Very few movies have left the kind of mark on the world of automotive that the Fast and Furious has ever since it debuted in 2001. Boasting a wicked lineup of memorable cars such as Brian's 1999 Nissan Skyline and Dom's ever-iconic 1970 Dodge Charger (a Toretto family heirloom, no less), the franchise has pulled out all the stops to bring audiences a high-octane thrill with every new installment. Of course, you can't talk about the series' most famous rides without mentioning a Tokyo Drift classic: the Han's 1997 Veilside Mazda RX-7.
Driven by legendary wheelman Han Seoul-Oh, this sleek machine is gorgeous on the outside and packing a huge amount of power under the hood. Surprisingly, fans are still learning new things about this car every day! Here are a few cool facts you still might not know about Han's RX-7 from Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.
8 The Veilside Wide-Body Kit
You might have noticed that Han's car stands out proudly amidst all the other cars in the movie, more than you might expect even for an RX-7. That's because Japanese aftermarket parts producer Veilside equipped it with a wide-body kit that added nearly a foot to the car's overall width! It gave the car a splash of intimidation without detracting from the sexy underground aesthetic.
If you've ever wanted a car just like Han's, good news — the exact Fortune body kit used on the RX-7 is still available for purchase on Veilside's website. Just be prepared to fork over around $17,000 for it!
7 Nine Stunt Replicas
At this point, it's no secret that most of the cars you see in the Fast series aren't just one car; they're actually replicas of the original cars seen in the film, and almost all of them are used for stunt scenes, so the Hero car doesn't take serious damage.
The RX-7 had nine replicas built for a variety of stunt scenes and different shots, though none of them got the same bore the same power and drivability as the original. In fact, the chrome wheels were apparently so heavy on the replicas that the crew had to shave down the tires to help them break loose on the pavement.
6 A Turbocharged Rotary Engine
A lot of the series' rides use false engines and other props to deceive viewers; rarely did they get anywhere close to the specs laid out in the movies (looking at you, fake blower in Dom's Charger). Unlike some of the others, Han's Mazda was equipped with a 13B rotary engine and an HKS turbocharger to boot.
Paired with a titanium exhaust system, Brembo brakes, and an APexi suspension, the RX-7 held its own with around about 300 horsepower and roughly 256 lb-ft of torque. The numbers are fairly close to the specs of the original 1997 model, and the car is said to have handled pretty well during filming!
5 A Shift In Color
It's hard to imagine Han's Mazda any differently than we know it—from the body kit and split paint job all the way down to the unbeatable Alpine dual subwoofer sound system, it's practically perfect. What you might not know is that originally, this slick beast looked way different from what we see in Tokyo Drift.
When the studio purchased this particular Mazda from Veilside, the body was red and black. After a fresh coat of House of Color Sunset Pearl orange, it evolved into the RX-7 we know and love today. Truly, was there any other drifter destined for this stunning color scheme?
4 Beginnings As A Show Car
Part of the reason Han's ride is so unique is that it was built and decked out long before Tokyo Drift was created. The studio purchased it from Veilside, where his exact Mazda was on display as a show car.
Remember the gorgeous Fortune wide-body kit? Veilside was using the RX-7 to highlight the body kit at the Tokyo Auto Salon, where it was quickly noticed by picture car coordinator Dennis McCarthy. Before long, it was en route to the U.S. to be used in the upcoming movie.
3 The (Expensive) Cost Of Recreation
It would take a lot more than the $17,000 body kit to re-imagine an RX-7 in Han's style, but it is possible! Between the body mods, intercooler, boosted sound system, upgraded brakes, and a stylish paint job, you'd end up quadrupling the cost of the Fortune kit alone.
That's right: invest about $80,000 and Han's Mazda could be yours, according to legendary technical advisor Craig Lieberman! Just for reference, the base model would have cost around $28,000 alone in 1997, which translates to around $45,000 as of 2020.
2 Surprising Mistakes In The Film
Any movie is bound to have bloopers and errors, and the Fast franchise is no exception. There are plenty of goofs all throughout Tokyo Drift, and some are specific to Han's Mazda! Some are audio/visual errors while others are based around continuity.
For example, in one scene where Han and Sean are talking in the RX-7, you can apparently hear the engine shift at least 7 times — in reality, this car only came with 4 or 5-speed transmissions, and Sean's hands never actually leave the steering wheel (you know, to shift gears). In another scene, the Mazda is fully destroyed by D.K.'s Nissan Fairlady Z, which appears later with nothing more than a few scratches and dents. At one point, this ride switches from left-handed drive to right-handed drive with no explanation.
1 The Fate Of The RX-7
The cars of the Fast movies go through a lot of intense action on-set, and many of them are severely damaged if not totaled afterward. Sadly, the majority of Han's RX-7 replicas were destroyed by the time filming wrapped up.
Out of all nine rebuilds, only two of them survived. Being right-hand drivers, both survivors were shipped back to Japan due to America's 25-year import rule. They were purchased by New Era Imports, a JDM car broker. There's no telling how much they went for after filming, but any garage should be proud to have either of them on display!