This month, we take a behind the scenes look at the personal car of J3P team member, Ryan Hunt.
If you follow Ryan (@flyin_) on social media, it’s hard to imagine his 2007 RocketBunny 350Z as anything other than the striking presence it is today - A perfect mix of black and gold accents, with an allure akin to seeing a unicorn in real life. But, what is now one of the most recognizable and talked about builds in North America, started off as little more than an idea with the drive to make a dream come true.
When Ryan made the decision to build a car, he knew his heart was set on Nissan. After watching YouTubers like TJ Hunt and others, his focus was narrowed and it was clear that the 350Z platform was the move. The search was on. A short time later, a unit with good potential was spotted in Winnipeg - a far cry and a long drive from the busy roads of Toronto, but as luck would have it, a friend was in the area and managed to offer a visual inspection. The car was given a green light and a few days later, Ryan and his best friend packed a small cooler of food, hitched a trailer and were on route to see the 350Z for the first time. Running on adrenaline and the excitement of a new project on the way, Ryan didn’t let small roadblocks get him down. Sure, the car may not have fit on the trailer. Yes, there may have been a few snowstorms on route and until delivery day Ryan’s experience with manual transmissions was limited to dirtbikes. But all of these events were mere challenges in the mission to make something great. After a white-knuckle, sleepless ride home from Winnipeg, the 350Z was finally ready to begin its transformation. The original goal was a stripped- down track car - but as all natural evolutions occur, plans changed and Ryan took on a new approach: live in the moment, and let the car guide you.
Just as he found the 350Z, Ryan located a brand-new RocketBunny kit through happenstance. The original owner purchased the kit, but decided against installing it at the last minute. Inspired by his vision, the owner let Ryan pay down the cost of the kit throughout the race season, until he was finally able to collect it fully in the spring. Driven by a vision and the surrounding support of the car community, Ryan’s 350Z began to take shape. An aggressive drift stance with custom AG wheels flanks the arches of the RocketBunny kit, while more and more performance and interior details were executed. Although the initial concept was intimidating and the road uncharted, there is nothing quite as satisfying as seeing your dream become a reality with your friends in tow.
To hear more about Ryan’s history with the RocketBunny 350Z, please visit the J3P Podcast and download Season One, Episode Two - “Chasing The Dream”.
