Customising a automotive to your liking is a extremely private endeavour the place the tip end result could be met with constructive reactions or disparaged. That’s definitely 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 (notably the diehard Porsche devoted) discover them to be the precise reverse.
Whichever aspect of the coin you favor, there isn’t a denying that RWB Porsches command a presence and draw a crowd wherever they flip up. Not like different manufacturers that additionally provide 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 in an effort to fund his drift membership referred to as Rauh-Welt, which in German, roughly interprets to “tough world.” He would finally purchase a 930-generation 911 for himself earlier than modifying it by including extra energy and higher suspension, whereas additionally creating the dramatic physique equipment that he could 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 which means of the primary portion of the identify, the final world can both imply “model,” “idea” or “expression.”
The chosen identify displays two concepts that Nakai imagine 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 automobiles that ought to be pushed and never merely saved away in a storage.
Nakai’s work earned him some followers (and prospects) over time, with many commissioning him to use the RWB therapy 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 equipment working into the hundreds of {dollars}, and that’s earlier than together with the value of the Porsche itself, import and delivery fees, paintwork, personalisation choices and even the quantity wanted to carry Nakai to your automotive. The limitless provide of cigarettes, a leather-based lounge chair and Mexican Coca-Cola that Nakai is commonly seen with are a part of his mystique however aren’t truly needed for a RWB construct.
Regardless of the excessive barrier of entry, Nakai’s schedule is filled with initiatives all over the world, with many purchasers ready typically years to get their RWB Porsche achieved, 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 undertaking was accomplished this yr and as is custom, Nakai gave it a reputation: Hanabi. Along with the signature physique equipment, Hanabi additionally obtained a carbon-fibre roof (the one one among its variety right here) and retro-look LED entrance lights, together with RWB wheels and inside model accents.
Hanabi is joined by Kagayaki, with each initiatives 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 doable because of 4 different initiatives 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 primarily based 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 method (eyes and judgement) to get the physique equipment 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 the majority would discover terrifying, particularly with basic 911s that value a fairly penny. From there, the physique equipment is aligned and put in to Nakai’s liking primarily based 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 usually have their very own most well-liked add-ons to make their automobiles much more distinctive and Kagayaki is not any completely different, with distinctive touches being the bespoke CSB Professional headlamps and customized cast wheels.
As a result of Nakai’s very hands-on method to every RWB construct that doesn’t see him use superior gear for measurements, there are sure to be some imperfections. Nonetheless, some view these to be in step with the RWB philosophy and respect 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 really 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. In case you’re not sure easy methods to really feel about them, each Hanabi and Kagayaki will likely be on show at this weekend’s Auto Automotive Expo (ACE) taking place at Setia Metropolis Conference Centre (SCCC) from October 26-27, so head on over to view them in individual.
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