For higher or worse, photographing distinctive automobiles at all times attracts consideration. However it’s much more fascinating when these automobiles are Rocket Bunny-kitted and within the hills of Italy.
Throughout my latest journey to cowl the 2024 Tarox Magione Tremendous Battle (MSB), I had the pleasure of photographing two beautiful builds: Gianluca’s FC3S Mazda RX-7 and Alessandro’s S14 Nissan Silvia, each on monitor and within the idyllic native mountains cities of Perugia.
I usually discover myself precariously hanging out of varied autos, however not often in a setting so scenic.
The distinction between closely modified JDM automobiles and traditional backdrops is hanging. This winding mountain highway, with Lake Trasimeno glimmering within the distance, created the proper backdrop to shoot Europe’s first official Pandem-kitted FC RX-7.
Inbuilt 2021, Gianluca’s FC marked a pivotal second for Pandem in Europe. The idea for this demo automobile was born over dinner in Tokyo with Jun Takahashi from Hardcore Tokyo and, Kei Miura from TRA Kyoto/Rocket Bunny.
In 2020, they started sketching concepts for the construct. Miura-san initially proposed a yellow-over-black scheme, however the design developed to the present violet-over-black.
Racing Service Watanabe crafted a customized 15-inch set of its iconic eight-spoke wheels, completely complementing the automobile’s aesthetics.
The Mazda rides on HSD Mono-Professional coilovers and Stanceparts air cups, permitting the massive wheel and tyre combo that additional little bit of leeway when attacking native Italian roads.
Inside, on prime of a customized roll cage, the total Hardcore Tokyo catalogue is current inside, together with the seats, harnesses, and shift knob.
After we stopped at a hilltop city, the sight of the FC amongst conventional structure led to a number of reactions. My favorite got here from somebody who likened it to a spaceship, a becoming comparability given all of the Fiat Pandas that populate the world.
The automobile options an HKS exhaust, Mazdaspeed rear strut brace, and RE Amemiya mirrors. In any other case, Gianluca’s FC stays customary. With Italy’s more and more stringent modification legal guidelines, staying out of the authority’s prying eye has turn out to be important to Italian automobile tradition, and this Pandem FC already does itself no favours in terms of flying below the radar.
After a memorable afternoon within the hills with Gianluca’s FC, we made our approach again right down to shoot the equally out-of-place Rocket Bunny S14.
Alessandro’s Nissan, an official Hardcore Tokyo collaboration, options the Rocket Bunny Boss package – a singular design in a area the place Nissan Silvias are already a rarity.
Freshly accomplished this 12 months, the S14 – in inventory kind – was initially Gianluca’s automobile. It was reworked in collaboration with Alessandro’s store, Carrozzeria Del Confine, now that includes a completely constructed SR20DET engine and 326Power wheels.
Inside, the S14 runs a full Sparco setup, together with carbon fibre bucket seats, steering wheel, harnesses, and shift knob.
Again on the monitor, we took the automobiles out for a number of parade laps – a way more becoming scene.
Capturing these two slices of Japanese tradition towards the backdrop of the Italian hills was one thing I might’ve by no means imagined. I’m so glad I had the prospect to expertise it.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
