You may recognize it from the second installment, but this car played a roll in The Fast and the Furious, too.
When 2 Fast 2 Furious hit theaters in 2003, scores of car fans were eager to soak in the sequel to the iconic 2001 hit, The Fast and the Furious. 20 years later, the series is still going strong, but it's the earlier movies that are held in the highest regard – and that's thanks to the cars. Cars like this 1993 Mazda RX-7.
This tuned Japanese sports car may not have been the star of the movie (Paul Walker's R34 Skyline GT-R enjoys that privilege), but it has become an icon in automotive movie circles. Driven by Amaury Nolasco – who plays the cocky Orange Julius – this very RX-7 was used in an early scene where Walker pits his silver and blue Skyline against the Mazda, a pink Honda S2000, and a gold Toyota Supra.
Thanks to Mecum Auctions, you can put this special RX-7 in your garage.
Initially, the car was built by Eddie Paul for use in the first installment. It was one of five RX-7s used as Dominic Toretto's Veilside-bodied car. It was later reconfigured for the second movie, where it had less screen time. Mecum says more than $40,000 have been spent on maintenance and upkeep.
While the extroverted exterior mods may not suit contemporary tastes, this was a real head-turner back in the day. The Ultra Orange Pearl paintwork features yellow “Orange Julius” decals from Modern Image on the bonnet, doors, and smaller stickers across the body. A Versus body kit lends the graceful RX-7 some aggression, along with five-spoke 18-inch wheels from Ro_Ja.
A J-Spec hood replaces the stock item, and while the RX-7 retails its signature pop-up headlights, the vehicle has prominent Cat 2 fog lights embedded in the custom bumper.
It's not entirely perfect, with signs of wear and tear present on the exterior.
Despite outward appearances, the engine seems to be stock. Mecum Auctions says the 1.3-liter rotary engine produces 252 horsepower. As an earlier Series 6 model, this output applied to the Type R, Type RB, and Type RZ variants.
Therefore, it's safe to assume this model boasts 217 lb-ft of torque sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. It may not sound like much, but the RX-7 weighs as little as 2,712 pounds – just 300 lbs or so more than the current generation MX-5 Miata. A rather neat addition is the flamethrower exhaust, which should at least serve as a conversation starter.
Inside, you'll find the curvaceous cabin has been upgraded with Red and Black Sparco racing seats and a three-spoke racing wheel with controls for the Nitrous Oxide setup.
It may not be one of the franchise's biggest stars, but it's a great piece of cinematic history. Mecum expects it to sell for between $175,000 – $250,000 when it hits the auction block at the Indy 2023 event, taking place from May 12 – 20.
The RX-7 is arguably one of the greatest cars Mazda has ever produced. Despite this, decent examples can be found for reasonable amounts of money, making this vehicle rather pricey. Then again, none will have the provenance of this particular model, and, for collectors, this example's rich history is worth its weight in gold.
There's a chance that a rotary-powered Mazda coupe may return, with company officials claiming a rotary sports car would be a dream come true. However, with electrification taking priority, it will be some time before we ever see it.
Keyword: Mazda RX-7 From 2 Fast 2 Furious Heads To Auction With Flamethrower Exhaust