Triumph Originals - Italy
Custom Workshop: South Garage Motor Co
Model: Scrambler 400 XC
Team Leader: Giuseppe Carucci
"I’m relentlessly in search of the perfect balance between aesthetics, functionality, comfort, and performance."
Born from the renewed collaboration between South Garage Milano and Triumph Italy, Dune 400 is a custom build based on the Triumph Scrambler 400 XC platform, reinterpreting the authentic spirit of the original Scramblers while blending it with the aesthetics and charm of the legendary desert racing motorcycles of the 1980s and 1990s.
The inspiration comes from an era when motorcycles were modified to go beyond the limits of paved roads, driven by a desire for exploration, freedom, and adventure. While the first Scramblers emerged from adapting road bikes for dirt trails and rough terrain, Dune 400 embraces this heritage and translates it into a contemporary vision, preserving the essential and adventurous character that made those motorcycles iconic.
The project stands out through a range of components specifically developed to enhance its off-road identity: protective side fairings inspired by desert rally bikes, a larger windscreen, tubular crash protection, a high-mounted exhaust, knobby tires, and a sand-coloured livery that immediately evokes the vast desert landscapes from which it takes its name. Every element has been designed to improve functionality, protection, and visual presence.
Dune 400 represents South Garage’s vision of a modern Scrambler: not an extreme show bike, but a practical, replicable, and ride-ready motorcycle designed to leave conventional routes behind, embrace new adventures, and rediscover the thrill of exploration without boundaries.
When Giuseppe Carucci, founder of South Garage Motor Co in Milan, received this year’s ‘Time Capsule' brief, he approached it the same way he approaches every creative challenge – with enthusiasm and the desire to surpass anything he has created before. That energy has defined his business since he first began customising in 2012.
South Garage’s attitude towards custom builds is rooted in a deep respect – for the bike, the brand and the era that inspires each build. Rather than imposing their own vision, they seek to enhance what makes each motorcycle special, preserving its identity and at the same time, elevating it into something distinctive and exclusive.
For Giuseppe, the Scrambler is a natural canvas. Its unmatched versatility, simplicity and timeless character make it ideal for creative reinterpretation – embodying a nonconformity spirit that, to Giuseppe, represents going beyond the road, carving out a path for something new and exciting.
Q&A
How did you get into Customs?
Custom builds have been a passion of mine from the very beginning. They align with my mindset, my attitude towards life, as well as my drive and vision for the business.
What was your initial reaction to the ‘Time Capsule’ design brief?
How I approach any creative project: with enthusiasm, a desire to challenge myself, a desire to surprise others, and the aspiration to surpass anything I've done before.
What do you think makes the Scrambler platform a great platform for custom builds?
There’s several reasons. Its versatility is unmatched, both in style and function. It’s also got a uniquely seductive power, which comes from its ability to embody the idea of essentiality – it’s the perfect balance between simplicity and sophistication. Finally, it’s a beautifully nostalgic and evocative object – in the 1960s and 70s, it was the defining icon of motorcycle culture in film.
What does the word “Scrambler” mean to you personally, culturally, aesthetically or in any other way?
Culturally, it represents the concept of ‘going beyond the ordinary,’ because its appeal goes beyond the road itself. To me it means the desire to explore and discover, it’s nonconformist and pushes back against a conventional vision.
What’s your favourite part of the build process, and why?
As I always say – ‘ditch the plastic and go for classic!’ For me, you can only achieve that exclusive character, aesthetic satisfaction and a sense of authenticity when you use superior materials, alongside the finest workmanship.
What makes your builds unique compared to others in the custom scene?
I believe it’s how I approach my work. I strive to only use the highest quality materials, finishes and styles, and I’m relentlessly in search of the perfect balance between aesthetics, functionality, comfort and performance.
Is there a golden rule you always follow when building a custom, and is there one rule you love to break?
One rule I religiously stick to is respecting the integrity of the brand and of the motorcycle. And one I love to break? The notion of never redefining the frame and chassis.
