The Fast & Furious movie franchise has a lot to answer for. It turned obscure Japanese sports cars into automotive icons; it solidified American muscle cars as the legends they are; it turned a good couple of generations of drivers into wannabe street racers and tuners; and it has sent the value of some cars sky-high.
If you mention some of the cars used in Fast & Furious movies, you are more likely to hear about their latest auction prices rather than their 0–60 mph times. Paul Walker’s personal R34 Skyline GT-R sold for an eye-watering sum recently, and the Mark IV Supra now has an average auction price of over $77,000. However, not all the models you see on the screen are now unobtainable. You don’t need to have a Hollywood budget to buy these bargain Fast & Furious models.
Models are listed in ascending order based on average used price, from the least expensive to the most expensive.
A 1995 Honda Civic Coupe (EJ1/fifth-gen) may not jump out as pure Fast & Furious, but it is actually one of the most iconic, well-priced Japanese tuner cars you can buy today. Starring in the first movie, The Fast and the Furious, the ’95 Civic models were used as heist cars by Dominic, Letty, and Leon, and while the original movie cars received no power upgrades (just some sound dubbing in post-production), that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t boost them, especially for the price you can pick one up for.
Classic.com says the average auction price range for an EJ1 coupe is $4,000 to $7,100. What is great about them is not only do they come equipped with a strong engine at build, but if you want the look of the movie car (if you paint it black) and a bit more juice, you can.
If you find a DX or LX trim, you will get a 1.5-liter SOHC inline-four under the hood, good for 102 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque. If you find a Civic EX, you get a 1.6-liter SOHC VTEC inline-four good for 125 horsepower and 106 pound-feet of torque, which translates to 0–60 mph times of around 8.2 seconds.
However, the 1.6-liter VTEC mill in the EX model has a high rev limit of 7,200 rpm, and it is not uncommon to see these models with cold air intake rams, new headers, chipped ECUs, and turbos fitted. Some owners have swapped the engines out altogether for more powerful and very reliable DOHC Honda B-Series inline-fours. What also makes this ordinary-looking coupe very appealing is that it is Honda-grade reliable and simple; there are a lot of communities out there that know how to get the most out of them, and it can be made into a true 1990s sleeper.
The 1998 Lexus GS 300 is highly unlikely to be the first car you think of when you think of Fast & Furious, but as we have found with so many Lexus cars in the past, they are there, just quietly getting the job done. Today, auction prices for the ’98 GS 300 are low, and you get a lot of ’90s luxury in the form of leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic climate control, and quiet class.
You’d be forgiven for not spotting the GS in The Fast and the Furious, but it is there as Johnny Tran’s plush ride as he and his crew confront Dominic’s crew. However, it is not just a simple movie association that makes it such a cool sedan, but what is under the hood. The GS 300 is equipped with the legendary Toyota 2JZ-GE inline-six, which kicks out a healthy 220 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 220 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Nought-to-60 times aren’t what you would call quick, at around 7.6 to 8.2 seconds, but you want this car for its engine architecture. The same beefy block is used on the 2JZ mill in the now very expensive Mark IV Toyota Supra Turbo, which currently has an average auction price of $101,000, and can be juiced up very comprehensively.
This engine is still at the heart of the Toyota modding community, and we have seen 1,000-horsepower builds from them, with owners adding massive turbos to them, adding different air intakes, and adding larger-capacity fuel pumps. Combined with the rear-wheel drive rig in the GS 300 and what you can do with the engine, this cheap Lexus can become a true sleeper sedan.
The 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STi may not necessarily be the first Japanese car you think of when you think of the Fast & Furious franchise, but with an average auction price of a touch under $29,000, it is a lot cheaper than the likes of the Supra, Lancer Evos, and GT-R that everyone is after. It also didn’t play a small role.
