A gearhead with great affinity for sports cars but has no knowledge of any Fast and Furious movie is either very anti-social or probably lives under the rock. The Fast and Furious franchise is popular for its fast cars and rising stakes, which often keeps everyone at the very edge of their seats. For a lot of sports car enthusiasts, Fast and Furious is where all the action is.
The franchise started in 2001, and it introduced the American auto culture to the film industry in the coolest way. The franchise features a lot of well-renowned cars such as the 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, the 1993 Mazda RX-7, and the 1993 Honda Civic EJ1, particularly at the very start of the franchise. Another famous car in the first Fast and Furious movie is a 1994 Toyota Supra MK IV, driven by Brian O'Conner as played by the late Paul Walker. Rest his soul.
Following the movie’s success, the Supra became a star in the franchise and also featured in the 2003 sequel. It's famous for its orange paint finished with 'Nuclear Gladiator' decals inspired by a Lamborghini Diablo, and its large, rear wing. Today, the Fast and Furious Supra continues to attract a large audience for its role in the franchise.
Let’s take a closer look at the famed ‘Fast and Furious’ Toyota Supra, and how it became an iconic race car in Hollywood. We’ll dive into its history, appearance, specs, and where it is today.
History Of The Fast And Furious Supra: A 1994 Toyota Supra MK IV
Toyota is a top sports car manufacturer, along with Subaru, Mazda, and many others. Like many, this is a tradition that started a while back. Sports cars have always been popular vehicles, and the segment reached its peak popularity in the '90s, with incredible aerodynamic design, robust engine, and swift drivetrain.
The Toyota Supra was the brand’s response to an increasing demand for sports cars during its era. This inspired the sporty appearance of the Supra – a feature that separates it from all other sporty counterparts of the mid-90s. Notably, the Supra is equipped with a 220-hp inline-six, a 4-speed automatic gearbox, and a rear-wheel drive.
The Toyota Supra appeared on the big screen in 2001, in the first installment of the franchise. The Fast and Furious movie used multiple interior and exterior shots of the 1994 Toyota Supra 2-door coupe, with the late Paul Walker behind the wheel. The Supra went on to reprise its role in 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious.
Here’s What Makes The 1994 Toyota Supra’s Exterior And Interior Styling So Cool
One feature that makes the Fast and Furious Supra so legendary is its exterior appearance. At the front, the Supra has the 1998 headlight updates that come seamlessly integrated into the fascia, while the bottom part is fitted with vents. It also received signal lights from the 1998 update. The frontal vent sends air to the engine, and the rest of the vents redirect air to the side vents. This complements the Supra’s aerodynamic design, which improves its energy in overcoming drag. Thanks to the aerodynamic design, there is less power and pressure exerted on the engine, and for this the Toyota Supra became revered for its great fuel economy and extended driving range. It also has an impressive body kit, which includes 19-inch five-spoke wheels, a front spoiler and side skirts from Bomex, and an APR aluminum bi-plane rear wing. In dimensions, the Supra measures 177.7 inches in length, 50.2 inches in height, and 71.3 inches in overall width (without mirrors).
Also, unlike most sports cars, the 1994 Supra was offered in six colors. They are Anthracite Metallic, Renaissance Red, Super White, Alpine Silver Metallic, Baltic Blue Metallic, and a solid Black shade. But the Supra in the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise comes in a Candy Orange pearl-finish paint. Its shade comes from a Lamborghini Diablo and features what’s famously known as a “Nuclear Gladiator” decal. This spans along the side, from the front wheel arc to the rear wing.
Inside, the 2-door coupe offers 37.5 inches of headroom and 42.2 inches of legroom for the driver and passenger. While most Supra models came with rear seats, the Fast and Furious Supra only has front seats. The seats come with viper blue suede and new black leather upholstery with Sparco Harnesses. The Fun Fact: Eddie Paul is the guy who built the Fast and Furious Supra at The Shark Shop in El Segundo, California.
The 1994 Toyota Supra Packs Some Serious Ponies, And An Outstanding Driving Performance
Under the hood, the iconic 1994 Toyota Supra comes equipped with a 3.0-liter inline-6 engine. This engine came standard on all Supra models produced that year. Notably, the engine in the Fast and Furious Supra is a 2JZ-GTE turbocharged inline-6, and it churns out 320 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. With this power stat, the Supra has no problem overcoming the combination of rolling resistance and gradient force, even on steeper terrains. Toyota paired this engine to a resilient 4-speed automatic transmission, sending the power to the rear wheels. A 5-speed manual was available on some models. However, the Fast and Furious Supra runs on a 4-speed and has an outstanding performance.
In many ways, the 1994 Toyota Supra was already a star in the making. Driving the Supra offers an interesting experience. The vehicle doesn’t like idling through city traffic for a long time. Instead, it prefers the open road, where you can really push its engine to the limits. The powerful engine contributes to a better acceleration stat, propelling the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. The Fast and Furious Supra has a top speed of 185 mph.
Where Is The Famous Fast And Furious Supra Today?
The orange 1994 Toyota Supra that appeared in the Fast and Furious films, driven by the late Paul Walker, sold at auction for a price of $550,000. This sale took place at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas lot in June 2021. Barrett-Jackson displayed the Supra with its extensive documentation, which include a certificate that proved its authenticity. Most people confused this with another Supra from the franchise, which sold for $185,000 back in 2015 by Mecum. While the models looked very similar in appearance, a few factors differentiates the two, and these include the previously-auctioned Supra's five-speed manual gearbox and naturally aspirated engine.