Customising a automotive to your liking is a extremely private endeavour the place the top consequence may be met with optimistic reactions or disparaged. That’s actually the case with RWB Porsches, that are famously recognized as 911s sporting exaggerated fender flares, gigantic wings, deep dish wheels and uncovered rivets.
RWB Porsches are polarising and entice extremely divisive feedback. Whereas some view the extensively modified 911s as rolling artworks, others (significantly the diehard Porsche devoted) discover them to be the precise reverse.
Whichever aspect of the coin you like, there isn’t any denying that RWB Porsches command a presence and draw a crowd wherever they flip up. Not like different manufacturers that additionally supply widebody options, each RWB Porsche is constructed by only one man, famous Japanese tuner Akira Nakai.
Nakai’s introduction to Porsches occurred whereas he was working at a physique store as a way to fund his drift membership referred to as Rauh-Welt, which in German, roughly interprets to “tough world.” He would ultimately purchase a 930-generation 911 for himself earlier than modifying it by including extra energy and higher suspension, whereas additionally creating the dramatic physique package that he can be famend for.
Naming it after his favorite beer, Stella Artois grew to become the primary RWB Porsche, and Nakai would arrange his firm – Rauh-Welt Begriff – in 1997. Whereas the that means of the primary portion of the title, the final world can both imply “model,” “idea” or “expression.”
The chosen title displays two concepts that Nakai consider in, together with selling magnificence within the imperfection of his customised automobiles, in addition to the aggressive driving model stemming from his drifting days. Nakai views his one-off creations as sports activities vehicles that ought to be pushed and never merely saved away in a storage.
Nakai’s work earned him some followers (and clients) over time, with many commissioning him to use the RWB remedy to their Porsches, initially with the 930 earlier than different generations just like the 964, 993 and 997 had been added to the portfolio.
It isn’t low-cost to get a RWB Porsche, with the value for the physique package operating into the hundreds of {dollars}, and that’s earlier than together with the value of the Porsche itself, import and transport expenses, paintwork, personalisation choices and even the quantity wanted to convey Nakai to your automotive. The limitless provide of cigarettes, a leather-based lounge chair and Mexican Coca-Cola that Nakai is usually seen with are a part of his mystique however aren’t really needed for a RWB construct.
Regardless of the excessive barrier of entry, Nakai’s schedule is filled with tasks all over the world, with many purchasers ready generally years to get their RWB Porsche executed, together with in Malaysia. The proprietor of this 993-generation 911 paid and waited since 2019 for Nakai to reach, with the worldwide pandemic additional compounding to the wait time.
This RWB venture was accomplished this yr and as is custom, Nakai gave it a reputation: Hanabi. Along with the signature physique package, Hanabi additionally received a carbon-fibre roof (the one one among its form right here) and retro-look LED entrance lights, together with RWB wheels and inside model accents.
Hanabi is joined by Kagayaki, with each tasks accomplished at Kuzig Glanz Detailing’s studio in Ara Damansara. The latter had a shorter lead time because it was commissioned final yr, and its completion was made attainable due to 4 different tasks coinciding with Nakai’s two-week go to right here. After 5 lengthy years with out a RWB construct going down right here, Hanabi is the ninth RWB Porsche in Malaysia, with Kagayaki being quantity 10 – there at the moment are 14 RWB Porsches right here.
Kagayaki is a 911 Turbo Cabriolet and is the primary RWB Porsche based mostly on the 997-generation mannequin in Malaysia (second in Southeast Asia). As documented by Speedhunters, Nakai first began on the 997 in late 2018, shopping for a Cabriolet and utilizing the analogue approach (eyes and judgement) to get the physique package fitted precisely was he would love it.
Every construct course of is an event, with many pairs of eyes watching Nakai’s each transfer as he cuts the automotive’s physique by hand, a course of that almost all would discover terrifying, particularly with basic 911s that price a fairly penny. From there, the physique package is aligned and put in to Nakai’s liking based mostly on his years of expertise.
From there, the real RWB wheels are fitted, with the alignment and fitment dialled in till the look is ideal to the eyes of the builder. Shoppers sometimes have their very own most well-liked add-ons to make their vehicles much more distinctive and Kagayaki is not any completely different, with distinctive touches being the bespoke CSB Professional headlamps and customized solid wheels.
Attributable to Nakai’s very hands-on strategy to every RWB construct that doesn’t see him use superior tools for measurements, there are certain to be some imperfections. Nevertheless, some view these to be consistent with the RWB philosophy and recognize them as a part of the creation’s character. Wabi-sabi is the Japanese artwork of discovering the sweetness in imperfections and encourages us to understand that nothing is actually good or everlasting – becoming for RWB Porsches, don’t you suppose?
As talked about earlier, RWB Porsches divide opinion and whether or not you prefer it or not is totally subjective. For those who’re not sure tips on how to really feel about them, each Hanabi and Kagayaki can be on show at this weekend’s Auto Automobile Expo (ACE) taking place at Setia Metropolis Conference Centre (SCCC) from October 26-27, so head on over to view them in particular person.
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