This Tokyo Drift RX-7 Could Be Yours At A Fraction Of The Price
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A replica version of Han’s legendary RX-7 from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is set to hit the auction block later this month, and it could end up being a real bargain.
Nine VeilSide RX-7s were built specifically for Tokyo Drift, and this one features a genuine VeilSide Fortune widebody kit and a custom orange-and-black paint job that looks exactly like the real deal. However, this one was one of the movie cars, and we see that as a positive.
When the real thing went under the hammer earlier this year, it was said to be one of just two remaining Han’s RX-7s that actually starred in the movie.
Despite having similar good looks, this replica isn’t so rare, which (thankfully) means it’s not expected to fetch anywhere near the mind-blowing £911,000 ($1.2 million) price tag the movie car fetched at auction.
We’re not kidding. In case you missed it, the actual car from Tokyo Drift sold for over a million bucks just a few months ago, despite an initial estimated valuation of £250,000-£350,000 (around $330,000-$460,000 today). The sale price is even more shocking when you consider it’s just shy of the $1.4 million Paul Walker’s R34 GT-R sold for.
Why it’s better than the $1.2 million movie car
Not only is this version likely to sell for a fraction of the price, but it brings several genuine advantages that make it superior for a true petrolhead.
While the six-figure version of Han’s RX-7 that sold in the UK was mostly stock and had the Japanese right-hand drive layout, which wasn’t ideal for U.S. buyers, this one is a much better pick. Here’s why.
There are plenty of tuning upgrades
The professionally rebuilt 13B-REW Wankel rotary engine is street-ported and features a BorgWarner EFR 8374 single turbo upgrade. On top of that, there’s a Turblown equal-length intake and fuel rail, along with a recently installed fuel system with a Walbro 450 fuel pump and a custom Greddy V-mount intercooler.
Pushing out the power is a Revel Medallion exhaust paired with a MagnaFlow resonated midpipe. All of this is managed by a Haltech 1500 ECU with a custom wiring harness built by the pros, retaining the safety sensors.
Looking under the hood, it’s also clear there are several other aftermarket upgrades not included in the listing, including a strut bar, oil catch can, and an aftermarket intake.
It’s built to be driven
Alongside the much-improved engine output and left-hand-drive layout, they’ve also upgraded the creature comforts.
For starters, you get a new U.S.-spec double-din head unit with backup camera and speakers, so you don’t need to worry about decoding the Japanese text – those of you who’ve imported JDM cars will know what I mean!
Instead of the typical Mazda instrument cluster in the ‘real’ Han car, this one has a modern Haltech iC-7 digital dash display to match the ECU. In front of that sits an OEM Mazda Nardi wheel. It’s also been further modernized with custom Alcantara, red and white stitching, and classy carbon-fiber accents.
The cabin’s luxuries don’t stop there, either. The previous owner even went out of their way to install an upgraded JP3 Motorsports RX-8 compressor and condenser, which uses the latest R134a refrigerant, so it’ll be future-proof for some time through the steamy summers.
Underneath, the suspension has been upgraded to Fortune Auto coilovers. And unlike the real car, which features chromed-out Andrew Premier Series Racing Evolution 5s, they’ve opted for black BC Forged 3-piece wheels to fill out the ‘thicc’ widebody with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber.
It could be the ultimate street car
The best thing about this replica of Han’s RX-7 is that it’s built to be driven, and it actually has a surprising number of tasteful, practical upgrades.
Plus, if you were to splash out $1.2 million on a movie car, there’s a better chance it’ll sit in a collection, and you’re not going to want to bounce it off the redline. Even if you did, the stock power would likely disappoint in comparison.
This RX-7 FD, however, has been designed specifically for proper driving on U.S. roads, and with the (surprisingly practical) upgrades, it’ll even handle hot summers.
While it’s yet to be seen exactly how much it’ll fetch at auction, we’ll certainly be keeping our eyes out to see if it goes for a bargain.
One thing’s for sure – whoever’s lucky enough to purchase it will undoubtedly turn some heads on the streets, and they won’t even need to get it sideways to do so!
If you want to follow or bid, it’s set to go under the hammer on Saturday, November 15, at the Mecum Auctions held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
