Fast and Furious Muscle

With the sixth entry to the Fast & Furious franchise hitting theaters next month, I thought I'd take a look at some of the great cars to have appeared in the films. Specifically, I'm looking at the muscle cars, which stand out against the predominantly Japanese cars that dominate the series, like the Skylines and Evos. I've divided the cars into their respective films, and photo credit goes to IMCDb.


The Fast and The Furious
The first film was based on the street racing scene in Los Angeles, California. Paul Walker starred as an undercover cop named Brian O'Conner, and Vin Diesel played street racer Dominic Toretto. The story integrated a motorcycle gang, as well as a truck hijacking crime ring.

Toretto drives a modified RX-7 early in the film, but later gets behind the wheel of an awesome 1970 Dodge Charger. Painted all-black with a giant blower, it was a sweet ride, but it gets wrecked in the film's climactic last race. Despite its destruction, the Charger would be Dom's trademark car in later iterations of the franchise.

The only other muscle car in the film was also Dom's, and only appeared briefly in an extra scene after the credits. The car is a 1970 Chevelle SS, and it too returned for a later film.


2 Fast 2 Furious
The second film ditched Toretto's character altogether, focusing on Brian's undercover lifestyle. This time around, he's teamed up with an old pal named Roman Pearce, played by Tyrese Gibson. The two of them are tasked with stopping a drug smuggling operation by infiltrating it. Somehow this involves street racing.

One scene involves a street race to determine who will get the job of transporting the illegal merchandise. One of the competitors drives this Saleen S281 Mustang, but it gets obliterated under the wheels of a semi truck.

Brian and Roman eventually need new cars, and so they race for pinks against a set of muscle cars, beating them in a tag-team style showdown. O'Conner trades his Evo for this 1969 Yenko Camaro Replica. The Camaro plays a large role in the film's climax, which involves a ridiculous jump into a yacht.

While Brian is driving the Camaro, Roman gets this 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T to replace his Mitsubishi Eclipse. It gets outfitted with a custom ejector seat, and eventually sacrifices itself to stop the bad guys. A hero's death, you could say. Thankfully, this car was later rebuilt and repaired on Spike TV's Powerblock.


The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift
The third film is considered the oddball of the series, focusing on an entirely new character named Sean. Set in Tokyo, muscle cars are few and far between, but a select few make the cut.

The opening race, set in an unfinished neighborhood, involves a race between Sean and a high school jock. The football player drives this Dodge Viper SRT-10 against Sean, but it ultimately gets destroyed when the jock realizes he's going to lose.

Sean's car in the race is a souped-up Chevy Monte Carlo. It's a bit of a beater, with the paint being yellow with plenty of primer. Beefy NASCAR wheels and a big block V8 round out the car's no-nonsense appearance. It also gets wrecked very severely, flipping multiple times.

Atthe film's end, Sean has learned to drift, and needs a car to beat a rival drifter. Him and his pals build this 1967 Mustang Fastback using parts cannibalized off of local drift cars. It takes a severe beating, but he wins the race and gets the girl.

At the end of the film is a cameo by Dominic Toretto, driving a 1970 Plymouth GTX. It's a brief scene, but seeing Dom for the first time since the first film's ending was a treat for fans of the series.


Fast & Furious
In the fourth film, Toretto and O'Conner return to the spotlight, and try to stop a cartel that's smuggling drugs across the border in high performance cars. O'Conner is trying to stop them, while Toretto is motivated to find the gang's leader, the man responsible for killing his girlfriend. This movie offered a large amount of muscle compared to the other films.

For the opening scene, Dom and his crew are hijacking fuel trailers from a moving truck. Dom's car is a modified 1987 Buick Grand National. He uses it to distract the trucker while his cargo is captured. The sinister-looking Buick takes a bruising, but is thankfully not destroyed.

 

 

To steal the cargo, Dom's crew uses these two trucks. Both are heavily-modified Chevrolets, the top one being an 80s model crew cab and the bottom one being a 1969 model. Both trucks have been repurposed to carry semi trailers, which they attach by pulling a 180 and hitching up the trailer, an impressive automotive feat.

When we see Dom next, he's driving this 1970 Chevelle SS, which is supposedly the car from the ending of the first movie. He uses it repeatedly before it winds up getting blown-up. There are some pretty good street race scenes with this car before it gets axed, though.

The film's antagonist, a jerk named Fenix, drives this sweet 1972 Ford Gran Torino. Custom wheels, side exhaust and side stripes make for a pretty awesome car. However, since it belongs to the bad guy it obviously isn't going to survive the film.

Having lost his Chevelle, Dom needs a new car. To the rejoice of many fans, he opts to rebuild (mostly) his Charger from the first movie. It's lost the chrome, but it still carries the huge blower and black paint. Sadly, the Charger is killed off a second time during a chase through an underground tunnel.

