12 Iconic Tokyo Drift Cars of Fast and Furious | Specs & Prices

The Fast and Furious movie has been entertaining audiences for over two decades with its high-octane action, thrilling car chases, and unforgettable characters. One of the most iconic elements of the series is the Tokyo drift cars featured in the third part, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

These cars, with their unique modifications and sleek designs, have captured the imagination of fans around the world. Each vehicle in the movie has its own personality and style, from the bright orange 1967 Ford Mustang to the 2002 Nissan Fairlady Z. But what makes these cars so special?

Tokyo drift cars are heavily modified to enhance their performance and aesthetic appeal. They feature custom paint jobs, body kits, spoilers, and other aftermarket parts to make them stand out from the crowd. Some even have nitrous oxide systems installed to give them an extra boost of speed.

The film’s focus on drifting helped popularize the sport around the world and inspired a generation of car enthusiasts to try it out for themselves. Let’s look closer at the iconic 12 cars featured in Tokyo Drift, exploring their unique characteristics and the modifications that make them perfect for drifting.

12 Most Iconic Tokyo Drift Cars

Have a look at the impressive Tokyo Drift cars with their specifications:

1. 1997 Mazda RX-7:

The 1997 Mazda RX-7 with the VeilSide Fortune RX-7 body kit is undoubtedly the most famous vehicle from the film Tokyo Drift. The car was first displayed at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Salon and was selected by the team at Universal Studios to be featured in the film. However, the film’s version of the car was painted a striking black and orange to stand out from the original’s grey and black scheme.

The VeilSide Fortune kit is one of the most sought-after body kits available, drastically changing the appearance and lines of the RX-7 while yet managing to look very spectacular. A brand new 1997 RX-7, equipped with the standard equipment and the body kit, cost $55,000. However, it isn’t easy to estimate the value of those used in the film because only two copies survived that were taken back to Japan.

Have a look at the specifications of the 1997 Mazda RX-7 below:

2. 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-S:

The 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-S, also called “Mona Lisa,” is the second vehicle that the main character Sean destroys while trying to compete against Drift King Takashi in Tokyo Drift. Han gave Sean his car to use during the competition. Aside from getting a new coat of paint, some aftermarket wheels, and a body kit, the car received no functional upgrades.

Despite its limited screen time, the car became an instant hit with the film’s audience. Although it lacked speed, its timeless body design guaranteed it a place in history. Since it’s illegal in the USA, this one was only sold in Japan. The original MSRP was roughly $40,990.

Have a look at the specifications of the 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-S below:

3. 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX:

The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX is one of the famous vehicles driven by the protagonist in Tokyo Drift. Since Han provided this car to Sean so he could practice drifting, it has a special significance. In one scene, the latter is practicing his drifting skills when Keiichi Tsuchiya, also renowned as the “drift king of Japan,” makes a cameo appearance and asks, “You call that drifting?”

Formula Drift star Rhys Millen prepared the car used in the film by making it rear-wheel drive and modifying other technical aspects to facilitate drifting and sliding. The film vehicle was equipped with an APR body kit and a rear race wing and rode on Toyo tires and 19-inch alloy wheels. In 2006, the starting price for a brand-new model was $31,399.

Have a look at the specifications of the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX below:

4. 2003 Nissan Fairlady Z:

In 2003, Nissan debuted the Fairlady Z, or 350Z, which stole the show at the Tokyo Drift. One was finished in a dark gray and black color scheme and was driven by Takashi, the Drift King (D.K.), while the other was Morimoto, Takashi’s sidekick, and was painted a bright purple and gold.

Additional performance enhancements and a Top Secret G-Force widebody package made Takashi’s car the most powerful in the film. Since the stock 350Z already has excellent handling, Universal opted not to install a wild D1-spec suspension in this vehicle. Originally priced at $44,900, the movie car fetched $130,000 at auction a few years ago.

Have a look at the specifications of the 2003 Nissan Fairlady Z below:

5. 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback:

The 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback stands out as one of the few American muscle cars in Tokyo Drift. The car belonged to Major Boswell, the father of Sean, and was in bad shape. Sean and his crew built the car from scratch for the film’s climactic drift race. The installation of the Nissan Skyline GT-R engine into the 1967 model took the production team a total of two months.

The movie car was made from a 1968 Ford Mustang model, and a total of six cars were made. No vehicles were damaged during filming; all were sold at auction afterward. In today’s currency, a 1967 Mustang Fastback would set you back $21,317—however, a V8-powered movie car sold at auction for an all-time high of $180,000.

Related: 17 Best Street Race Cars | 2023 Updated List

Have a look at the specifications of the 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback below:

6. 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner GTX:

Despite being one of history’s most recognizable muscle cars, the 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner GTX only appeared briefly in the Tokyo Drift’s end scenes. This was driven by Dominic Toretto, who told Sean Boswell, “I won it from my friend Han a few years ago.” The 440 cubic inch V8 in the Roadrunner GTX was courtesy of Pure Vision Designs’ Steve Strope.

