Championship Auto Shows, Inc. is known for presenting iconic custom vehicles from television and film at its Autorama, World of Wheels, and Cavalcade of Customs events. This year, CASI is pulling out all the stops to showcase vehicles from one of Hollywood’s most popular film series. “Furious 7,” the newest film in the series, is set to release to the public, Friday, April 3, 2015.
The Fast and the Furious action films have earned a worldwide box office of $2.3 billion to date, making them Universal Studio’s most lucrative franchise of all time. The popularity of the films is due, in large part, to the street racing and automotive action sequences. Now fans of the franchise can get a close up look at several cars used in the films at this year’s Town Fair Tire World of Wheels Show.
Included in The Fast and the Furious Collection are the green 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse and white 1995 Volkswagen Jetta from the first movie (The Fast and the Furious), the 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS and 1970 Dodge Charger from the fourth movie (Fast and Furious), the 2008 Dodge Challenger from the sixth movie (Fast & Furious 6).
The 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse sports custom green paint, SE7EN 18-inch aluminum wheels by Axis Sport Tuning, Inc. with Toyo Tires, Sparco racing seats, 2-Liter 4-cylinder engine, a Robo Car Aero Armor Eclipse Body Kit and an ARP two-level GT2 style wing. In the film, the Eclipse is owned by character “Brian Earl Spilner,” who is also known as “Brian O’Conner” (Paul Walker). After the first film, the Eclipse was repainted blue and used in 2 Fast 2 Furious in the scene where O’Conner learns to drive. It was repainted in its orginal green paint scheme at completion of filming.
Known as the “Bullet Car” or “Jesse’s Jetta,” the 1995 Jetta’s most distinctive features are the custom body kit, a 4-cylinder engine with 5-speed transmission, 18-inch Konig custom wheels, WingsWest rear spoiler and 19 realistic-looking painted bullet holes. The bullet holes illustrate the Jetta and “Jesse” (Chad Lindberg) being sprayed by bullets in a drive-by shooting in the film.
The primer painted 1970 Chevelle SS from the fourth installment boasts a Small Block GMPP 350 crate engine with aluminum headers, Edelbrock intake, Jaz fuel cell, Beard racing seats, Koya 17-inch custom racing wheels, AutoMeter gauges, Wilwood rotors and brakes, Hotchkis sway bar suspension and a full roll cage. The Chevelle was used in filming of the “race for the job” scene and associated with character “Dominic Toretto” (Vin Diesel).
The flat black 1970 Dodge Charger is another “Dominic Toretto” (Vin Diesel) vehicle from Fast & Furious and Fast 5. While the magic of Hollywood led people to believe that the Charger was powered by a blown Hemi engine, it is actually equipped with a Chevy 350 with an attached faux blower. This Charger was used for close-up purposes with the actors.
Yet another “Dominic Toretto” ride, the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8-391 can be seen in chase scenes at the end of Fast Five and the beginning of Fast & Furious 6. The Challenger is powered by a first edition 6.1 Liter Hemi engine, and is fitted with a wide-body kit from Classic Design Concepts that adds six inches of width. It also has custom rims, a stock interior and a patched-in faux shaker hood.
You can have your own Fast & Furious experience at the upcoming Town Fair Tire Show in Boston at the Seaport World Trade Center. Along with the Fast & Furious cars, you can see hundreds of locally customized vehicles, magazine feature cars, sports stars, celebrities and top competitors from the Summit Racing Equipment Show Car Series, which is sanctioned by the International Show Car Association.
Both New England Dragway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway should have a presence at this event promoting their major events for 2015. Also the Brockton based Wheels of Time and the MA Cruisers of Norfolk will be among many of the other New England car clubs supporting this annual show.
41st TOWN FAIR TIRE WORLD OF WHEELS
DATES: Friday, March 27, 2015 3 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, March 28, 2015 10 AM – 10 PM
Sunday, March 29, 2015 10 AM – 6 PM
FACILITY: Seaport World Trade Center
(Public transportation through the MBTA Silver Line T Station)
ADMISSION: Gate: General Admission $18.00
Children 6-12 $6.00
Children 5 & Under Free
Discount Coupons Available through townfairtire.com
$2.00 off (Adult) general admission ticket.
Source: World of Wheels PR