Six years, six SH Garage updates, and Project 964 is finally getting the most important upgrade yet. Scratch that – this can be a full-on transformation!
All of it began with a temporary chat I had with Akira Nakai of RAUH-Welt Begriff just before we were about to board a plane to Malaysia for the opening of the RWB Museum in Johor in January 2018. While the museum is long gone, the agreement made during that conversation has held up through every part that’s happened since, bringing us to this moment.
That’s where we decided that my recently acquired, semi-barn-find, faded yellow 964 would eventually be given the total RWB treatment. It’s just about the predominant reason I got the automotive in the primary place. Well, that, and after driving a Singer, I’ve all the time wanted to construct my very own 964.
Fast forward to mid-October 2024, and I’m standing in front of my bare RWB kit at Nakai-san’s shop in Kashiwa, Chiba.
I first noticed the rear bumper, already sanded down and prepped for paint by Nojima-san of Nojireal, Nakai-san’s trusted painter since his move from AE86s to 911s.
Then, I saw the rear Turbo-inspired wing – the piece that, to me, would turn this automotive into the dream 911 I’ve all the time wanted ever since seeing RWB Stella Artois at Tsukuba back within the early 2000s.
I didn’t wish to miss a single moment of this construct, not only to share it with you but to properly benefit from the experience. The Nojima x Nakai touch would make this RWB HQ-built 964 something truly special for me.
As Nakai-san’s own 997 trio took over the shop, there was something surreal about seeing my air-cooled 964 finally being worked on.
A month earlier, I had brought the 964 to RWB so Nojima-san could color-match the yellow paint – a process that took over three hours, as every panel had faded in a different way because the automotive’s last respray 15 years ago. But in the long run, he nailed it, and we were ready for step two: the painting.
The painting process took two days. First up were the front bumper, the 4 overfenders, and the RS-style air vents that will replace the bumper lights. The next day, Nojima-san tackled the remainder of the parts.
The method was straightforward – white primer base coat, followed by several coats of yellow.
I brought Project 964’s biggest fan along for the ride: my son Gaio, who quickly embraced the Rough World way.
With the 12-piece kit fully painted, we were almost there – just waiting for Nakai-san to return to Japan and message me a date for the construct. I did miss the ultimate prep step of clear-coating the body parts, but you get the concept. Seeing all these bits painted brought home the indisputable fact that this thing was going to occur, but it surely still felt a bit like a dream…
The Construct: Day 1
Nakai-san’s message got here earlier than expected – he was able to begin the construct the second weekend of December 2024. And that was that. Fast forward two days, and I used to be at RWB HQ, 10:00am on the dot.
Nakai-san moved his 997 and 997 Turbo out of the approach to make space.
Spotting the old Speedhunters sticker I stuck on the shop window back in around 2009, I just had so as to add my very own to mark the occasion.
Then I drove the automotive into the shop.
A fast go searching on the familiar surroundings of some of the iconic automotive shops in Japan, a deep breath… and I used to be ready.
Narrow-body, bye-bye. Purists, I’m sure, wept somewhere. The purpose of no return had arrived.
I won’t interfere an excessive amount of with the method – I’d somewhat let the shots tell the story. In any case, if you happen to’re an everyday Speedhunters reader, that is something you’ll be very conversant in. So sit back and luxuriate in…
With all of the unneeded bits faraway from the automotive, it was time for the pivotal moment. The primary cut.
And there it was. First cut. Cigarette break.
No big deal… well, perhaps not for Nakai-san. For me? Let’s just say I had heart palpitations. I nearly asked if I could bum a cigarette to calm my nerves. But no time for that – it was on to the following three fenders.
And the result? Boom. Easy. Now, onto the overfenders!
The front bumper went on first, and immediately, the automotive began to take shape, dramatically transforming in front of us and giving an actual sense of the girth it was going to have.
Then got here the overfenders, with Nakai-san’s assistant all the time able to help.
By mid-afternoon, the automotive was already looking incredible. I asked Nakai-san how long it used to take him to construct a automotive at first. His answer? 4 days. Now, he could finish most of it in half that point. Crazy!
With the wheels on, the suspension height dropped, and a preliminary alignment done, Nakai-san drilled the remainder of the holes for the fenders and bolted them into place.
Next up was the sealant – the black caulking that’s turn into the signature touch of RWB overfenders. On my automotive, it provided the proper contrast to the yellow body and tied every part together.
And that’s how smooth all of it finally ends up looking.
By the top of the primary day, the RWB transformation was almost complete.
Sealant was applied across the fenders and skirts, and I used to be sent home with a set of loaner wheels on the automotive. All of it felt so alien to me; I could barely recognize it as the identical 964 I had been bringing back from the semi-abandoned state I discovered it in years ago.
The Construct: Day 2
Day 2 was all concerning the ending touches, including fitting the rear deck with the integrated Turbo wing. For that, I brought my entire family to see all of it come together. The boys were mesmerized by Nakai-san’s speed and precision.
Although they didn’t fully grasp who he was or what he did, they were taken by the vibe of the shop and the metamorphosis happening right before their eyes.
Then Nakai-san did something unexpected: he let Gaio help with the sealing. He showed him the right way to rub his finger along the bead of sealant between the masking tape. It was such a touching moment and something Gaio hasn’t stopped talking about since.
The hours flew by as Nakai-san fine-tuned every part – knocking up some aluminum bumper supports, fitting the wheel arch liners, and ensuring the tires wouldn’t rub on anything.
This meant continuous adjustments of the suspension geometry and fitment with the second set of loaner wheels Nakai-san pulled out of storage.
Meanwhile, Nojima-san cleaned dust off the paint and buffed it to a shine, each on the RWB parts and the remainder of the automotive.
Next got here the Idlers stencils on the tires. When Nojima asked if I wanted them, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. For me, it was all about creating essentially the most balanced, old-school, period-correct RWB construct I could, and to me, those stencils tie every part together. I remember being confused about what ‘Idlers’ meant once I first began seeing them on RWB cars.
Marking the completion of the project was the ‘RAUH-Welt’ windscreen banner and the ‘RAUH-Welt Head Quarters’ sticker on the back window, just above the unique ‘Mizwa Porsche’ sticker.
And there it was. The top of some of the epic automotive journeys I’ve ever taken – or wait… perhaps it’s only the start! A large thanks to Akira Nakai and Yusuke Nojima for helping me make one among my biggest dreams a reality. 本当にありがとうございます。
The First Drive
Before I wrap this up, I wanted to go away you with a number of images of the automotive out within the wild – or, more specifically, on one among my favorite driving roads in Japan, the Izu Skyline. The best way the 964 sits now’s utter perfection in my eyes. The proportions, the balance, the fitment, the way in which it handles the corners – it’s all just overwhelming.
I’ll save the driving for one more post. For now, I hope you’ve enjoyed coming along on this journey with me.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
Additional Images by Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