In a hurry, Dom ditches the totaled Charger for a henchman's Camaro. It's not just any Camaro, though. This is the Hot Rod Magazine F-Bomb Camaro, which has about 700 horsepower. It's technically a replica, and it's only used for a brief scene where it plows into another car, namely the green Torino shown above. But that doesn't affect how awesome it is.

In the closing scenes of the movie, we see a couple of Dom's crew members bust him out of prison by wrecking a prison bus. One of the cars is a Pontiac Trans Am, which thankfully receives no harm whatsoever.


Fast Five
The fifth film was a huge reboot for the series, and it featured all of the previous stars, including Dom, Brian, Roman, and Han. Dwayne Johnson also joined the cast as Luke Hobbs, a government marshal. Set in Rio de Janeiro, there are enough muscle cars to make a gearhead happy.

One of the first scenes involves hijacking cars from a moving train. One is this Detomaso Pantera, which counts as a muscle car on behalf of the Ford 351 V8 powerplant. This one suffers no harm, and is only used briefly.

Another hijacked car is this Ford GT40. Like the Pantera, it is used briefly and suffers no damage, but it has a more important role in the story. Naturally, this GT40 is a replica, as nobody would drive a real one at speed through a desert.

The third car, piloted by Dom, is this Corvette Grand Sport Convertible replica. It's used more heavily in the hijack scene, and is also used to rescue Brian. However, it does end up plummeting off a cliff into a river. The main characters managed to somehow not die in that scene.

When the team is assembled, each character arrives in a different car. Han drives this beaten but cool Ford Maverick. It's used very briefly and suffers no damage.

Tej, one of the characters from the second film, arrives in this 1963 Ford Galaxie. Like the Maverick, it is used briefly and doesn't get damaged by cliffs or explosions and such.

Dom arrives having yet again pieced together his Charger, although this time it's grey and lacks the iconic blower. The more discreet look represents the fact that he's a wanted fugitive. The Charger sees very little action in the movie, but manages to get totalled anyway when Hobbs plows into it with an APC.

For the main action scene of the movie, Dom and Brian steal a safe by pulling it behind a set of black SRT8 Chargers. The cars have custom winches attached to the rear and receive excessive usage. One gets obliterated, but the other lives to drive another day. Chargers also appear as the vehicle of choice for the Rio Police.

Last but not least, in the ending scene we see Dom has acquired a new Dodge Challenger that's been mildy modified. It sees little to no actual use in the movie, but it is implied he races Brian in the silver GT-R in the background.

So, a plentiful lineup. And by the looks of the trailers, the next film will be just as filled with muscle as it's most recent predecessors. It appears they've even brought the Charger back again, this time as a Daytona. Clearly it's part zombie, having been wrecked and rebuilt four different times. But if you want automotive action, then I suggest you check out Fast & Furious 6 when it hits theaters in May.

Random Car Wednesday: Dodge Challenger SRT8

Welcome to another RCW here on Shifting Gears. For this edition, I thought I'd feature a more modern car, a 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8. Out of the modern muscle cars, and admittedly the classic ones, too, I always prefer the Challenger. It's aggressive and mean, like a muscle car should be, but it also has an elegan design. It's simple and effective. This Challenger is the top-notch SRT8 model, and comes with a 6.1 liter HEMI. I also love the color here, it looks great in blue. The Challenger is undeniable evidence that muscle cars are back, and here to stay.

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Dick's Classic Garage 4th Annual Car Show

I recently attended the 4th Annual Classic Car Show at Dick's Classic Garage, a local classic car museum. With a fantastic variety and a strong turnout, it was easily one of the nicer shows I've been to. Awards were presented at the end of the show, but I felt like certain cars really needed some extra recognition, so here are my own awards, presented for various classes. Let's get started.

Coolest Paint: 1972 Plymouth 'Cuda

Although not the most popular year for the 'Cuda, this 1972 coupe was absolutely brilliant. The paint was a jawdroppingly beautiful shade of pink, and in the afternoon sun it was almost unreal. Besides the color, I also give points for it being a straight-up cool muscle car. The spoiler, vinyl top and shaker hoodscoop are all great details and really bring out the big Plymouth's full potential.

Best Hot Rod: 1932 Ford Pickup

There were plenty of hot rods to gawk at, and quite a few were 1932 Fords like this, but none matched the levels of pure awesome that this extremely blue pickup was giving off. Wild color aside, the chopped top, lowered stance and vintage wheels were all great. The main attraction, however, was obviously the enormous V8 topped with a Weiand blower. This was without a doubt one of my favorite hot rods ever. On a side note, it's nice to see a '32 Ford pickup instead of the more common coupe.

