The Fast and Furious franchise has never been just about the action—it’s always been about the cars. From underground street races to globe-trotting heists, the series built its legacy on machines that were fast, loud, and unforgettable. Some were classics with real muscle, others were tuner legends straight out of a Gran Turismo garage, and a few were just plain outrageous.

But behind the nitrous and stunts, there were real cars with real stories—some of which changed the way people looked at performance. These 10 stand out as icons in a franchise that helped turn car culture into global entertainment.

1. 1970 Dodge Charger R/T

Dominic Toretto’s black 1970 Charger is arguably the most recognizable car in the franchise. It’s said to run 9s in the quarter mile and packs a blown 426 HEMI under the hood—though exact specs varied between movie cars and props.

The car’s presence is all attitude: high-rise intake, deep-dish wheels, and that jacked-up stance. It’s the definition of a muscle car gone full Hollywood. Though it’s been “destroyed” more than once on screen, the Charger keeps coming back—because it’s as much a character as Dom himself.

2. 1994 Toyota Supra Mk4

Brian O’Conner’s orange Supra was more than a cool car—it was redemption on four wheels. Rebuilt from a junkyard shell, the movie version boasted a 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo inline-six and a six-speed manual. In reality, it had around 320 hp stock but could be tuned well past 1,000.

Finished in Lamborghini Diablo Candy Orange and fitted with a Bomex body kit, it was peak early-2000s tuner style. The Supra’s blend of reliability and insane performance potential made it a perfect fit for Brian—and helped cement its status as a legend.

3. 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34

The R34 GT-R became a global icon thanks in part to 2 Fast 2 Furious. Brian’s silver-and-blue Skyline featured a 2.6L twin-turbo RB26DETT engine, AWD, and a Getrag six-speed—one of the most balanced and capable drivetrains of its time.

While U.S. laws made it a rare sight on American streets, the R34 had already earned massive street cred through games like Gran Turismo. The movie car sported a C-West body kit and HRE wheels, and it sounded just as sharp as it looked.

4. 1993 Mazda RX-7 (Dom’s Red Car)

In the original film, Dom shows up to Race Wars in a bright red Mazda RX-7. It was loud, low, and exactly the kind of rotary-powered menace that turned heads in the early 2000s. The car featured a VeilSide body kit and a twin-rotor 13B engine under the hood.

While the movie didn’t dive into rotary tech, real-world RX-7s from that era made around 255 hp stock and were known for razor-sharp handling. Dom’s version was all about attitude, and in the context of that first race scene, it delivered.

5. 1971 Nissan Skyline GT-R (Hakosuka)

In Fast Five, Dom briefly rolls in a silver 1971 Nissan Skyline GT-R—also known as the Hakosuka. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance, but for car fans, it was a deep cut and a nod to GT-R history.

Powered by a 2.0L inline-six (S20), the original Skyline GT-R laid the groundwork for everything that followed. It wasn’t loud or overbuilt—it was clean, understated, and old-school cool. Its inclusion in the franchise showed just how much the GT-R legacy mattered to the filmmakers.

6. 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

In Tokyo Drift, Sean Boswell lands behind the wheel of a silver Evo IX that’s been converted to rear-wheel drive for drift duty. While stock Evos are AWD rally weapons, this one was all about sliding sideways in the Japanese hills.

The Evo IX came with a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four, a six-speed manual, and aggressive suspension tuning. Even with the drivetrain swap, the movie car held onto the Evo’s sharp, lightweight nature. It may not have been a traditional drift car, but it sure got the job done.

7. 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback (Tokyo Drift)

At the end of Tokyo Drift, we get a mashup only Hollywood could dream up—a ’67 Mustang powered by a Nissan RB26. Built using the engine from Han’s wrecked Silvia, the hybrid setup was wild but surprisingly well thought-out.

The Mustang kept its classic fastback body but was fitted with five-lug wheels, coilover suspension, and a modified rear end to handle the high-revving turbo six. It was a perfect visual metaphor for the movie itself—East meets West with tire smoke and throttle.

8. 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT-8

The modern Challenger became a recurring ride for Dom in the later films. Big, loud, and unapologetic, it echoed his old Charger while embracing newer tech. The SRT-8 version featured a 6.1L HEMI V8, good for 425 hp and a 0–60 time under 5 seconds.

With retro styling, rear-drive muscle, and a menacing stance, it fit Dom’s personality to a T. While not as flashy as the franchise’s tuner builds, it represented a different side of performance—and reminded fans that old-school V8 grunt never really goes out of style.

9. 2015 Lykan Hypersport

In Furious 7, Brian and Dom crash a Lykan Hypersport through not one, but three skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi. While the scene was pure spectacle, the car itself was just as wild. Built by W Motors, the Lykan packed a 3.7L twin-turbo flat-six making 780 hp and a claimed top speed of 245 mph.

With diamond-encrusted headlights and a $3 million price tag, the Lykan was the most expensive car featured in the series. Whether you loved it or rolled your eyes, it proved the franchise had fully entered hypercar territory.

10. 1970 Plymouth Road Runner

A personal favorite of Dom’s, the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner shows up in multiple films. It’s featured most notably in Furious 7, when Dom uses it to go head-to-head with Deckard Shaw in a downtown brawl.

The Road Runner kept its muscle car roots with a big-block V8 and brutal, straight-line attitude. Unlike some of the franchise’s more polished builds, this one was raw—just like Dom. It was loud, fast, and built to take a hit, and that’s exactly what made it unforgettable.

*Created with AI assistance and editor review.