RWB (Porsche Widebody Tuning)

RWB (RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF) is one of the most recognisable names in the world of air-cooled Porsche 911 customisation, founded by Japanese master builder Akira Nakai. Derived from German, the name translates to "Rough World Concept", perfectly encapsulating the core philosophy of this build style: using hand-cut and riveted widebody panels to transform the Porsche 911 into an aggressive, slammed machine brimming with raw mechanical presence.

Origins and Founder

RWB founder Akira Nakai started out as a drift driver in Japan, campaigning a Toyota AE86 in grassroots drift events. His initial drift crew was named "Rough World", which subsequently inspired the RWB moniker. After acquiring a heavily crashed Porsche 930 Turbo, Nakai began exploring ways to transplant the widebody styling and aggressive stance honed from his drifting days onto the air-cooled 911 platform. At the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon, he debuted his first official RWB build, "Stella Artois" (based on the 930 Turbo), instantly capturing the attention of the global Porsche tuning scene.

Core Characteristics and Tuning Philosophy

The signature RWB aesthetic is defined by several distinctive visual cues: wildly flared overfenders, exposed riveted fasteners, an ultra-low slammed stance, massive deep-dish rims, and an enormous rear wing. Unlike conventional bolt-on replacement panel kits, RWB overfenders are hand-cut, hand-shaped, and directly riveted and bonded over the factory body panels. Eschewing CAD modelling and high-precision CNC machinery, Akira Nakai relies solely on measuring tape, masking tape, and a seasoned eye, cutting straight into the sheet metal with a standard pneumatic air saw before test-fitting and trimming repeatedly for an exact flush fitment. A single fender often undergoes dozens of trial fits and adjustments, ensuring the fender-to-tyre clearance is dialed in down to the millimetre.

This conversion is strictly irreversible. Once the original fenders are sliced open, the car can never be returned to factory stock condition—a non-negotiable "pact" every RWB owner must embrace. Nakai has often remarked that every car has a soul: half provided by Porsche, and the other half imbued by its owner. As such, he engages in deep conversations with each owner prior to the build to understand their personality and driving style, ensuring that every RWB turns out to be a truly bespoke, one-of-a-kind creation.

Craftsmanship and Process

Commissioning an RWB is far from a simple "buy-a-kit and DIY" affair. Akira Nakai insists on flying directly to the customer's location to perform the cutting, shaping, and assembly at a local partner workshop. While the build itself typically takes just one to two days, the groundwork beforehand—such as sourcing a solid air-cooled 911 donor car and rectifying any chassis or mechanical issues—frequently takes months or even longer. RWB overfenders, front lips, side skirts, and rear wings are handcrafted from fibreglass or FRP, with Nakai trimming and adjusting the arch profiles on-site purely according to the car's actual wheel and tyre setup rather than static blueprints.

Representative Models and Global Influence

RWB focuses primarily on three iconic air-cooled Porsche 911 generations: the 930, 964, and 993. Among them, the 930 Turbo, renowned for its factory "Widowmaker" moniker and factory turbo-flared DNA, is regarded as the quintessential platform for an RWB conversion. The 993, representing the final generation of air-cooled 911s, sees its track width stretched from the factory 68.3 inches to an imposing 78 inches when fitted with the RWB kit, creating tremendous visual aggression.

RWB has established international chapters worldwide, including RWB Europe, RWB Thailand, and RWB Florida, with China's first RWB build completed in 2015 (based on a Porsche 993). Nakai himself gained mainstream global fame after being featured on the cover of Need for Speed (2015). His rugged, unassuming, grease-stained master craftsman persona stands in stark, charismatic contrast to the meticulous fit and finish of his completed machines.

Controversy and Reception

RWB remains one of the most polarising marques in the Porsche tuning world. Purists and critics argue that slicing up the bodywork irreversibly "ruins" increasingly rare and appreciating air-cooled 911 metal, calling it a desecration of classic heritage. Enthusiasts and supporters counter that RWB injects an aggressive soul and stance that factory spec could never match, adding that Akira Nakai's bespoke craftsmanship holds an irreplaceable artistic pedigree. Regardless of where one stands, RWB has grown from a humble workshop in Chiba, Japan, into an undeniable cult icon in global Porsche custom culture.