Film & TV4 min(s) read
Paul Walker's missing Fast & Furious car has been found after 23 years in an unexpected location
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One of the most iconic movie-featured cars of the 2000s has been found after spending years missing.
For gearheads around the world, the early instalments of the Fast & Furious franchise will likely hold a special place in their hearts.
The glorification of street racing, tuning and modifying cars, while the 'winner takes all' lifestyle was what dominated screens at the time.
It'll be hard to explain to younger generations, but seeing Brian and Dom hit the NOS after changing gears 38 times in a short race ignited a fire in the eyes of car enthusiasts.
The first four films of the now lucrative franchise helped to put modified stock cars, particularly Japanese ones, on the map in the US.
And one of the most iconic Japanese vehicles, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII, has been found more than two decades after the 2003 film it featured in.
Brian's Mitsubishi has been found and restored
The late Paul Walker played former cop-turned-criminal Brian O'Conner in the movie series, and in 2 Fast 2 Furious, he outran LA authorities and found refuge in Miami.
Walker starred alongside Eva Mendes, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris in the second instalment of the franchise, and after being recruited to go undercover with Gibson's character, he was presented with the iconic neon green Mitsubishi.
Fans may remember Walker at the wheel of the turbocharged rocket, but once production finished, many didn't know where the car went.
Despite its iconic body kit and distinct styling, the Lancer remained out of the spotlight until it was found, hidden away in a barn garage in upstate New York.
Car collector Gabriel Tremblay took it upon himself to bring the car back to its original glory, describing the vehicle as the original Hero 1 Evo.
The Mitsubishi featured bright paint, a rear spoiler, and custom bodywork, making it one of the most iconic of the entire franchise.
Tremblay, who works at the Furious Garage, explained that the cult favorite spent most of its time in the barn garage, with its ownership history yet to be confirmed.
But the car collector, who has saved 15 Fast & Furious cars so far, has added this one to its list.
The car lived a different life after filming
Cars that are used in films are often sold off to private owners or stored once production wraps.
Sometimes, collectors modify them or trade them among each other until they become hard to trace back to the title they featured in.
The car's discovery is particularly exciting as with most films, several Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII cars were used in the film.
Tremblay has worked on restoring the car to its original look, with the 'Hero 1' name used to refer to a principal movie car.
If he is right in claiming that it is, and paperwork can back the claim up, it makes the car that bit more special.
The car is closely linked with Walker's Brian O'Conner, one of the franchise's most beloved protagonists.
Tremblay told Instagram followers that he was preparing the car for its first public appearance in decades, at FuelFest in Tampa.
The collector's project, The Furious Garage, was set up to track down vehicles featured in the movie franchise and to preserve them - an endeavor that is going very well so far.