NAKAI-SAN ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

The 911 has a reputation for being one of the finest driving machines on the planet. Its unconventional rear-engine layout has become a proven recipe that works well on both the road and the track and since the beginning has dictated the way the car looks. And it’s these looks in particular that have captivated the minds of some car enthusiasts out there. Nakai-san at Rauh Welt is a man that has taken the 911 to places that nobody thought possible, created an instantly recognizable style that in a very short space of time has exploded in popularity around the world. So to finish off the Porsche 911 Day celebrations we thought we’d ask Nakai some questions…

…questions that you, our readers, kindly submitted last week. We were blown away by the feedback we got and I’d like to thank everyone that responded. I have had to make a short selection form the 100+ submissions we had, so apologies if your question wasn’t included. Read on to find out Nakai-san’s answers…

Speedhunters Readers: How did you get started in this line of work?

It started as a way for me to have fun with cars. Still to this day I don’t think that what I do is work, it’s just a way for me to enjoy myself doing what I love.

SHR: Why Stella Artois ? What make this beer your favourite?

I once visited Belgium and had a chance to try Stella Artois. During my whole time there that’s all I drank and I really got to like it, so once back in Japan I just continued to drink it. Also the label has a pretty cool design.

SHR: What’s the reasoning behind the looks of your cars? Is there any sort of “RWB Philosophy”?

My philosophy is to make cars that not only look cool, but that you can drive – cars that don’t just sit on display.

SHR: What were the early days of Rough World like??? Do you still have any of your AE86s from back then?

It was a fun time, nothing has really changed as I’m still having lots of fun with what I am doing today. As for the hachirokus, they are all gone.

SHR: Where do you start when you 1st start to build a car?

First I think about it and begin imagining what the final car will look like. The actual build process begins form the fenders, once those are taken care of everything else falls into place easily.

SHR: Love your work, would be very much interested in a 350Z (Fairlady Z) RWB conversion! Would you be interested in such a build?

Thanks! Sure, bring it over. I can do a conversion to any car, but since it will be more of a custom built it will probably take a while to complete. Some cars take longer than others.

SHR: Where could I buy the wide body kit that you use? Or is it not for sale and only exclusive with RWB?

Yes it’s exclusively on sale only from Rauh Welt, be it RWB USA, RWB Thailand or any other RWB dealer.

SHR: What would you do to a Porsche 959?

I’d make it wider.

SHR: What would you say is the best looking production car on sale?

There are none, my car is my favourite.

SHR: Can I have a job?

OK sure, come over and give me a hand…

SHR: Do you like comics/manga if so which ones?

I don’t read manga, I watch movies.

SHR: Ever thought about a RWB Cayman or even a Panamera?

Yeah sure why not, anything is possible but it will take a long time to create.

SHR: I want to know what it takes for me to actually have a 911 built by RWB here in Sweden… Need to ship the car to States/Japan to get it done?

There is no need to ship your car anywhere, just invite me over to Sweden and I’ll build it for you. Call me.

SHR: Which Porsche that you haven’t worked on do you want to work on the most? And which Porsches could there never be an RWB design for?

I don’t set limits, I would work on any Porsche.

SHR: How many cars do you do a year?

I don’t really keep count…

SHR: What do you see in the future for Rauh Welt?

I never think about the future, I just think about the “now.” I just want to enjoy what I do.

 

Rauh Welt Begriff

 

-Dino Dalle Carbonare

 

Tags:

Categories: Car Builder, Dino Dalle Carbonare, Photojournalists, Special Features, Speedhunters Crew

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Gvk 27 pts

Wow... simple minded.. awesome!

So he would RWD any car but it'll just takes a longer time.

Nismo Omori Factory 11 pts

Sounds like one of the coolest guys ever! Keep up the great work Nakai-San!

Tonioseven 21 pts

SICK!!! The man is awesome!! I wonder if he'd give the RWB treatment to my Saturn?! LMAO!!! No, seriously though...

Carmouflagger 5 pts

 Tonioseven He can, but it will take time :)

Pwain 8 pts

I know this kind of work can be expensive, and SUPER time consuming to do, but man this guy must be quite freaking wealthy. $18k for a kit on the rwb usa website. this guy is a high roller for sure. love his cars, and his standpoint on the cars he builds.

BadHouse 10 pts

I'm kinda bummed he didn't actually answer my question about what he considers to be the best looking car on sale, "There are none" doesn't apply to the question.

hayashi86 5 pts

"There is no need to ship your car anywhere, just invite me over to Sweden and I’ll build it for you." 