The 2012 Subaru WRX STi hatchback was famously driven by Paul Walker in Furious 7, the last movie he was in before his death. It was used as part of a stunt that saw it being dropped out of a cargo plane, and while it isn’t a die-hard fan’s go-to, it should still hold a special place for those who like Japanese performance cars and the legend that is Paul Walker.
Classic.com says that only six models (at the time of writing) have been sold at auction in the last five years, so they are not the easiest to get hold of. However, if you do get hold of one, you are in for some fun. As standard, the WRX STi is equipped with Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD, Driver Controlled Center Differential, which allows you to adjust the diff to suit how you want torque distribution set up, Brembo brakes, sport-tuned MacPherson front struts, a Torsen rear diff, and a limited-slip diff at the front.
Under the hood is just as impressive; it is equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged and intercooled EJ257 boxer engine. 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque are sent through a close-ratio six-speed manual with heavy-duty synchros to all four wheels; top speeds are 159 mph, and you can hit 60 mph in as little as 4.8 seconds. For both cornering and speed, the WRX STi is a lot of bang for your buck.
As one of the best Japanese roadsters to ever grace the tarmac, the 2000 Honda S2000 (AP1) only got more popular after the movies. It is equipped with rear-wheel drive, a six-speed close-ratio manual box, and a Torsen limited-slip differential, while 50:50 weight distribution and a light curb weight of around 2,800 pounds make it a nicely balanced and razor-sharp sports car for the back roads.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter DOHC VTEC F20C inline-four that kicks out 240 horsepower and 153 pound-feet of torque. 0–60 mph times are adequate, at approximately six seconds, but it is the driving feel that keeps people coming back. The engine has a redline of 8,900 rpm; you get peak ponies at 8,300 rpm, and peak torque wound out at 7,500 rpm. In short, it is very responsive underfoot and very fun to drive.
Though 2 Fast 2 Furious helped to solidify the S2000’s legacy, thanks to the pink number driven by Suki, its short wheelbase, lightning-quick reactions, engaging feel in your hands, rev-happy engine, and classic roadster looks outshine its movie fame, and it is one of the most iconic Japanese sports cars from the last few decades.
Today, auction prices vary very widely, depending on the condition and level of modder “improvements” added. The lowest price from a recent auction was just over $13,000, while the highest price paid for an S2000 was just north of $95,000. This model only had 42 miles on the clock and was in mint condition. That clearly isn’t affordable, but the average auction price currently (at the time of writing) sits at $28,973, so still less than a 2026 Honda Civic Sedan Hybrid ($29,395).
As part of the C5 Corvette lineage (the generation that got an awful amount right), buying a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette means you get iconic American muscle/sports car fun, and a link to 2 Fast 2 Furious.
A convertible ’98 Corvette is crashed into a Saleen Mustang in a race by one of Carter Verone’s crew in the second movie. It doesn’t play a huge role, but it still classifies it as an affordable yet iconic movie car today. Classic.com says the average auction price for a 1998 Corvette is $24,596. Auction prices vary, though, depending on whether you go movie-OG and get a drop-top or buy a sturdier coupe.
The most expensive convertible ’98 Corvette (non-Callaway and non-custom) recently went under the hammer for $66,000. This model boasts VIN 001 and only had 203 miles on the clock when it sold. The most expensive hard-top 1998 Corvette went under the hammer for $31,900, with 21,000 miles on the clock. However, starting prices are a lot more appealing at around the $17,000 mark.
In typical Corvette fashion, you get aggressive looks, an engaging ride from the rear transaxle, 50:50 weight distribution, and an originally optional Borg-Warner T-56 six-speed manual, so you can really feel connected when you are driving. Then there is the engine; the ’98 Corvette is equipped with a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter LS1 small-block V8, which redlines at 6,000 rpm and is good for 345 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. That translates to 0–60 mph times of 4.7 to 5.3 seconds with the manual box.
Sources: OEMs, Classic.com, Bring A Trailer
No Comments