In one of my very first posts for BMWBLOG, I discussed how the first time I saw The Transporter, the first movie in the series, my love for BMW truly blossomed.
Jason Statham plays Frank Martin, a former soldier who decides to work as a getaway driver and a man who will carry some unsavoury things for some unsavoury people, in the movie The Transporter. But the reason the film ignited my passion for BMWs—as it did for many enthusiasts—has little to do with the story and everything to do with the vehicle he drives, an E38 BMW 7 Series.
Since it was created specifically for The Transporter and was never a production vehicle, the E38 BMW 735i that Statham drove in that movie technically never existed. However, it doesn’t matter. It was an E38 7 Series in all-black with a manual transmission, and it was fantastic. It was quite likely the greatest promotion for the BMW 7 Series in history and it displayed the BMW philosophy of the Ultimate Driving Machine in full force.
Martin, played by Statham, also gave his 7er great attention. After each and every drive, The Transporter would take care of his car himself, cleaning, maintaining, and caring for it with a passion you don’t see in other movies with such fantastic driving.
In truth, the majority of movies featuring exciting car chase scenes regard the vehicles—no matter how amazing or expensive—as throwaway props for the action.
The Transporter is an exception. Sure, his 7 Series blows up because Martin was the target of a botched assassination attempt (Spoiler Alert), but he is furious about it and it wasn’t handled as a minor story point. He’s angry because they wrecked his car. Oh, and they also attempted to murder him. The real crime, though, was the murder of his prized 7er.
The Transporter is the only movie, short or otherwise, that has made me want to own and drive a BMW more than “Star” from BMW Films, which included Clive Owen racing an E39 M5 with Madonna in the back seat.
You should view it at some point as it is Friday and the weekend is approaching. The actual film is quite ridiculous and campy, and it’s not very good overall. However, the initial vehicle chase scenario and the 7 Series are worth it on their own.
In This Article...
BMW 735i (E38)
The first vehicle Frank Martin drove in The Transporter was a 1995 BMW 735i (E38). Frank’s main means of transportation was the car.
The first time Frank utilizes the vehicle is during a high-speed police chase while he is chasing some bank thieves. Having eluded the police. After the robbers flee in another automobile, they offer Frank extra money to take them further outside of the city, but he declines and he keeps his car. Inspector Tarconi also charged the car with being a part of the bank robbery, despite Frank’s denials and the dismissal of all charges. The vehicle is then utilized to deliver a parcel to Darren “Wall Street” Bettencourt, which is undoubtedly a woman named Lai. But when Frank opens the package and Lai is revealed, two police officers stop the car. Frank knocks them out, then ties them up in the trunk.
The briefcase Frank was carrying turned out to be a bomb that exploded and destroyed the BMW while also killing the two police officers. Frank, though, was spared since he was not in the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz W140 in a movie
Not all of the vehicles utilized by Statham in Transporter were BMW 735i E38s. Additionally, he obtained a Mercedes-Benz W140. The vehicle was one of a number of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship models produced between 1991 and 1998.
Turbozens claims that the W140 made its debut in 1990. Both a coupe and a sedan were available. The cars were powered by turbo-diesel engines with displacements ranging from 3 to 6 liters. The W140’s key goals were comfort and safety, and in order to achieve those goals, it featured Electronic Stability Program, Effective Braking systems, and Brake Assist. Due of this, the W140 was among the most elegant vehicles of the 1990s.
Franchise BMW 735i E38-Transporter
The first vehicle Frank Martin used in the first transporter film was a BMW 735i, which was destroyed in the climactic action sequence. 1998 (mid-year) saw the start of 735i production, which lasted until 2001.
The RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) E38 BMW, a premium sedan with German origins, was offered in Europe. It was the first RWD-equipped BMW ever made. In this car with a 5-speed automated transmission, the V8 engine delivered the required power. It was a strong machine that produced 345 Nm of torque at 3800 RPM.
Although the cars’ exteriors were a touch odd, they were excellent drivers and yet had luxurious interiors. The manufacturer claimed that this BMW could go at a speed of 228 km/h, or 142 mph. Although not particularly speedy, the car reached 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, which was nonetheless quite good at the time of the test. Depending on the car, the delivered mileage varied between 21.3 and 25.6 mpg.
Jason Statham’s Transporter is remade in Korea using BMW E34 and E39 5 Series vehicles.
You’ll enjoy this new K-Movie if you enjoyed Parasite and Taxi Driver. The Korean film Special Delivery, or Teuk Song, is a combination between Taxi Driver and Jason Statham’s iconic The Transporter, but with more grit and emotional problems.
Park So Dam plays Jung Eun Ha, a delivery driver with a 100 percent success rate who works for a business that “delivers everything the post office won’t, no matter what it is or what it takes,” in the film, which also stars a BMW 5 Series E34 and E39.
She was, however, forced to take part in a mission to deliver a package that contained a little boy during one of the assignments.
