For better or worse, photographing unique cars always draws attention. But it’s even more captivating when those cars are Rocket Bunny-kitted and in the hills of Italy.
During my recent trip to cover the 2024 Tarox Magione Super Battle (MSB), I had the pleasure of photographing two stunning builds: Gianluca’s FC3S Mazda RX-7 and Alessandro’s S14 Nissan Silvia, both on track and in the idyllic local mountains towns of Perugia.
I often find myself precariously hanging out of various vehicles, but rarely in a setting so scenic.
The contrast between heavily modified JDM cars and classic backdrops is striking. This winding mountain road, with Lake Trasimeno glimmering in the distance, created the perfect backdrop to shoot Europe’s first official Pandem-kitted FC RX-7.
Built in 2021, Gianluca’s FC marked a pivotal moment for Pandem in Europe. The concept for this demo car was born over dinner in Tokyo with Jun Takahashi from Hardcore Tokyo and, Kei Miura from TRA Kyoto/Rocket Bunny.
In 2020, they began sketching ideas for the build. Miura-san initially proposed a yellow-over-black scheme, but the design evolved to the current violet-over-black.
Racing Service Watanabe crafted a custom 15-inch set of its iconic eight-spoke wheels, perfectly complementing the car’s aesthetics.
The Mazda rides on HSD Mono-Pro coilovers and Stanceparts air cups, allowing the big wheel and tyre combo that extra bit of leeway when attacking local Italian roads.
Inside, on top of a custom roll cage, the full Hardcore Tokyo catalogue is present inside, including the seats, harnesses, and shift knob.
When we stopped at a hilltop town, the sight of the FC amongst traditional architecture brought about several reactions. My favourite came from someone who likened it to a spaceship, a fitting comparison given all the Fiat Pandas that populate the area.
The car features an HKS exhaust, Mazdaspeed rear strut brace, and RE Amemiya mirrors. Otherwise, Gianluca’s FC remains standard. With Italy’s increasingly stringent modification laws, staying out of the authority’s prying eye has become essential to Italian car culture, and this Pandem FC already does itself no favours when it comes to flying under the radar.
After a memorable afternoon in the hills with Gianluca’s FC, we made our way back down to shoot the equally out-of-place Rocket Bunny S14.
Alessandro’s Nissan, an official Hardcore Tokyo collaboration, features the Rocket Bunny Boss kit – a unique design in a region where Nissan Silvias are already a rarity.
Freshly completed this year, the S14 – in stock form – was originally Gianluca’s car. It was transformed in collaboration with Alessandro’s shop, Carrozzeria Del Confine, now featuring a fully built SR20DET engine and 326Power wheels.
Inside, the S14 runs a full Sparco setup, including carbon fibre bucket seats, steering wheel, harnesses, and shift knob.
Back on the track, we took the cars out for a few parade laps – a much more fitting scene.
Capturing these two slices of Japanese culture against the backdrop of the Italian hills was something I would’ve never imagined. I’m so glad I had the chance to experience it.
Alec Pender
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