An RWB Porsche is an air-cooled Porsche 911 transformed by Japanese craftsman Akira Nakai into a widebody statement piece. Standing out with massive riveted fenders, deep dish wheels, and towering rear wings, these machines divide enthusiasts between those who view them as rolling art and purists who hate seeing classic metal cut with an air saw.
Akira Nakai builds every signature car by hand himself. He travels across the globe with his tools, matching fiberglass flares to vintage donor cars entirely by eye. Owning one requires patience, a suitable donor car, and a direct pipeline to RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF headquarters in Japan.
Who is Akira Nakai and How Did RWB Begin?
Before shaping European sports cars, Nakai cut his teeth in Japan's underground drifting scene. In the 1990s, he led a legendary crew known as Rough World, piloting modified Toyota AE86s through mountain passes and track circuits like Tsukuba. Their cars featured aggressive bodywork, lowered stances, and stark visual authenticity.
The shift toward Porsche happened when Nakai acquired a damaged air-cooled Porsche 930. Instead of restoring it to factory specifications, he applied his grassroots tuning philosophy to German engineering. He named that foundational car Stella Artois, establishing the aesthetic blueprint for every future build.
RWB translates from German as "Rough World Concept." The name captures Nakai's philosophy: cars are meant to be driven hard, collect stone chips, and live on the asphalt rather than sit as static museum pieces.
The Hands-On Build Process
What separates an RWB Porsche from standard aftermarket tuner cars is the installation method. Nakai doesn't rely on CAD models, digital scans, or production line templates.
- The Freehand Cut: Nakai evaluates the donor car's lines, measures by eye, and uses an air saw to carve directly into factory metal.
- Hand-Riveted Flares: The iconic wide fiberglass fenders are fitted and riveted into position manually, ensuring each build has subtle, unique proportions.
- The Atmosphere: Installations typically take two to three days. Nakai works long hours in the host workshop, frequently accompanied by a cigarette and a beverage while local enthusiasts watch in silence.
Because every car is shaped on-site to match the owner's vision and wheel setup, no two RWB builds are completely identical.
Which Porsche Models Can Be Converted?
Nakai focuses almost exclusively on air-cooled generations of the Porsche 911. The most common donor cars include:
- Porsche 911 (930 series): The classic turbo-era shape that started the movement.
- Porsche 911 (964 series): Popular for blending vintage silhouette with slightly modern mechanical layouts.
- Porsche 911 (993 series): The final air-cooled 911 generation, prized for its flowing rear haunches.
More modern water-cooled variants, such as the 996 and 997, occasionally receive the RWB treatment, though air-cooled models remain the gold standard for the brand.
The Real Cost of Owning an RWB Porsche
Building a genuine RWB Porsche requires a significant financial commitment divided into distinct stages.
The base body kit and Nakai's international travel and labor fees run anywhere from $25,000 to over $50,000 depending on the specific model and aero options selected. On top of that expense, you must supply a healthy donor 911. Classic air-cooled 911 models command high prices in the collector market, frequently trading between $60,000 and $150,000-plus.
Additional costs include professional body prep, paint matching for the new wide arches, specialized suspension setups like KW coivolers, and custom multi-piece wheels with massive negative offsets. By the time a build is finished and registered, total investments often land well north of $100,000 on top of the car's initial purchase price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an RWB kit improve performance?
The modifications focus primarily on aesthetics, stance, and mechanical grip via wider tires and stiffer suspension tracks. While upgraded suspension components improve handling balance, the engine internals usually remain stock unless the owner separately commissions independent engine tuning.
Can you drive an RWB Porsche every day?
Yes, owners frequently use them as street cars. Because the modifications change outer bodywork and suspension geometry rather than the core engine block, reliability depends entirely on the condition and maintenance of the base air-cooled flat-six motor.
How do you get an allocation for a build?
Prospective owners must contact RWB representatives or apply directly through international channels to secure a build slot. Wait times can stretch from several months to over a year depending on Nakai's travel schedule.
Are RWB Porsches considered good investments?
While high-profile builds command strong prices at collector auctions, values vary widely based on the quality of the donor car, paintwork, and documentation proving the car was built directly by Nakai.
