maintaining with a regular RX-7 not to mention one which’s been road tuned to perfection. However does that matter? In fact it doesn’t – it’s all within the identify of leisure.
9. 2001 Nissan Silvia Spec-S S15
The screentime could have been restricted for this one, what with the automobile being destroyed early on within the film, however there’s no denying that the “Mona Lisa” Nissan Silvia was one of many largest stars of Tokyo Drift.
A legendary automobile for drifting, and on the modified automobile scene normally, the Nissan Silvia (referred to as the Nissan S-Physique automobile) has been by way of an entire load of iterations since being launched by Datsun in 1965. Maybe probably the most well-known to the world’s modifiers are the 80s and 90s Nissan S13, S14 and S15 variants. We see a couple of of those over the course of the franchise, together with the automobile pushed by Letty within the first movie – a US mannequin 240SX S14 (with an S14A entrance finish). After being repainted, this one additionally makes an look in 2 Quick 2 Livid.
The king of the on-screen Silvias, although, is undoubtedly the C-west-kitted JDM Silvia S15 constructed particularly for Tokyo Drift. Hearsay has it that over $7,000,000 have been spent on the vehicles alone for this film, with over 200 being acquired and shipped from all all over the world. However, even with this large finances, this “Spec-R” Silvia wasn’t fairly because it was depicted when it comes to its efficiency.
For a begin, the huge RB26DETT engine we see stripped out and slotted right into a Mustang on the finish of the film was by no means fitted to this automobile. In fact, taking the legendary twin-turbocharged lump from a Skyline GT-R and transferring it to an S15 is a dream conversion for a lot of, and fairly widespread within the drifting world, however it was by no means one thing carried out by the producers. In reality, the Silvia used was additionally a base mannequin Spec-S automobile, which didn’t include the tuner’s favorite 250bhp turbocharged SR20DET engine discovered within the Spec-R both. So we’re speaking round 160bhp fairly than 500-odd-bhp as proven within the movie.
However then once more, we will forgive all this as a result of there’s little doubt the Mona Lisa was nonetheless one of the crucial genuine vehicles used all through the franchise, just because they used a Silvia for drifting. It’s additionally an instance that has spawned many replicas all over the world.
10. 1993 Honda Civic Coupe EJ1
The three neon-lit Honda Civic “heist vehicles” from The Quick and The Livid is probably not full-on road racers as such, however they’re the primary F&F vehicles we see. By all accounts, these have been a few of the most unloved display vehicles over your entire franchise; having been constructed solely to outlive a few weeks’ filming, they have been all thought-about disposable by the manufacturing staff.
It goes with out saying that the Civic has all the time been in style with modifiers, with loads of legendary examples being pumped out by Honda to today. 2021 noticed the eleventh technology of this automobile hit the streets and, through the years, they’ve all (notably the Sort-R variants) develop into the bread and butter of the import tuning scene. This is the reason the Civics that have been hottest on the streets of the US in 2001 have been chosen to star within the film. However once more, the US coupe fashions used have been about as removed from full-on racing spec because it’s doable to get. The modifications right here have been all beauty, and really a lot of their time. They seemed cool again within the day although, and maybe that’s all that issues.
With a comparatively low finances for the builds, the manufacturing staff picked up quite a few low cost (and fairly tough) DX fashions, together with one EX – the one with the sunroof. These have been painted black and fitted the Axis wheels, VIS GT Bomber physique kits and Veilside rear spoilers. The noisy exhausts have been low-cost common objects hidden away beneath the bumpers.
After the primary film, the Civics did get a slight reprieve, nonetheless. The survivors have been repainted and fitted with Bomex kits for use as background vehicles in 2 Quick 2 Livid.
Regardless of various studies of those vehicles having highly-tuned B18 engines with aftermarket turbochargers and all of the trimmings, the true story is that these have been all 1.5-litre fashions with round 100hp. However whereas they is probably not probably the most mind-blowing tuner automobile legends all through the sequence, their cult standing with many followers implies that these little Hondas greater than deserve a spot in our high ten.
Need to learn extra about JDM vehicles? Learn our blogs on the best JDM cars of the 90s and our favourite Japanese cars.
Get JDM insurance coverage to your imported automobile
In the event you’ve determined to lastly make the leap and purchase a JDM automobile from the Quick & Livid franchise, name us for an imported Japanese car insurance quote. We provide tailor-made cowl to fit your wants and finances. Name us on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback for a quick, inexpensive quote.
