DK’s Nissan 350Z in Tokyo Drift is the VeilSide-bodied Z33 driven by Takashi, the “Drift King” (played by Brian Tee), in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). It is a 2000s Nissan 350Z, known in Japan as the Fairlady Z, and it races Sean Boswell down the mountain in the film’s final act.
Quick answer
- Car: Nissan 350Z (Z33), called the Fairlady Z in Japan.
- Look: a VeilSide wide-body kit.
- Driver in the film: Takashi, the Drift King.
- Engine: the standard 350Z uses the 3.5 L VQ35 V6 (287 to 306 hp by year). Film-car power figures online are unconfirmed.
DK’s 350Z: what is confirmed
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base car | Nissan 350Z (Z33), built from 2002 to 2008, model years 2003 to 2009 |
| Bodywork | VeilSide wide-body kit |
| Character | Takashi, the “Drift King”, played by Brian Tee |
| Standard engine | 3.5 L VQ35DE: 287 hp in 2003, 300 hp in some 2005-2006 manual cars, then 306 hp from the VQ35HR in 2007 |
| Appearance | Final mountain race against Sean Boswell |
Universal has never published a full build sheet for the movie cars, and many popular details (twin turbos, around 460 hp, 0-60 mph times) come from fan sites. Because we cannot verify them, treat them as rumour. The 2003 350Z also won the Canadian Car of the Year award.
The VeilSide look
The kit widens the fenders and lowers the stance, giving the car a more aggressive profile than a stock 350Z. VeilSide is a Japanese tuner that also built the Mazda RX-7 driven by Han in the same film.
How the drifting was done
None of Universal’s stunt drivers could drift, so the production brought in professionals. Rhys Millen, Samuel Hubinette and Keiichi Tsuchiya were involved, along with Nobushige Kumakubo, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Tanner Foust and others. Tsuchiya, a drifting pioneer, also appears in a cameo.
The film used almost 250 vehicles in total, cutting up 25 and destroying more than 80, according to Wikipedia’s summary of the production. That gives a sense of how many duplicate cars were used for stunts and camera work.
A stock 350Z as a drift car
The 350Z is a rear-wheel-drive coupe with a front-mid V6, which is why it was a popular drift base. Our Nissan 350Z drift specs guide covers the stock figures and what to check before building one. In Canada, modifications may need provincial inspection and an insurer’s approval, so check the rules first.
Other Tokyo Drift cars
Sean’s final-race car is covered in our Tokyo Drift Mustang movie car article, and the franchise’s best-known Toyota is the Supra in Fast and Furious.
Sources: Wikipedia entries on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and the Nissan 350Z.
Frequently Asked Questions
What car does DK drive in Tokyo Drift?
Takashi, the Drift King, drives a VeilSide-bodied Nissan 350Z (Z33), known as the Fairlady Z in Japan.
Who plays DK in Tokyo Drift?
Brian Tee plays Takashi, the Drift King.
Is DK’s 350Z twin-turbo?
Claims of twin turbos and around 460 hp circulate online, but we could not verify them from an official source. A stock 350Z has a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6.
How much power does a stock Nissan 350Z make?
The 3.5-litre VQ35DE made 287 hp in 2003, with 300 hp in some 2005 to 2006 manual cars, and the VQ35HR made 306 hp from 2007.
Who did the drifting in Tokyo Drift?
Professional drivers including Rhys Millen, Samuel Hubinette, Keiichi Tsuchiya, Tanner Foust and others performed the drifting.
How many cars were used in Tokyo Drift?
Wikipedia reports the film used almost 250 vehicles, cutting up 25 and destroying more than 80.
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