Question 1

Who is Akira Nakai?

Accepted Answer

Akira Nakai is the founder of RWB and personally builds every RWB car. He travels globally to client locations and typically completes a build in 4-7 days on site. Nakai is famous for his hands-on approach and his refusal to delegate the actual fabrication work.

Question 2

How much does an RWB build cost?

Accepted Answer

Conversion cost (excluding donor 911) typically starts around $25,000-$50,000 and goes up. Plus the cost of the donor 911 (a clean 964 starts around $50,000 used). Total cost for a complete RWB build is typically $80,000-$150,000 minimum, with bespoke high-end builds exceeding $250,000.

Question 3

Are RWB builds reversible?

Accepted Answer

Not really. The fender flares are riveted directly to the original bodywork; removing them would damage the body panels. Most RWB builds are also painted in custom schemes that would require significant work to return to a stock-style finish. RWB owners generally accept the build as a permanent transformation.

Question 4

What chassis does Nakai prefer?

Accepted Answer

Most early RWB builds were based on 930 (1974-1989) and 964 (1989-1994) air-cooled 911s. More recent builds have used 993, 996, and 997 water-cooled chassis. The 964 remains a particular Nakai favorite and many of the most famous RWB cars are based on it.

Question 5

Are RWB cars track-driven?

Accepted Answer

Some are. Nakai himself has competed in time attack events with RWB cars. Most owners daily drive or show their cars rather than track them, but the chassis is genuinely capable of track use. The widebody allows wider tires than stock, which improves track performance.

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