Best Mopar: 1969 Dodge Coronet R/T

I'll admit, I love almost all of the vehicles Mopar built during the muscle car wars of the 60s and 70s, so picking one to be my favorite was tough. That said, it was impossible not to love this beautiful Coronet R/T. The green paint is a welcome departure from the usual red, yellow or black, and it works well with the white interior and tail stripe. The rims are perfect for the car, giving it just the right amount of chrome, and to seal the deal this R/T has a very potent 440 under the hood. This was possibly my favorite car of the show.

Best Chevrolet: 1969 Camaro Z/28

The first-gen Camaro is common fare at most car shows, with plenty of SS and RS models always on display. But the Z/28 is different. It's much more uncommon, making it far more interesting. I was quite pleased to see one at the show, especially one as nice as this. The paint job is the trademark twin racing stripes, in this case white over a red body. The engine is Chevrolet's 302 V8, which was aimed at the Trans Am racing series. This is definitely a car I'd be happy to take home.

Best Oddball: 1960 Mercury Meteor Montcalm

At first glance, this appears to be a Ford Starliner. Look closer, and you'll notice the grille is wrong, and it doesn't say "Ford" anywhere on the car. That's because this is the Mercury variation of the Starliner, the 1960 Mercury Meteor Montcalm. What classifies this as an oddball is that America never got the Montcalm. It was sold exclusively in Canada, and this one somehow made it back into the U.S. I have to say, I adore the execution on this car. The wheels are aftermarket but not flashy, and the color is pretty in a subtle, elegant way. It's a tasteful example of customization.

Best 1930's: 1934 Ford

 Most 1930's cars, especially Fords like this one, end up as perfectly-preserved originals or completely reworked hot rods. This one, though, has managed to find a middle ground. It appears fairly stock overall, but the lowered stance and the menacing rumble of a new exhaust system give away its modern concessions. The black paint is so perfectly accented by the red wheels and the red stripe around the car, and the chrome makes it stand out and catch your attention. I'd love to see more cars like this, that are not original but not extensively modified, instead being a well-blended mix of the two.

Best Fullsize: 1968 International Harvester Travelall 1000

These things simply don't exist anymore. At least, not in this nice of a condition. I had to do a double-take when this one pulled in, just to make sure I didn't imagine it. The Travelall, though not the first SUV, was probably the nicest. Not as boxy as the Chevy Suburban or the Jeep Wagoneer, the International was styled like a car, and came off as less of a truck and more of an overgrown station wagon. This particular Travelall was remarkably original, and attracted tons of curious viewers. Seeing one of these in such great shape really makes me smile.

Best Ford: 1968 Ford Mustang GT California Special

The 1968 Mustang GT/CS is a rare machine. Sold for one year only in one state only, they're among the rarest Mustangs around. Visually, the CS is easy to identify. They were all coupes, and came with the Shelby-esque side scoops, the square foglights in the grille, and Thunderbird taillights. They also had the sidestripe along the side of the car, running from the scoop forward. While most California Specials were white with a black stripe, this one is a much more tantalizing red and white. These are awesome to look at up close, and it easily stole the title of "Best Ford" from its contenders.

Most Original: 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood

This classic Cadillac was positively oozing elegance. A big, black, stately sedan, this Fleetwood was just as imposing and beautiful as it was when it rolled off the assembly line in 1941. As a matter of fact, this car is actually exactly the same as it was when new. Even the interior is original, and it looks positively unused. The lines of the car take a fairly squareish design and melt it into something that really flows. Seeing a car this old with so little evidence of decay is absolutely mindblowing.

Best Modern: 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10

For the final award, we have this track-ready Viper SRT-10 coupe. There were a handful of modern cars on display, with this white monster being my personal favorite. The V10 in this car is simply massive, and it sounds wild. This particular car has the ACR suspension package, and is fairly exclusive in that it's 1 of only 4 coupes to be built in this color scheme. All in all, this Dodge has more than enough power to satisfy any adrenaline junkie.

This was such a good show. A little of this and that, a lot of nice people, and a spectacular museum that I'll be covering in a future post. As the car show season kicks into high gear, be on the lookout for plenty of show coverage, right here at Shifting Gears.

Random Car Wednesday: 1968 Chevrolet C-10

Welcome to today's RCW. I couldn't help but notice that there hasn't been a pickup truck in the spotlight yet, so it's about time we have one. This particular truck is a gorgeous 1968 Chevrolet that has been customized by the owner. The custom wheels and paint on the outside are matched by a more modernized interior on the inside. While built for utilitarian purpose, this Chevy now serves as a super-cool street cruiser.

