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.

Fast and Furious - Subaru WRX STI

March 2015 was THE MONTH when it is all about the Fast and Furious franchise, which lasted for 14 long years. This latest installment was already much anticipated by fans but with one of its main character's actor's recent demise, even the non-fans rushed to the cinemas to catch the latest movie, Fast and Furious 7. I was one of the earliest who watched on the first day it was released in Malaysia. Despite what critics said, I thought it was a great movie with everything from action, cars, family values and story closure. This article may contain spoilers. At first I was waiting for the part where they were going to kill Paul's character off and kept guessing when it was going to happen. Luckily, they changed their decision and made him retire instead. Of course some cried when they were watching the ending, which is a tribute to Paul Walker and it showed clips of each of the Fast and Furious movies which brought back memories for every audience. I immediately downloaded all 6 other movies of the franchise and decided to make a TOP 3 list of JDMs that appeared in the all movies. However, the list does not include many cars that appear as background cars in the first 3 movies in the series.

First up, we have the Subaru WRX STI. It is a model that made its debut quite late in the series but maintain appearance in every movie onwards. It made its first appearance in Fast and Furious (2009). Brian O'Conner was driving his iconic Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 through the desert but was later blown up by Dominic Toretto. After that, Brian told him Dom owes him a 10 second car, he smashed the WRX STI's window, gave him the keys and told him they are now even. After a great action scene, the WRX STI was filled with bullet hole and later smashed.

Before all the holes and beating it took.

That is how you buy a WRX STI

Rally Gene Shining

Next, it appeared in Fast 5 (2011) in its Face-lift, sedan form. It was one of the few cars that the team collected and tested in their hideout to slip through the many high speed cameras installed exactly like how it would be in the police station. I think Han thought the WRX STI could beat the camera (I certainly agree to this) but even with him driving, it was not enough. Even though it was only 20 seconds of footage but clearly it is worth the mention. Especially with Han stating that if this (WRX STI) could not get pass the camera, they are going to need invisible cars.

Han: The only way is to get invisible cars.

Talking about short appearance, who could forget the appearance of the WRX STI for 2 seconds in Furious 6 (2013). Dom was in London seeking out Letty and we were shown the racing scene in London. Out come 2 cars that were sideways on 2 wheels and one of them is a hatchback WRX STI. As if you can't tell it is a WRX STI, it even have a STI decal right on the hood. There some other more expensive cars but only JDMs count in this list.

Must be bad for tires

From this point onwards, there might be spoilers. You have been warned.
Last but not least, the WRX STI is one of the main stars (to me) in the latest, Furious 7 (2015) and it is driven by our Brian O'Connor. Clearly if you have watched the trailer before the movie was released, you already know that the WRX STI will be drop off a plane and what will happen to it. It is one of the most difficult sequence to shoot and timing was crucial to land on the ground via parachute. Then, we see a lot of action with the WRX STI and it was the end for it when Brian jumped into the bad guy's trailer. What a waste when I saw it crashed and they certainly could have donated it to me instead (wishful thinking).

Is it me or bullet holes goes well with the WRX STI ?

Drop Time

In action

STI Surfing !!

You'll be missed !!

Here I will reveal a surprise that many of you fans might have missed or maybe you saw it just like I did. Before the "dropping cars from a plane scene", we see the team reunite in an army-like base and were discussing their plans to infiltrate and stop the enemy. There was a sedan WRX STI parked in the base with almost the same color as the hatchback that was used in the drop. It was weird that they had a sedan but used a hatchback instead. I was happy though because I prefer the sedan version and do not want to see it get wrecked.

Also, since this is a Subaru article, I want to mention that there was a surprise Subaru that many might missed out or have forgotten about. In Furious 6, there was a blue Subaru BRZ in the background. In the beginning when Dom pays Brian and Mia a visit, you could see a BRZ when Dom's Dodge Challenger SRT8 drives in. However, a better shot of it would be when Shaw's men were after Mia and Elena. Does this ring a bell to all of you ?

The best shot

Remember to come back for the next JDM on the list: Toyota Supra MkIV.

Reunion

On the day of the Hyundai Veloster Turbo test drive, some Celicas joined in on the occasion. To be honest, I did not expect to have this many Celica to turn up and it was definitely a nice view with all the different colors. I have lost count how long ago was the last time I had an event with the Celica club and I am happy to see them. There were some old members that I have not seen in a long time and there were some new faces along with new rides. It has been such a long time since I had someone to have these car talks with. There were moments with the old members where it felt like the time we were apart did not happen and we were chatting like how we used to. Around the new faces however, I felt very much older being 2 generations of owner before them and was sharing some knowledge I have accumulated back in the days. Definitely feels good to be back in the club and how much I have missed being around motorheads like me.

Among all the photos I have taken on that day, I particularly like the photos that I took below. The reason being it is a rare shot of both the Pre-facelift model and the Face-lift model side by side. I would say nice to see both models being so stock but you can see that the silver Pre-facelift model has skirting from the front all the way to the rear and you may not see it, the grey Face-lift model is sitting on aftermarket rims. For an untrained eye, the difference between these 2 models might be limited to just a re-worked front bumper and new rear lights. I can assure you there are 2 more differences on the exterior. It might not be clear but the Face-lift from lights have a small design change and is now height adjustable xenon lights instead of projector lights. The cover just above where the car plate would be is of different design with a chrome line on top. It is really nice to see them both together side by side. What a sight !

When I was an active member of the Celica Club Malaysia, this is particular Celica was my twin car. Just like my ex-Celica, it is a late Face-lift model and it also shares the same color. This body color is actually a special color called the Thunder Grey (yes, that is the name used in UK) and is made only available for Face-lift models. You might not know it but there are very, very less Face-lift models that could be found on the road especially with this color. So, you could say it is quite rare. I have only seen 3 of them including my previous ride. One of the member present asked me whether it reminds me of the days I had my Celica. Truth be told, seeing one with the same color and also a late model, it does stirred something inside of me.

At the end of the day, it was really good to catch up with the old members and to chat up with some new faces. Is that a sign that I will be coming out of retirement and join club outings more often ? The answer would a NO. I really enjoy this car talk especially about Celica with guys and going out on convoys but I think I am more comfortable to join once in a while for a big event such as the test drive. Maybe when I get a new sports car, I would join more often because right know it feels a little weird being the odd one out. Who knows what the future hold ?