It’s no secret that Paul Walker was a significant person in the car culture. In the eyes of most people, he was maybe only an actor, but it was different for us petrolheads. For us, Paul was undoubtedly one of the most recognized car enthusiasts. His contribution to the Fast & Furious franchise made guys like me salivate on fast cars pretty much every day. Paul tragically died in a car accident in 2013, but not without leaving a heritage behind. And what better legacy to leave other than an extensive portfolio of vehicles that you can buy today? Paul Walker cars will be auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson at the annual Scottsdale auction in 2020, next year. If you’re interested, they are already selling tickets on their website.
Paul Walker’s car collection is one of the most varied. Unlike some popular car enthusiasts/celebrities, Paul’s taste was different. Instead of rare Lamborghini’s and Ferrari’s, he was all about cars that were closer to the ordinary people. Sure, some examples are rare, but he didn’t choose them because of that (like most celebrities do). He chose these cars because he wanted to drive them, like every serious car enthusiast. The best examples are the five M3 E36 Lightweight’s, street models that BMW designed specifically so that they can also be used on the track. They are also known for being joyful to drive.
It’s obvious then that Paul Walker knew a thing or two about cars, something that Steve Davis, president of Barrett Jackson, didn’t miss to remind us in his statement: “Paul’s passion for performance was especially expressed in the cars he loved. This group of vehicles also represents the evolution of the hobby, as collectors are clearly broadening their horizons and diversifying their collections."
A total of 21 Paul Walker cars will be present at the Scottsdale auction. Let’s see which are they, together with some more detailed information.
A Bunch Of BMW M3’s
The oldest BMW that Paul owned was a 1988 E30 M3 coupe. This was the first generation of the famous Bavarian sports sedan/coupe, known for its screaming four-banger upfront. The high-revving engine had only 2.3-liters of capacity, but BMW still managed to extract 195 hp at 6,750 rpm. At that time, this was pretty impressive, especially when you consider the weight of only 1.200 kg. According to BMW, this was enough for 0-62 sprint of only 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph).
Paul also owned a later year of the model, more precisely a 1991 E30 M3 Coupe. This version had a reworked engine upfront with 215 hp at 6,750 rpm, enough for a 0-62 sprint of only 6.7 seconds and a max speed of 241 km/h (150 mph).
Walker had a thing for BMW’s because he also owned five 1995 E36 M3 Lightweight models. These cars aren’t that easy to find nowadays, and certainly not in the pristine condition Paul left them. The E36 M3 Lightweight is a racing-derived version of the “normal” M3 from that era that BMW produced as a homologation car.
The most significant change was the reduction in weight of a hefty 200 lb (91 kg), which made the car a whole different beast. BMW also removed the top-speed limiter, installed a shorter differential, and made improvements to the suspension. On the outside, the M3 Lightweight came with Motorsport flag decals and a big wing. Interestingly, on one of his M3 of this generation, Paul removed both the stickers and the wing.
The engine of the Lightweight model was a straight-six with 3.0-liters of capacity. The engine developed 240 hp at 6,000 rpm, enough for a 0-60 acceleration of 5.5 seconds and a maximum speed of 233 km/h (144 mph). The lower max speed was mainly due to the wing in the back, but also the shorter differential.
Nissan R32 Skyline GTR and Nissan 370Z
Paul first appeared on screen in Fast and the Furious with a Mitsubishi Eclipse and Supra, but obviously, he had more love for Nissan. In his car portfolio, he had two Nissan’s – an R32 Skyline GTR racing car and a 370Z.
The R32 Skyline GTR was from the third generation, more precisely 1989. It uses a 2.6-liter turbo engine up front that in the motorsport version developed from 500-650 hp, depending on the setup. Nissan specifically developed a racing version of the AWD system for this car, called the ATTESA E-TS. Like with most racing cars, Nissan didn’t disclose 0-60 times.
The 2009 Nissan 370Z, on the other hand, was unique because Universal Pictures used it in the movie “Fast Five.” Apart from that, the engine still has 3.7-liters of capacity and 332 liters. The V6 was powerful enough for a 0-60 sprint of only 4.5 seconds.
As expected, Paul Walker also Owned a Muscle Car
Paul maybe had only one muscle car, but it is a very bright gem nevertheless. The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302S Race Car was explicitly designed for use on the track and wasn’t street-ready. It had a 5.0-liter Ti-VCT engine upfront with 440 hp, sent to the back wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The Mustang Boss 302S has a fiberglass hood and a carbon fiber rear wing for lowered weight. Ford also improved the suspension with adjustable coil-overs and anti-roll bars for better handling.
Audi S4 Quattro
Paul was also a Quattro enthusiast, as evident by the 2000 Audi S4. Equipped with a 2.7-liter bi-turbo V6 engine in the front, the German sedan was one of the fastest of its era. The motor developed healthy 265 hp and 295 lb-ft, sent to all wheels via a 6-speed manual or 5-speed Tiptronic. For the time, the 2000 S4 was very quick of the line – 0-62 took only 5.6 seconds. However, Audi limited the top speed at 155 mph.
Run-of-the-Mill SUVs and Trucks
Paul had a sharp taste for sports cars, but he also owned some ordinary SUVs and trucks. On the Barrett-Jackson auction, you can also find 2003 Ford F250 heavy-duty truck, 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 and 2006 Toyota Tundra full-size trucks, and a 1995 Ford Bronco SUV.
Chevy Wagons From the ’60s
Interestingly, Paul Walker also owned 1963 Chevrolet Nova Wagon and 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Wagon. A mint 1967 Chevrolet II Nova joins them in the collection, too. The choice of these cars seems curious, but it just shows how much respect Paul had in the automotive industry.
Paul Walker Even Owned Three Motorcycles
Most people know Paul for his passion for four-wheel vehicles, but he was also into motorcycles. He owned a 2005 Harley Davidson RS, 2008 Suzuki motorcycle, and 2011 BMW motorcycle. All of these motorcycles will also be auctioned off at Scottsdale.
Reach Out WorldWide Charity
Apart from his love for cars, Paul Walker was also the founder of the humanitarian Reach Out WorldWide foundation (ROWW). Their specialty as first-responders already helped a lot of people in natural disasters in the USA and around the world.