Copen in Verona, Italy— A Silver Glimpse of the Export Legend

 Copen in Verona, Italy — A Silver Glimpse of the Export Legend

　　　By De Garassie the 4th

On August 16th, 2013, I wasn’t expecting to find a Copen in northern Italy.

And yet there it was.

Parked quietly on a street in Verona. Silver, clean, unassuming.

It didn’t look like a collector’s car, nor part of an exhibition.

It was simply there — living its life.

This was no ordinary Copen.

It was the European export version, equipped with a 1.3L engine instead of the original Japanese 660cc turbo.

With left-hand drive, wider mirrors, and compliant with Euro regulations, it was part of a bold but quiet effort to bring the soul of Ikeda, Osaka, to the streets of Europe.

I remember snapping this photo.

If you look closely, you’ll see a character from a Japanese comic — Bakabon’s Papa — standing in front of the car, showing the number 16 on his belly calendar.

That’s how I remembered the exact date: August 16th, 2013.

Ten years later, this single photo means more to me than I ever imagined.

It reminds me that the Copen story didn’t just unfold in Japan.

It made its way to the cobblestones of Verona, the autobahns of Germany, and now—

into the hearts of readers around the world.

Silver 1.3L Copen – Verona, Italy – August 16, 2013

(Photographed by De Garassie the 4th)