Paul Walker's R34 GT-R: The 2 Fast 2 Furious Icon

Paul Walker's Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 from 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) is one of the most famous movie cars in automotive history. The Bayside Blue V-Spec II was driven by Walker's character Brian O'Conner throughout the film. After Walker's tragic death in 2013, the hero car became a tribute to his legacy and to the global popularity of the R34 GT-R. Today, the actual car has been preserved and occasionally appears at car shows and tribute events.

The Build

The hero R34 used in 2 Fast 2 Furious was prepared by Ted Toki at Eddie Paul's Customcar shop in El Segundo, California. Since R34 GT-Rs weren't legal in the US (25-year rule meant R34s couldn't be imported until 2024), the production team had to modify a JDM import specifically for filming.

Key modifications for the film:

• Bayside Blue paint: Factory Nissan color
• Nismo wing and aero kit: Period-correct JDM aftermarket parts
• Volk Racing TE37 wheels: Iconic forged wheels in gold
• Interior modifications: Custom roll cage, racing seats
• Engine modifications: Tuned RB26DETT with aftermarket turbo and ECU

The car appeared in multiple scenes, including the iconic highway chase and the climactic boat jump sequence.

After 2 Fast 2 Furious

Following the film's release, the car was retained by Universal Pictures as part of their movie car collection. It appeared at various promotional events and car shows. After Walker's death in 2013, the car became a pilgrimage object for JDM enthusiasts, and public appearances were handled with sensitivity to his legacy.

Legacy

The Paul Walker R34 is one of the three or four most famous movie cars in history, alongside the Bullitt Mustang, the Blues Brothers cars, and the Italian Job Mini. For the JDM community, it's more significant — the car that introduced millions of Americans to the R34 GT-R and made "Bayside Blue" a culturally recognizable color.

Paul Walker's legacy and the R34 GT-R's cultural status are now inseparable. When R34s became legal for US import in 2024, one of the first questions every buyer asked was "where did I last see an R34 in a movie?" And the answer, almost always, was Paul Walker in 2 Fast 2 Furious.