FAST AND FURIOUS – DOMINIC TORETTO'S MAZDA RX-7 BACKSTORY

This is the backstory of one of the most iconic cars out of the whole Fast and Furious franchise, Dominic Toretto's Mazda RX-7.

Dominic Toretto is a character played by movie superstar Vin Diesel. In the first Fast and the Furious, launched in 2001, the tuner scene was growing in popularity around the globe. Movie director, Rob Cohen, took a gamble in uncharted territory by directing a movie based on the underground street racing scene in Los Angeles, but his personal knowledge of the tuner culture was limited. He assigned car tuner expert, Craig Lieberman, as his technical advisor on set – a terrific descision, otherwise, Dominic Toretto's car would have literally been a 1990 Buick Regal... Yeah, you heard me, a front-wheel-drive auto!

Thankfully, Craig Lieberman knew what he was talking about, and opted for other cars instead. Dominic's first car on set would be the legendary Mazda RX-7, which was from a private owner called Keith Imoto, who allowed Universal Studios to use it. The also made some additional visual modifications to the car, one being the Veilside body kit, graphics and full respray.

The RX-7 also had a number of stunt doubles, which were used for camera rig shots and scenes where the original car might be put in danger of damage.

As iconic as this Mazda RX-7 is to the franchise, it only appeared briefly three times in the first movie, that was it. These were in the first race where Dominic Toretto races and wins, losing the cops by parking the RX-7 in a covered parking lot. It is also seen at Racewarz, in the corner of one of the shots for about two seconds, and then finally, when Dominic Toretto shows Brian (Paul Walker) his fathers 1970 Dodge Charger in his garage, with the RX-7 parked outside.

However, one of the stunt double cars was refurbished, modified, and used as one of the character's cars in 2 Fast 2 Furious, and it is rumoured to appear in Fast and Furious 9, but no official confirmation has been announced as yet.

Take a look at the video below of Craig Lieberman diving into the backstory of Dominic Toretto's Mazda RX-7 from the original Fast and Furious.

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