Nakai-san, i want an RWB!! 

grandtouring 35 pts

One question i wish they had asked was of all the cars out there, why did he choose Porsche to be his marque focus. It seems that he could of gone with any of the other brand, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes etc. Looking at his answers he would probably say something like " I like the way they look and drive". I doubt we could have gotten a deep philosophical insight into his reasoning, as he said, "My philosophy is to make cars that not only look cool, but that you can drive – cars that don’t just sit on display" but maybe help us know why he loves his Porsches so much.

trampaonline 5 pts

 grandtouring From what I remember from a magazine interview that I read, I think he had had a curiosity about the 911 back when he was building Toyotas. I can't remember when or why he ultimately switched.

 grandtouring I wonder if it's the sort of thing where he started with his own car, people saw it and it took off from there.  Sort of a natural progression.  But I love the fact that he has no snobbery about the brand from the interview....seems he'll mod anything that someone feels is cool.  Neat approach to not pigeon hole himself, very cool

MPistol 14 pts

Sometimes, its the little things. This guy has a Meters CD!!! That's it. No more needs to be said. The man has taste

ITRbroham 14 pts

 I totally agree. i could totally see Nakai-san building a car with "CLAP YA'  HANDS NOW!"  playing in the background!MPistol 

MPistol 14 pts

@ITRbroham exactly!! U my friend are cool, simply because you knew :)

VecTT 21 pts

Epic man, man of few words, but words just on the right spot. Very nice, hope to get to do this some time again. :)

Bushmaster 7 pts

Judging by the answers, Nakai-San seems to be the Kimi Raikonnen of Japanese tuners. XDCool interview, seems like a really cool dude.

Chris Besset 24 pts

I'm glad to see that my fundamental question about the beer was answered.

It's also nice to see that he is open to others cars than 911s. I want to see a Z or a Miata done in the RWB way !

Curlytop 27 pts

Ask me a stupid question get a stupid answer! Lol . Still a top guy tho.

LouisYio 138 pts

A "big pimpin' balla" is what we call this guy. Almost at the level of Chuck Norris, but more at the Jet Li, Jackie Chan status. No where near Bruce Lee but potential is there.

Nice photos but his cars look like crap.   I love how people are amazed at crappy fender flares. 

he almost seemed annoyed with the questions lol

Nikhil_P 95 pts

lol this guy!!! love his responses! if only everyone could cut the bull and give you a straight answer!

BigLips 14 pts

I love his philosophy, no BS, just do what you want. And he's so open to meeting people and he makes himself so available. We could all learn from that I think.

I have a feeling He is going to be the orneriest old man on earth some day :)

Divio 5 pts

What a King! LOVE RWB Style!

 

If I win the Lotto , im Gonna get a RWB 964 here in South Africa!

:-)

 

 

chidosanchez 6 pts

No fluff responses. I dig. Nakai-San's work is beyond brilliant. 

rodrigolj 14 pts

I know at least of one friend that would be happy to be just half as cool as Nakai-san. And would love to have that last picture as a desktop background.

Mighty_Mite50 24 pts

The Best Of UB40 and The Meters, do I spy there? Nice :)

Wow, awesome my question got answered! Not sure how practical it would be to bring my Zed over to Japan. You're welcome to visit Belgium again, I'll keep the Stella cold ;)

Fernando Fotografia 18 pts

Eu já virei fã do cidadão por duas grandes razões: Porsche e Stella_Artois

This guy is such a BOSS. Love the whole mindset and everything about RWB.

K's 53 pts

He answered the questions exactly how i expected, short and sweet straight to the point lol.

ed123 5 pts

ask how much to build a rwb lol

m8rky 5 pts

Great interview and a possibly the coolest guy on the planet.Love the RWB style and what a great workshop.Does he live there?

speedhunters_dino 416 pts

 m8rky Most of the time he does, yes.  He really does live and breathe his work 

hanablemoore 61 pts

Just enjoy yourself and everything else will fall into place.Good interview. i always though these guys (RWB,Chip Foose,Brabus,Shelby) had some sort of special education or advantage to be able to build custom built cars for a living but it seem thats not the case at all. They were just having fun with what they are doing and everything else fell into place. Cool

 hanablemoore 

i think chip foose studied automotive design and something other related to cars iirc

KeithCharvonia 41 pts

 hanablemoore Foose went to Art Center.  He has a very specialized, expensive education to do what he does.  Other guys just work hard and make it.  But lets be clear, a guy like Shelby could never design a car the same way that Foose does.  They each took completely different approaches to their craft.  I know that sounds like I like Foose and not Shelby, but that's not my point at all.  

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