How much does an RWB Porsche cost?
Two options here. You can build it from scratch by providing your own Porsche 930, 964 or 993, or buy one already completed.
Option 1 — Built from scratch
If you want to have Akira Nakai modify your 911 from stock, here is how much the body kit and options cost for a Porsche 993 for example (not including cost of the car):
Body Kit – $24,000
Front bumper
Rear bumper
Front Wide Fenders
Rear Wide Fenders
Side Rockers
GT2 Wing
Options:
Champion wing – $1,600
Fender Wing – $1,400
“RWB” lettering cut out on trunk – $600
According to bringatrailer.com user “rwblosangeles,” you’re looking at over $30,000 for the body kit alone, including shipping and import duties. This does not include the cost of painting and the associated prep work (I’m not sure if the installation is included in the $30,000).
User “rwblosangeles” also mentions that these estimates don’t include accommodations for Akira Nakai, which I’m guessing include his airfare, hotel, and other travel expenses.
Bryson Richards, owner of Classic Livery of Atlanta, has witnessed six RWB builds. In an interview with YouTube channel VINwiki, he talks about the costs for an RWB build. He explains that a $30,000 deposit with RWB will get you on the waiting list to have a Porsche built by Akira Nakai, which is currently sitting at about 1 year to 1.5 years.
Once you put the deposit down, you become part of the RWB family, which includes being invited to a group chat with all current RWB owners. This also means you’ll be invited to the Idlers 12-hour endurance race, a track day event and social gathering held annually in Japan for RWB owners worldwide.
The video also states that most RWB owners choose to install an air-ride suspension, ranging from $4,000 to $8,000. Wheel options run from $3,000 to $15,000. None of these are included in the price of the body kit.
Richards says a full paint job on an RWB Porsche ranges from $18,000 to $25,000. If including interior work with the paint job, like rollcages, that can run the bill up to $130,000, not including the body kit.
Option 2 — Completed Car
Here are a few examples of RWB Porsches that were sold with their prices:
- 1995 Porsche 911 sold for $132,000 on 6/21/19.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-porsche-911-15/ - 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera sold for $124,001 on 3/8/19.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-porsche-911-15/ - 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera was bid up to $91,000 on bringatrailer.com on 4/27/18, but the reserve was not met.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-porsche-911-carrera-20/ - 1995 Porsche 993 listed for $150,000 on 12/10/16 (unsure if sold).
https://www.thedrive.com/flat-six-society/6443/rwb-porsche-993-for-sale-in-los-angeles - 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 listed on eBay with a $149,999 Buy It Now (unsure if sold).
- 1997 Porsche 933 “Baymax” was listed at $117,500 on Rennlist forums on 2/15/2017 (unsure if sold). https://rennlist.com/forums/vehicle-marketplace-old/975521-1997-porsche-993-rwb-baymax.html
- 1995 Porsche 993 C2 is currently listed on Hemming’s classifieds for $189,995.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/porsche/993c2/2188834.html
What kind of Porsche is an RWB?
RWB currently has bodykits for the Porsche 930, Porsche 964, and Porsche 993 (these are all different generations of the Porsche 911, from oldest to newest). Below are some photos of each of the three Porsche 911 models Nakai currently makes body kits for.
RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF Porsche 930 (1975-1989 911 Turbo)
RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF Porsche 964 (1989-1993 Porsche 911)
RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF Porsche 993 (1994-1998 Porsche 911)
He also offers a 930/964 “backdate” kit, which means he starts with Porsche 964 but modifies the body to make it look like a 930.
Nakai’s first RWB ever was a Porsche 930, his own personal car, nicknamed “Stella Artois.” He also owns the purple 993 pictured above, nicknamed “Rotana.”
Nakai is currently working on a kit for the Porsche 997. He has posted a few photos of the 997 kit in development through RWB’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
How many RWB Porsches are there in the world?
In an interview with eGarage writers Nic Jemenez and Ernesto Che, Nakai said that he doesn’t know exactly how many RWBs he has built. He added that, at the time of the interview (Oct. 2011), in the past 6 months he had built over 20 cars.
