Fast and Furious - Nissan Skyline GT-R

Last on my Top 3 list of JDMs that appeared on screen from the Fast and Furious series, would be the Nissan Skyline GT-R. At the sight of the title, everyone would remember the silver R34 from 2 Fast 2 Furious or the beautiful, blue R34 from Fast and Furious. However, this list would include all the GT-Rs in all movie that is driven by cast members chronologically.

The first GT-R that came up in the franchise is the R33 driven by one of Dominic Torentto's friend/accomplice in the first The Fast and The Furious (2001). Leon was seen driving along Letty, Vince and Jesse in the beginning of the movie and with Dom when they were pulling off the heist.

In 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Brian O'Conner was called for an illegal race and arrived in his first car of the movie, the R34. This is the car that he drove recklessly and jumped over a bridge and made one hell of a slide the moment he won. Cops soon show up and Brian tried to make a run for it but was arrested thanks to Electronic Disruption Device on a grappling hook.

Remember when Sean asked Han, what does he drift for in The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) ? Han then drives the Veilside RX-7 into the streets and spotted a purple and silver R33. Spotting the GT-R, Han made donuts around the car and later when he got the phone numbers of the 2 girls driving the R33, Sean finally knew the reason Han drifts for. I would do that too if I could drift. I am not sure whether you realized it or not but the car that Sean chased in the RX-7 was actually a blue R34 (although it was shown for only 2 seconds). 

I am not sure whether you realized it or not but the car that Sean chased in the RX-7 was actually a blue R34 (although it was shown for only 2 seconds). Here is the proof below. Sorry it is blurry.

5 years after the first movie, the now FBI agent, Brian has stumbled upon a case involving, you guessed it, illegal car races in Fast and Furious (2009). This time with the FBI's impound lots' help, he has a wide choice of cars to used in his attempt to infiltrate the race but he only has one car in his mind: the R34 although we see him pull up some R35 from the database. We even get a seen of him modding the GT-R before racing it. The car gets blown up by Dom and Brian switches to the Subaru WRX STI. In my opinion, the blue paint suits the R34 more than the silver in the second movie. 

Brian's pick from the impound lot

Time to start work !

All the sweat and blood pay off. Sweet Ride

After busting Dom out of prison transport bus, we see the gang retreats and hides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to avoid the authorities in Fast 5 (2011). As the audience already know, Brian can not be without a JDM ride but have to blend in, not to mention the scarcity of JDM in Brazil. So, he drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R C10 coupe. Not so flashy, gets you to where you need but still wearing the GT-R badge. Although I do not know much about the C10, I do know it is the first GT-R.   

After successfully pulling off the greatest heist in Rio, we find our heroes all instant millionaires and Brian settles down with Mia in a nice, quiet beach side property in the end of the movie. I could have guessed Brian would spend his new wealth on a new R35. It is weird that you could get a R35 but could not get any parts to mod the R35 because it is like a virgin. 

Furious 6 (2013) started with a race between Brian's R35 and Dom's Challenger along some windy roads. It turns out, Brian was just rushing to the hospital because Mia was delivering their baby and decides to have a little fun with Dom on the side. It is presumably the same R35 we see at the end of Fast 5.

We only get to see the r35 again at the end of the movie back at the Toretto house. This time it is a modified R35 with the special Bensopra Body Kit with a huge GT-Wing. This is when the heart warming scene where the whole team celebrates their freedom and pardon from their crimes and becoming rich. They did not mention who was the owner but we can all just assume it belongs to Brian.  

From this point onwards, there might be spoilers. You have been warned !

Netizens were writing online that there was a R32 in Furious 7 (2015) and I remember opening my eyes wide to spot all the JDM present in the movie but I failed to find the R32 mentioned. So, I did some digging and I found my evidence. It was a black R32 in the background during Han's funeral scene. Dom spotted Deckard Shaw in the cemetery and rushed to get in his car to chase the bad guy. I have always like the R32 especially since it came out the same year I was born. 

Later in the movie, the main characters were all gearing up for the final showdown. We see the rather stock looking, blue R35 and Brian putting on a bullet proof vest from the boot along with some guns. It was rather badass looking the way he gears up, gets in the car and heads to where the danger is. I guess the Bensopra R35 we saw at the end of Furious 6 was sold and replaced by the mini van we saw Brian taking Jack to school in. In the midst of actions, the R35 was blown to pieces by a missile. What a waste !!

Lock on Target & Boom goes the R35.

Fast and Furious - Toyota Supra MkIV

Continue with the launch of the latest Fast and Furious movie, we have the next JDM that appeared on screen. The first iconic car from The Fast and The Furious (2001) is definitely the orange, gravity defying Toyota Supra MkIV. Although apart form the first movie, the Supra was never in the limelight and replaced by the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 as the icon of the series, it appears in other movies as well.

After losing in a pink slip race against Dominic Toretto and trashing the Mitsubishi Eclipse he raced, Brian O'Conner now owes Dom a 10-second car. Brian then brings a wrecked/scrap Supra and says it is Dom's 10-second car. Soon, they rebuilt the Supra with sweat, blood and many shiny parts. When it was all done, it was time to hit the road to test and tune the bad boy. Brian and Dom soon met with a Ferrari 355 Spider and was insulted by the driver. Dom gave Brian the green light and ask him to smoke the Ferrari which of course, he smoked the Ferrari. The Supra continues to see a lot more action and in my opinion the most one single car have seen in all of the franchise. In the end of the movie, the Supra was given to Dom to make his escape.  

The Project Car

First Victim - Ferrari F355 Spider

Next, we see the Supra dressed in gold appearing in the beginning of 2 Fast 2 Furious and we know things are going to get down with a race. It is driven by a character named Slap Jack and in the race, followed Brian to jump a bridge. When he landed, the tire pops and steers him into a billboard. Later in the movie, we see the Supra in the scramble scene again and nobody knows what happened to it. 

One of the cars used to by the team to test in their hideout to slip through the many high speed cameras when they planned to rob the police station in Fast 5 (2011). Few of the characters including Tej, Roman and Rico were having a go at escaping the cameras but clumsy and maybe inexperienced Rico hit a column and damaged the Supra. So, the fun was cut short. 

From this point onwards, there might be spoilers. You have been warned.

I was one of those who thought that they would kill Brian in Furious 7 (2015) because that is the usual and easiest way to bring closure to a character. However, if you watched the movie, you knew that they changed it to make Brian retired instead. The unexpected thing for me was seeing Brian drive a JDM at the ending of the movie and expected a GT-R but when I saw a white Supra, I honestly did not see that coming. It is said that the white Supra used in the movie actually belongs to Paul Walker. It is symbolic to see both cars cruise down the empty road and finally split. Thanks for making this another tear jerking moment. Thank you, Paul Walker for all your hard work. You will be missed.