Frankie Muniz sold this obscure Fast and Furious car for supercar money
Published on May 25, 2023 at 4:39 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on May 26, 2023 at 11:57 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The ‘Fast and Furious effect’ isn’t limited to JDM icons such as the Nissan Skyline or the Toyota Supra, it also extends to the Volkswagen Jetta you see here.
Driven by Jesse (Chad Lindberg) in the first film, the price of this Jetta keeps going up, and the car is now just as expensive as a brand-new supercar.
That fact that Hollywood star Frankie Muniz used to own it probably helped, too.
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The original car was sourced and modified by Craig Lieberman, former technical advisor for Fast and Furious.
Lieberman got the car from Scott Centra, a California-based garage owner and car collector.
Even though it didn’t get as much screen time as Brian’s Supra or Toretto’s Charger, the VW became hugely popular chiefly because it was associated to Jesse, a character that fans absolutely loved.
The vehicle you see here is a prop, meaning it isn’t the original car but it’s one of several identical mules built for the film.
It’s a faithful replica, mind you, with the same exact livery, engine mods and interior, and Paul Walker actually signed the spoiler at the back.
Frankie Muniz (Dr Dolittle 2, Big Fat Liar) forked out $42,000 to buy this very car at auction in 2002, when he was only 16 years old.
Over a decade later, in 2016, the Jetta was auctioned off again, this time through Barrett-Jackson, and it fetched $100,000.
This was the first time Universal Pictures did something crazy with an everyday family car, but it wasn’t the last.
Along with Jesse’s Jetta, the first Fast and Furious also featured a Nissan Maxima driven by Vince (Matt Schulze).
A few years later, in the movie Tokyo Drift, Twinkie (Bow Wow) can be seen driving a heavily modified Volkswagen Touran (below) with a ‘Hulk’ theme.
The Fast and Furious franchise has moved on from the street racing theme and the car element is definitely less prominent these days.
Even so, the Fast effect isn’t dying down.
Fans are going crazy over Han’s Alfa 2000GT in Fast X.
It’s probably just a matter of time before this classic Alfa, or another car from Fast and Furious, hits the auction block.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