Bryson Richards, the man responsible for the silver paint job on the 1989 RWB Martini 930 “Ichiban Boshi,” said that Akira Nakai “does about 40-50 builds a year, almost one every weekend.”
How to get an RWB Porsche
Here are a few RWB Porsches that are currently for sale:
- 1995 Porsche Carrera Coupe C2 (red) listed at PelicanParts forum for $135,000
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1027481-rwb-1995-porsche-911-carrera.html - 1989 RWB Martini 930 “Ichiban Boshi” (silver) listed at 6SpeedOnline.com for $185,000
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/automobiles-sale/414512-1989-porsche-911-martini-rwb-2.html - 1995 RWB 993 Carrera 2 (purple) listed at Hemmings.com for $189,995
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/porsche/993c2/2188834.html - 1993 Porsche 964 Cabriolet (midnight blue) at listed at Hemmings.com price shown as “inquire”
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/porsche/964/2308919.html
What is RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF?
RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF, usually shortened to RWB, is a Porsche tuning shop in Chiba-ken (prefecture), Japan. Its owner, Akira Nakai, is famous for modifying air-cooled Porsche 911s with wild widebody kits, which he designs and installs himself.
RWB now has operations all around the world, including the US, but his humble shop in the Japanese countryside, in Kashiwa city, is where it all started (address and contact info below).
RAUH-Welt Begriff, Japan Main Operations
1-14-33 Fugigokoro, Kashiwa-shi
Chiba Japan 2770034
tel. 047-170-5360 fax. 047-170-4252
Nakai’s modified Porsche 911s have achieved cult levels of following within the automotive tuning community, as well as earned him media coverage from many of the internet’s top automotive news websites and blogs. His style sharply divides opinion, as some purists feel his taste is too flashy and over-the-top for the Porsche 911s he uses as his blank canvas.
What does RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF mean?
RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF is a combination of three German words. Rauh means “rough,” Welt means “world,” and “Begriff” means concept.
In a Speedhunters article by Antonio Alvendia from December 2008, the author explains that “Rough World” was the name of a legendary street drifting crew from Ibaragi, Japan, and that it included Akira Nakai, who was the leader, and Kazuhiro Tanaka, a professional drifter currently competing in the D1 series.
Drifters of that time favored a certain style defined by low ride heights, stretched tires, and excessive negative camber. This was known as “Rough Style.” According to Alvendia, Nakai was responsible for making this style popular in the grassroots drifting community.
See photos of Akira Nakai’s AE86 and learn more about the Rough World drift crew.
I read that the three words together in German don’t really make sense, but Nakai explains in interviews that the term is a way to describe the idea that each country has its own unique roads and weather, and that every RWB owner’s driving style is different.
Nakai reveals in another interview that the idea of “Rough World” started around 1994, when he got his first car.
What does “Sekund Entwicklung” mean?
These are also both German words. Sekund means “second” and Entwicklung means “development.” Nakai uses this phrase to acknowledge his transition into tuning German cars as the “secondary” phase of his tuning life, whereas before he primarily tuned Japanese cars, especially the Toyota Corolla AE86.
Is a RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF a Porsche?
RWB doesn’t manufacturer its own cars. It modifies older Porsche 911s. People tend to call a Porsche with an RWB body kit an “RWB,” but it’s not its own model.
What is the address for RWB Los Angeles?
I’m not sure if these are current, but here are the two address listed on the RWB USA website.
RAUH-Welt Begriff, US Operations
790 South Amphlett Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402
email: rauhweltusa@gmail.com- Best way to contact!
RAUH-Welt Begriff, Los Angeles Operations
3402 W Macarthur Blvd, Suite E, Santa Ana, CA 92704
How to pronounce RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF? (24)
Here is a link to Google translate that has audible pronunciation for “Rauh-Welt Begriff”
All photos credited to Kevin Phan to which he reserves all usage rights. Photos may not be used without photographer’s express permission.