Eun Ha had to use all of her driving talents to get away from corrupt police officers and a National Intelligence agent who would do whatever to incriminate her because she was unable to ignore the need to protect the child. The crucial question is whether she would be able to maintain her perfect track record.
After being absent from the big screen for three years following the critical success of the black comedy Parasite in 2019, actress Park So Dam is back with Special Delivery.
Kim Eui Sung, who once again assumes the CEO job of the special delivery company, will be recognizable to viewers of the Taxi Driver drama. He’s most likely had a lot of practice!
There has never been a point in history when glancing at vehicles wasn’t involved. After experiencing the thrill of Schumacher vs. Hakkinen, Formula 1 became a significant aspect of life. A position with CAR Magazine resulted from a passion for automobiles and Formula 1. The premature demise of the publication resulted in a break from cars at lifestyle women’s magazine Marie Claire before a new chance presented itself.
Which model of Mercedes was the transporter?
Darren “Wall Street” Bettencourt was the owner of this 1994 Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse (W140). After defeating Bettencourt’s goon and killing him, Frank Martin grabs the automobile. Frank drove the vehicle for the majority of the movie after an explosion wrecked his BMW.
Frank discovers that Wall Street attempted to kill him when his BMW is damaged and travels to his mansion. Having killed and vanquished the henchmen. Two Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse vehicles are visible to Frank when he enters the garage. The last one is his, and he hot wires it so he can drive through the garage door and the fence gate while blasting through the house, breaking the front bumper. Frank observes Lai Kwai being held by the henchman in the backseat of the car while she is still gagged and taped to a chair. He gets her out of the car and abandons her in the middle of the road because he doesn’t want any distractions. Frank nearly hits Lai as she cries out for him to return while driving in reverse before getting out and putting her in the trunk before continuing on to his house. The last time anyone saw Frank driving, it was in his home’s garage. Later, Wall Street’s men blow up the Benz and Frank’s home in an explosion.
What model of BMW appears in the first transporter film?
His vehicle in the first movie is a 1999 BMW E38 753i, which has a long list of firsts to its credit. The series, which was manufactured between 1994 and 2001, introduced xenon headlights, which render anyone approaching from the opposite way entirely blind. They were also the first European vehicles with an integrated sat-nav.
What kind of car is the transporter?
Frank Martin’s principal source of transportation is a posh, sporty Audi A8 W12. The automobile, which is caught up in the events, is important to the story. There will be spectacular driving scenarios using the sporty, luxurious limousine.
Which vehicle appears in Transporter 3?
Yes, there is Statham getting into a full-size luxury automobile from the German manufacturer, the 2008 Audi A8 L W12, on top of the train’s roof. Prior to this, the villain appeared to have avoided capture by decoupling from the train car that the film’s protagonist was traveling on.
What model of BMW did Jason Statham operate in the transporter?
The Transporter is without a doubt Statham’s most well-known performance and the film that made him a global action star. He portrays Frank Martin in the 2002 movie, a transporter or driver for hire who will make any delivery, anyplace, without asking any questions.
This is the vehicle that ignited Statham’s passion for foreign automobiles. The 3.5-liter engine and 8 cylinders of the 1999 BMW 735i E38 produce 235 horsepower and 345 Nm of torque. It can go at a top speed of 151 mph, which isn’t bad for a vehicle designed for luxury rather than speed.
When was The Transporter Audi released?
In Transporter 2 and Transporter 3, Frank Martin’s second vehicle was this 2005 Audi A8 6.0 W12. In the first movie, it takes the place of the 1999 BMW 750iL.
This car’s features have a security system using a numerical code to enable them. The trunk of this car is where Frank keeps his additional suits.
Frank utilized the car while working as the Billings Family’s chauffeur, taking their youngest son Jack to and from school. When Frank is coerced into carrying out Gianni’s instructions he transports Lola and Jack to his lair, where Jack is abducted. The automobile is sought after by the police and FBI due to its connection to Jack’s abduction. Later, when it is discovered by authorities, Frank is compelled to leave it behind and take a taxi to Gianni’s home south of Miami. After all allegations against him are dropped, Frank might have later obtained the vehicle.
Another transporter, Malcolm Melville, operates a black Audi A8 in Transporter 3. When Malcolm is injured and killed in an ambulance explosion, Frank is compelled to take over as Johnson’s new transporter, with Valentina as the package. According to Johnson’s request, Frank would drive his own vehicle, the A8L from the second movie, as his main source of mobility. The majority of the car’s exterior elements remained the same, with the exception of the wheels. Aftermarket spokes had been installed in their place, and the car was fitted with a transmitter that would set off an explosive bracelet if its wearer ventured too far from it.
However, the car appeared to have been restored to health off-screen and the transmitter removed, as implied by Frank when he says to his friend Inspector Tarconi that “he drives the same car and lives in the same house” at the conclusion of the third movie. The car had suffered damage to the windshield, wheels, and minor abrasions on the outside (thanks to its armoring) during the final fight in the train.