Fast and Furious Franchise: Iconic Cars and Behind the Scenes

Summary

In this article, we dive into the world of the Fast and Furious franchise and explore the iconic cars that have become a staple of the series. Dennis McCarthy, the man behind the vehicles in the films, shares his experience working with different cars in the film industry, including the challenges of finding and preparing vintage cars for filming, and the large number of cars destroyed during certain scenes.

The 95 Eclipse: Brian’s car
The 70 Dodge Charger: A Character in Itself
The 94 Supra and Dom’s Charge: Iconic Cars
The Mazda RX-7: A Favorite Import
Ledy’s 97 Nissan 240 and the 1994 Acura Integra
Working with Different Cars
Subaru Rally Car, 1970 Chevelle SS, 1971 Skyline GT, and More
Challenges of Filming and Car Destruction
Conclusion

The 95 Eclipse: Brian’s car

Dennis McCarthy starts by discussing the 95 Eclipse, which was Brian’s car in the first film. He mentions how it fit the character and was iconic to the franchise. The Eclipse was a great representation of Brian’s character, who was a young and upcoming street racer.

The 70 Dodge Charger: A Character in Itself

The 70 Dodge Charger is another iconic car in the franchise, and McCarthy believes it is more of a character than just a vehicle. The Charger has been consistent with everything that Dom drives, and its presence adds to the overall tone of the films.

The 94 Supra and Dom’s Charge: Iconic Cars

The 94 Supra and Dom’s Charge are two cars that get a lot of attention and are iconic to the franchise. The Supra was a great representation of the import scene, while Dom’s Charge was a classic muscle car that fit his character perfectly.

The Mazda RX-7: A Favorite Import

One of McCarthy’s favorite imports is the Mazda RX-7, with its unique rotary motor and Dom’s miniature nitrous bottle moment. The RX-7 was a great representation of the import scene and had a significant impact on the franchise.

Ledy’s 97 Nissan 240 and the 1994 Acura Integra

Ledy’s 97 Nissan 240 was cool and represented the transition from muscle cars to the beginning of the import scene. The 1994 Acura Integra was an easy car to work with and was a great representation of the import scene.

Working with Different Cars

McCarthy talks about his experience working with different cars in the film industry, including the S14 and S15 Silvi, which were popular for drifting events. He also mentions the Veilside Mazda RX-7, which was featured in the movie and had a powerful engine. McCarthy talks about his work on the Mustang and using the R34 engine for Han Silvi, which was tested in drag races. He also mentions the VW van used for Twinkie’s character and the Buick Grand National, which was modified to have a lower stance and black NASCAR wheels.

Subaru Rally Car, 1970 Chevelle SS, 1971 Skyline GT, and More

McCarthy describes various cars used in the Fast and Furious franchise, including a Subaru rally car, a modified 1970 Chevelle SS, a 1971 Skyline GT, a Gurkha military vehicle, and a 2011 Charger used in a vault heist. He praises the cars for their performance and suitability for the scenes they were used in.

Challenges of Filming and Car Destruction

McCarthy also discusses the challenges of finding and preparing vintage cars for filming, and the large number of cars destroyed during certain scenes. Filming on a dangerous mountain road in Tenerife was particularly challenging. McCarthy’s team had to modify the cars to handle the rough terrain and ensure the safety of the actors and crew.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cars in the Fast and Furious franchise have become as iconic as the characters themselves. Dennis McCarthy’s work has been instrumental in bringing these cars to life on the big screen. The franchise has also helped to popularize the import scene and has inspired a new generation of car enthusiasts.