The crew over at Volo Auto Museum are known to buy-and-sell vehicles on a regular basis, including hundreds of “star cars” – those made famous on-screen. While there may have been occasional regrets on letting one go, now they’re bringing one back that they so fully regretted selling that they’ve bought it for a third time – and they were willing to pay more than they made on its sale: Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger R/T from 2001’s The Fast and The Furious. It’s not a replica, and it’s not a stunt car – it’s the real-deal hero vehicle.
“This car is the hero car, one of three Chargers modified for use in the first film, and the only one that wasn’t beat up,” said Brian Grams, director of the museum. “We’ve had close to 100 cars from ‘Fast and Furious’ over the years, including some other Chargers from the later films. None were as iconic as this car. This particular Charger is as much a cornerstone of that franchise as Vin Diesel [aka Toretto] himself.”
First purchased by Volo directly from Universal Studios in 2002, the car was later sold to a collector in Reno, Nevada. Later it was bought back, then sold to another collector in Norway who’s had it on display at his home since 2008.
Grams learned the Charger was again on the market this fall when a broker called to inquire about the car’s pedigree. “I told him if the deal he was working on fell through, I would buy it back,” Grams said. “I saw it as an opportunity to correct a mistake. This is the ultimate ‘Fast and Furious’ Charger, and it belongs here where fans can enjoy it.”
The car — actually a ’69 that filmmakers modified to make look like a ’70 (complete with a fake blower) — is on its way back to Volo from Norway. Beginning December 26, visitors can see it highlighted in a new display that is currently being renovated to house the museum’s three key “Fast and Furious” cars, including Dom’s Charger, a Subaru Impreza WRX STI that actor Paul Walker used in his final franchise appearance in “Furious 7,” and a 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Roadster featured in “Fast Five.”
The Volo Auto Museum features roughly 400 classic, muscle, Hollywood cars and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $15 for adults, $9 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and younger. For other information, call 815-385-3644, visit volocars.com or find Volo Auto Museum on Facebook. During construction, half-off admission is available to any visitor who displays at the ticket gate the offer available at volocars.com or on the museum’s Facebook events page. This offer is good through Dec. 23.