1968 Chevrolet Pickup

Car Show Highlights

Having been to a car show and a cruise-in lately, it's about time I get some pictures up. These are from the most recent Cars and Coffee event, as well as a cruise-in at a local car museum. Plenty of variety, and a ton of fun.

First things first, we have this classic Chevrolet Corvette convertible. There's rarely a shortage of Corvettes at Cars and Coffee, but this one caught my eye primarily due to its color. It lends a more cultured European sports car look, and it really suits the lines of this car. This one's a 1967, the last year for this bodystyle.

The classic 'Vette is a great convertible sports car, but this brand new Bentley Continental GTC convertible is not a bad alternative. The new front end design on the latest Bentley models is starting to grow on me. It's very modern and looks sportier than the previous generation. Of course, looks are nothing without performance to back them up, but the Bentley's immense W12 powerplant will provide enough horsepower to keep you grinning for days. The convertible also does a great job of making silver look good. On lesser cars it can come off as a bit bland.

I absolutely love cars that have a personality, and this old-school Ford coupe is chock full of the stuff. The owner has gone with the "little of this, little of that" design plan, and it comes together as a very unique car. To start with, it's a 1929 Ford coupe. The engine is a small-block Chevrolet V8, the taillights come from a vintage Cadillac, and the massive rear fenders cover some equally massive rear tires. Then there's the Jaguar hood ornament, and the mismatched front seats, neither of which are original to the car. It's essentially a giant mash-up of parts and pieces, and it makes it a personalized statement about the driver. Cars like this always make me smile.

Although not quite as cool as their '60s and '70s counterparts, the '90s-gen Camaros can be pretty cool if done right. They're also a low-budget way to get your hands on a RWD V8 American muscle car. This one's a 1993 Z28 with a couple of modifications. The wheels are tasteful aftermarket rims, and the chrome "V8" badge is small and simple, thus not coming across as tacky. It's hard not to like a red Camaro.

The Camaro is a nice car, but if you want a real muscle car, go for the classics. A great example is this immaculate 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302. The Boss 302 was Ford's contender in the Trans Am racing series of the '70s, where it battled it out with Cudas, Camaros, Challengers, and Javelins. The Calypso Coral paint on this one absolutely shines in the sun, and the ultra-'70s graphics are very cool. This one is unique in that instead of the far more common Magnum 500 rims, it has the base-model rims. This one also is devoid of the rear spoiler and louvers, but it retains the chin spoiler up front. I simply adore this car.

Not quite as sporty as the Boss 302, this 1941 Oldsmobile is more about elegance and luxury. The front end of this car always seems so cluttered to me. It seems like the headlights could be moved further out on the fenders, allowing room for the grille to be widened. All the same, it's still a very stately car. It's also extremely uncommon. I've never seen another Oldsmobile of this vintage, so I made sure to get a long look at it.

Take a close look at this Camaro. It appears to be essentially stock, and there's not even an SS badge. It's just a Camaro with stripes, right? Wrong. This is not just some milktoast yellow Camaro, it's a Hennessey. For those who don't know, Hennessey is like a modern-day equivalent of Yenko or Baldwin Motion. They're best known for the insane Hennessey Venom GT, but they specialize in horsepower upgrades for performance cars. It's likely this Camaro is producing over 500 horsepower, thus making it a modern-day sleeper.

While the Hennessey uses the element of stealth, this Ferrari 360 Modena is a blatant powerhouse. It's a mid-engined monster of a car, making 420 bhp from a 3.6 liter V8. That power is all sent directly to the rear wheels, which can propel it to a top speed of 189 mph. All of that amazing performance is wrapped in an utterly gorgeous body, all very elegant and smooth. It's nice to see this car in silver, as opposed to the typical Ferrari red.

That's all for now, but expect more to come soon. The weather is warm and pleasant, perfect for some really sensational car shows.

Random Car Wednesday: 1979 Plymouth Arrow

It's time again for another Random Car Wednesday, and this particular vehicle is one of the most oddball RCW's yet. This little pickup started life as a 1979 Plymouth Arrow, Chrysler's answer to the Chevy LUV and Ford Courier minitrucks. Though heavily faded, the graphics on this one indicate it was a Plymouth Arrow Sport. The owner has made plenty of modifications, such as the lowered suspension, custom wheels and new grille. These trucks are fairly uncommon nowadays, so it's good to see one in good hands.

1979 Plymouth Arrow Sport

Random Car Wednesday: Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

This week's RCW is quite suitable for the sunshine we've been getting here in Texas as of late. The Mercedes Benz 280SL is Germany's entry into the world of sports roadsters. Pitted against MGBs, Austin-Healeys and Triumphs, the little SL offers much more luxury and class. The blue paint is sporty but classic, and the removable top means it can handle a little rain, too. Such a sweet ride.

1968 Mercedes Benz 280 SL