This vehicle was painted a sleek grey and rolled on elegant black wheels. It was available with either a 3-speed automatic or 4-speed manual transmission, although the movie car had the former. When new, the 1970 Roadrunner GTX cost $26,152. In comparison, the one used in the movie was sold at Barrett-Jackson for $187,000.

Have a look at the specifications of the 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner GTX below:

7. 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo:

The 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a first-generation Monte Carlo model. In the film’s opening sequence, protagonist Sean drives this car in a drag race against antagonist Clay’s Dodge Viper SRT-10. When Sean crashes the Monet Carlo during the race, he is arrested for reckless driving. In the movie, only two cars had real engines. The rest were either doubles without engines or small V8 engine blocks.

The first Monte Carlo used a Chevrolet 509 block engine producing 560 horsepower. The other Monte Carlo has a crate engine built by Bill Mitchell that has 572 cubic inches and can produce up to 700 horsepower. The one shown in the film had a starting price of $23,878 in 1971.

Have a look at the specifications of the 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo below:

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8. 2004 Mazda RX-8:

The 2004 Mazda RX-8 was driven by Neela and appeared in a night drift race segment in the film Tokyo Drift. The movie car was modified with a GReddy turbo kit and a Tanabe exhaust system. As a result, there was a noticeable increase in power and tire-smoking drifts. The car’s paint job was a strange combination of bright blue and black.

In addition, a Veilside D1-GT body kit was installed. It also comes with a painted carbon fiber hood and a GT wing, both of which are VeilSide additions. In 2004, the base price of a new Mazda RX-8 was $26,680, but it’s unclear how much it set Universal Studios back to create Neela’s RX-8.

Have a look at the specifications of the 2004 Mazda RX-8 below:

9. 2002 Volkswagen Golf R32:

Golf R32 was a cool little car that Reiko drove. Volkswagen had previously given the filmmakers four new 2007 Volkswagen R32s with the option of converting them to rear-drive vehicles for use in drifting. Sadly, the sequence in which her car was present was cut during editing.

The vehicle was modified for a scene to be rear-wheel-drive with scissor doors reminiscent of a Lamborghini and a 3.2-liter V-8 engine capable of producing a lot of power. In 2002, the price for a brand new one was $36,125, and the one used in the film is not worth much because it is not very extraordinary, and the changes made to it serve no practical use.

Have a look at the specifications of the 2002 Volkswagen Golf R32 below:

10. 2005 Volkswagen Touran:

The 2005 Volkswagen Touran is the movie’s least expensive and most powerful car. However, it holds the top spot regarding its quirkiness and uniqueness. Finished in green with a Hulk theme. In the film, Twinkie, the character who first introduces the main protagonist Sean to the sport of drift racing, drives this car.

When this green Hulk Mobile Touran with a 3D punch design on the side rolled out of a parking garage, it was a hilarious sight. The Touran was modified and used as a camera car in the movie. The modifications included a custom roll cage, racing seats, and a stripped-down interior for weight reduction. The exterior was also modified with a custom paint job and decals.

Have a look at the specifications of the 2005 Volkswagen Touran below:

11. Nissan Skyline GT-R R33:

This Skyline makes a brief but unforgettable appearance, driven by two females who eventually give Han their contact information after engaging in what has to be one of the coolest pickup techniques in film history. It’s the one when Han circles their car and reaches out the window to snag their contact info before speeding away.

Fast and Furious fans adored this vehicle for its brief but noteworthy presence. The car is a capable drifter due to a 2.8-liter inline-six engine (the same one used in the Silvia S15 R) that generates 280 horsepower. The top speed is set at 155 mph electronically, but the engine can be tuned to ludicrous power levels.

Have a look at the specifications of the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 below:

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12. Toyota Chaser X100:

This 1996 Chaser in custom yellow makes a fleeting appearance in the film. The X100 indicates that the vehicle is a member of the last generation of Chasers. But there’s no telling what type of power this car has under the hood. However, according to our best knowledge, it features a 2.5L 2JZ-GTE engine with endless customization capacity.

The Chaser’s excellent rear-wheel drive powertrain with the famed 2JZ engine makes it a star in drifting races. The car’s appearance in the movie helped to popularize it among car enthusiasts and further cemented its status as a drifting icon.

Have a look at the specifications of the Toyota Chaser X100 below:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are some frequently asked questions about Tokyo Drift cars:

Are the cars in “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” modified?

Yes, most of the cars in the movie are heavily modified with aftermarket parts to increase their performance and enhance their appearance.

Which Yellow/Orange Car was driven by Han in Tokyo Drift?

Han drove a Veilside-built Mazda RX7 in the Tokyo Drift.

When was the Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift movie released?

“The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” movie was released on June 16, 2006.

Conclusion

The movie “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” showcases a number of legendary JDM vehicles that have gained popularity among car enthusiasts. The movie has greatly contributed to the growth of drifting as a sport.

The vehicles used in the film have been significantly customized with aftermarket items to improve their performance and aesthetics. In this article, we have discussed all the movie cars and their specs in detail. We hope this will serve as a good guide for all the Tokyo Drift fans all around the world.