Brian's Toyota Supra deep dive from the Wild Speed website.

Posted on February 16, 2020
Modified
Brian's Toyota Supra deep dive from the Wild Speed website.

The "Wild Speed" series has created some of the biggest heroes for car enthusiasts. At times, nostalgia for the "F&F" hero cars outweighs that for the characters and the actors who embody them. These "hero cars" live on throughout the community in the form of replicas and tribute builds, drawing crowds everywhere from roadside meetups to Cars & Coffee.

Often we are curious about the origins of these hero cars. Some of them are simply layers of metal, while others are labors of love that began life as more than mere movie props.

With the exception of Dominic Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger, few cars in the "F&F" series have such an appealing personality as Brian O'Connor's Mk IV Toyota Supra. But is it the real deal or a bit of movie magic? To get the answer, let's talk to Craig Lieberman again. He tells us perhaps the most fascinating and intimate story of his work on "Wild Speed".

As technical director on "Wild Speed," Lieberman oversaw the sourcing and manufacturing of cars, from lowly filler cars to the main characters. Meanwhile, the story of Brian's Supra is a little closer to home for Lieberman.

because it was his car.

Lieberman had a diverse taste in cars, building everything from an early Datsun 240Z to an American muscle machine. His encounter with the Supra awakened him to its potential as a tuning platform, and he decided to build one.

He purchased a Mk IV Supra and set to work. The base car was a 1994 stock twin-turbo targa top with a manual transmission. It was initially white, but was later refinished in Mazda (yes, Mazda) Competition Yellow for the FD RX-7. Before that, however, it went into the store for what was called a "Basic Performance Upgrade" (BPU).

These BPUs were provided by GReddy, from whom Lieberman sourced the Supra's front-mounted intercooler, intake, full exhaust, and Profec B boost controller. 650cc Denso injectors rounded out the performance upgrade. Lieberman commissioned a body kit from Stillen and fitted OZ wheels to complete the look

.

Eventually, the Supra received further upgrades, including a twin-bottle nitrous setup.

Lieberman's video chronicles his personal car journey, the assembly of the Supra, and how it caught the attention of Universal Studios and ended up in the movies (and our hearts). We urge you to watch the entire film.

You may also like

2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata updated, base price $30,150
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata updated, base price $30,150

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is now available for the 2024 model year, with minor updates that add even more polish to an already accomplished sports car.But ...

Jan 26

Aston Martin Vantage Revealed Again Ahead of February 12 Debut
Aston Martin Vantage Revealed Again Ahead of February 12 Debut

Aston Martin's teaser campaign continues.On Monday, Aston Martin released another teaser image of the next Vantage that reveals more than just taillig...

Jan 29

Alfa Romeo Milano's debut EV begins charging on April 10.
Alfa Romeo Milano's debut EV begins charging on April 10.

Alfa Romeo has unveiled the first photos of the new Milan, revealing that it will debut on April 10.The Milan is an electric subcompact crossover, whi...

Jan 26

Trending

California Bill Proposes 10-Mph Speed Limit Exceeded by Gov.
California Bill Proposes 10-Mph Speed Limit Exceeded by Gov.

A California state senator has introduced a bill that would require the use of speed governors to prevent drivers from traveling more than 10 mph over...

Jan 26

2024 Honda Prologue, $48,795, 296 mile range.
2024 Honda Prologue, $48,795, 296 mile range.

Honda has kept its promise to offer an electric midsize SUV for under $50,000, a promise it made when the 2024 Prologue debuted last fall.Honda announ...

Jan 26

Lucid Teases Tesla Model Y Rival
Lucid Teases Tesla Model Y Rival

Lucid's third vehicle will be a compact crossover comparable to the Tesla Model Y.A teaser photo posted to X on Wednesday by automotive journalist and...

Jan 25