FAST FURIOUS Brian's GT R by the guy who created it

Summary

Craig Lieberman, a car enthusiast and technical adviser for Universal's 'Fast and Furious' franchise, shares his experiences in building iconic cars like the Supra, GTR, and Maxima for the movies. He clarifies misconceptions about the GTR used in '2 Fast 2 Furious', detailing its acquisition, modifications, and the challenges faced during production. Lieberman also discusses the cars' post-movie fates, noting their potential value and rarity, reflecting on the unpredictable evolution of the franchise's popularity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Craig Liberman has been working with cars since 1980 and has owned over 40 cars, including three that starred in the Fast and Furious franchise.
• 🏎️ Craig served as a technical adviser for Universal Studios on the Fast and Furious movies, helping with car selection, parts procurement, and overseeing builds.
• 🎬 The R34 GTR, known as the 'Blackbird,' was the first fully federally legal R34 GTR in the United States and was sold to Craig for $78,000 in 2001.
• 📽️ Despite rumors, Paul Walker never owned the Blackbird GTR, but he did drive it for about two months during the filming of the movie.
• 🚗 For '2 Fast 2 Furious,' Universal had a product placement deal with Mitsubishi, which led to the GTR being selected for the film despite initial plans for different cars.
• 💸 Four additional GTRs were provided by Motorx at a cost of $48,000 each, plus air freight, without the federal legal process which adds significant cost.
• 🔊 West Coast Customs was contracted to build sound systems for the movie's cars, following Craig's sketches and plans, though they did not build the cars themselves.
• 🎨 The art department's decision to change the color of Craig's GTR to silver and add graphics was met with mixed feelings and some controversy.
• 🛠️ The creation of the GTR clones for the movie involved significant modifications, including a roll cage built to withstand a bridge jump stunt.
• 💡 The film used special effects like propane tanks for flamethrower exhaust systems and a custom-made semi-transparent disc for glowing brake rotor effects, though the latter was not used.
• 📉 After the movie, the value of the GTRs was not as high as today due to the film's reception and the state of the Fast franchise, leading to the cars being sold rather than kept as collectibles.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script and what is his background?

The speaker is Craig Lieberman, who has been tinkering with cars since 1980 and has owned over 40 cars in his life. He has served as a technical adviser for Universal's Fast and Furious movies.

What role did Craig Lieberman play in the Fast and Furious movie franchise?

Craig Lieberman served as a technical adviser, helping to choose the cars, procure the parts, oversee their builds, and support both production and post-production.

What cars did Craig Lieberman own that were featured in the Fast and Furious movies?

Craig Lieberman owned a Supra, a GTR, and a Maxima, all of which had starring roles in the Fast and Furious movies.

Why was the R34 GTR chosen for the movie '2 Fast 2 Furious'?

The R34 GTR was chosen due to a paid product placement deal with Mitsubishi, and it was selected by Craig Lieberman as a top-tier tuner car for the movie.

What was the initial purpose of the R34 GTR before it was used in the movie?

The R34 GTR was initially being offered for sale by MotorX as a fully federally legal car in the United States, known as the Blackbird.

Did Paul Walker own the R34 GTR used in the movie?

No, despite driving the car for about 2 months, Paul Walker never owned the R34 GTR used in the movie.

How many additional GTRs were needed for the movie and why?

Four additional GTRs were needed for the movie to accommodate several stunt sequences and the script's requirements.

Why were the GTRs in the movie not made fully federally legal?

The GTRs were not made fully federally legal because MotorX decided not to go through the process, which adds about $25,000 to the cost of each car.

What company was contracted to build sound systems for the cars in the movie?

West Coast Customs was contracted to build sound systems for the cars in the movie.

What modifications were made to the GTRs' appearance for the movie?

The GTRs were painted silver, had blue stripes added, and received silver airbrushing on the stripes. Additionally, a roll cage, big brakes, and custom-made HRE wheels were installed.

What was the significance of the nitrous system in the movie and how much did it cost?

The nitrous system was a significant part of the tuner culture and car builds, costing over $5,000 for the carbon fiber bottles, electronics, and activation switches, although it received little attention in the film.

What happened to the GTRs after the movie?

The GTRs were sold or went to private owners. Craig Lieberman's hero car was restored and sold multiple times, while the jump car was auctioned off. One car is believed to be in Europe, and one remains unaccounted for.

What is the estimated value of the actual screen-used GTRs from the movie today?

The value of the actual screen-used GTRs is speculative, but it could range from half a million dollars to over a million, depending on the buyer and the car's history.

How many R34 GTRs were made in total and what is their current global availability?

Approximately 11,000 R34 GTRs were made, with less than 9,000 remaining worldwide after accounting for those that were crashed, burned, stolen, or modified for racing.