Meet Hanzo 半蔵 – STREET COVER

For those of you who are not familiar or know the origins of RWB, Rauh Welt Begriff, Akira Nakai, Nakai-SAN, this is a story for you. Founder and owner, Akira Nakai, first started his career by building and drifting an AE86 with team Rauh Welt (Rough World). In the late 90’s Nakai San got his hands on a Porsche 930, that 911 would go on and become Stella Artois. Why named Stella Artois? It is Nakai San’s beer of choice. Nakai San cut up Stella, added lips and wings to make sure it was how he wanted it to behave on track. Although Nakai San originally planned to keep his business in Japan, It wasn’t until a few customers wanted to bring his business across the world. From that moment, from those select first customers, RWB is now on a global level.

Image: Sourced

Bring RWB forward to 2020, the waiting list extends to almost 2 years and the lists are growing, builds are being revealed more and more often. With a small host of RWB models already here in Australia, why not add another? Specifically South Australia’s first build, Hanzo. Its hard to believe many people would like to cut up a Porsche, but then in an equal argument there are a lot of people who would cut up a Porsche. Chris chose to undertake the transition. Here is the result;

Chris has been looking for a project for a number of years, requiring it to be unique and not super modern. With a background interest of Porsche, Chris decided that he would set his eyes towards the manufacture. The 993 was also the model brand new in the showrooms as Chris was leaving high school, “I started looking seriously 3 years ago, looking into RWB builds and what I would like to do to mine. After coming across a video about Kei Keishi, I knew that although mine will be different, this is what I would like.” Kei Kishi really set Chris into overdrive, not to dream but to make his 993 something unique.

Images: Sourced

Until very recent, Nakai San only focused on air cooled Porsche’s, from the 993, 964 and back to the early “Backdate” model’s from past. After spending some time with Chris, it was clear that he wanted to pay respect to the last air cooled Porsche to be made, Hence his choice with the 993. “If I found an ’84 Targa that was right for the build though, I would have snapped that up.”

Ordering the kit is an 18 month process, from Chris’s first conversation with Chern at RWB Australia, to having the car restored, painted and finally built. In that time, Chris placed all orders on the parts needed, 3 piece factory built Rotiform wheels, Tyres to be made by Pirelli (Try finding 335mm tyres in 18′, its not easy at all) and Airbag suspension. Charles Santoso was also in the picture, helping Chris with parts to get the 993 restored and back on the road. Whilst all this was happening, the RWB community was getting in contact with Chris to welcome him to the RWB family.

Chris travelled to Japan, RWB HQ. The home of Rauh Welt and where it all began. A lot of you may think it will be a big shop, big shop front, fancy architecture and surrounds to match. Let me tell you about it, Nakai San has made his small garage, workshop and paint/panel all into one small little garage. It isn’t big, the field next to HQ has crop growing in it amongst a small car park, the other side backs onto housing. Sitting on the 2 way street, its not exactly a busy area. Upon walking up to Nakai-San’s workshop, you would almost never guess it was there amongst the houses. Chris had a chat to Nakai San, checked on his body kit and timeline process. As you would expect, This would make anyone excited, especially Chris.

Image: Sourced

Back into Australia, Chris’s car had been restored, painted and panel work repaired at Polo Body Works in Victoria. After paint and panel, it was then off to OTR Motorsports for the airrex airbag suspension to be installed. Within a few weeks, Chris went from a car needing a little work to a car that was restored and ready to be cut up. Along came the drive to JAM Motorsports, long 8 hour journey in the 993. Driving 8 hours in a normal family sedan can have discomfort at times, image doing it in a sports coupe. After arriving at JAM and Nakai San arriving shortly after, the car was stripped, disassembled and the kit laid out.

Nakai San works fairly quickly, not only cutting up the guards and attaching the over fenders and new bumpers, but also helps dial in the wheel alignment so the car is looking even on both left and right. Toe, Camber, Castor, its all adjusted if needed. Fun Fact, to adjust front castor on the 930 model (Stella Artois for example) , a small kei car and chain is used to pull the control arm. Thankfully the 993 can be adjusted with a few swift pushes with your foot. Within 1 day, the body kit is mounted, the wheel alignment is down and the kit is then sikaflexed to the body.

There are 3 bodykit styles for the 993 model, the standard kit, Royal wide and Heavenly. Heavenly been the widest. Chris has the royal wide kit fitted to his 993. It’s wide enough, trust me. Nakai SAN has an eye for detail, fitting bits and pieces temporarily before adjusting, preparing and attaching them permanently. Each corner is done bit by bit, not before long you have the kit fitted, wheels test fitted and alignment dialled in with necessary adjustments. Canards are fitted then tow hook, tyres painted with the iconic ‘Idlers’ tag, Windscreen banner is fitted. Excitement for the owners at this point of seeing your newly transformed Porsche would be immense.

After the paint on the tyres has dried, the wheels are fitted and car is placed on the ground. The finishing touches are carried out and car is then rolled out into the spotlight.

“I’d like to thank all of my friends and family that have supported me through the process of working hard to pay for it and just the constant support they have shown – too many people to mention specifically. Also, I probably wouldn’t have gone through the process if I hadn’t met Chern from RWB Australia and the other members of the RWB family throughout the world. Many of them have reached out to welcome me and wish me luck, Polo Body works for helping me get the car sorted, and in the case of Charles Santoso – even helping me out with parts to help get the car back on the road. The feeling of a big international family is as real as it gets.”

Welcome to the world Hanzo