Paul Walker’s Original “2 Fast 2 Furious” Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Heads to Auction

Before production began on 2 Fast 2 Furious, the studio first approached Nissan about featuring its cars in the movie. Producers then considered using the Opel Speedster. But neither option worked for Brian O’Conner’s character. In the end, the filmmakers struck a deal with Mitsubishi.

That partnership, however, created an unexpected challenge. The Mitsubishi Evo VII was never officially sold in the United States, and its model cycle was nearing its end. The Evo VIII, on the other hand, was set to arrive in the U.S. shortly after the movie’s release. As a result, Mitsubishi insisted that the Evo VII used in the film look as close as possible to the upcoming Evo VIII.

Eddie Paul Industries received four left-hand-drive Evo VIIs, originally painted blue and modified for an Austrian rally team. Turning them into “Evo VIII lookalikes” proved difficult — especially when it came to the taillights. Mitsubishi couldn’t supply prototype Evo VIII parts, so the production used standard Lancer lights instead. They were never designed for the Evo’s wider rear end, requiring a complete rebuild and resulting in the noticeable gap between the taillights.

Once the cars had the correct visual updates, the team chose a color that would pop on camera: Kosmic Kolor Candy Lime Gold. The shade looked stunning under good lighting but was notoriously difficult to match between takes.

All four vehicles supplied by Mitsubishi were later used for promotional events before passing into private ownership.

The authenticity of this particular Evolution VII — chassis JMYSNCT9A1U000797 — has been verified by Craig Lieberman, the franchise’s technical advisor. The car appears in several scenes throughout the film.

Each of the four Evos was modified differently depending on its purpose: two had neon underglow, and one was fitted with a Panasonic DVD player for stunt work.

The Evo VII remains one of the most recognizable cars in the entire Fast & Furious franchise, appearing on screen for nearly fifteen minutes.

After filming, the 000797 chassis car was reportedly used for promotional appearances, during which it received Evo VIII seats and a later-style front bumper. Exported from the U.S. to Norway in 2007, it appeared at numerous events before being purchased by Movie Cars Central in 2019. The original front bumper used in the movie was eventually found in a small Los Angeles workshop and later reinstalled, restoring the car to its on-screen specification.

Traces of the original blue paint remain on this Paul Walker–driven Evolution VII and can still be seen on the trunk lid and in the engine bay.