Six years, six SH Storage updates, and Mission 964 is lastly getting the most important improve but. Scratch that – it is a full-on transformation!
All of it started with a quick chat I had with Akira Nakai of RAUH-Welt Begriff simply earlier than we had been about to board a airplane to Malaysia for the opening of the RWB Museum in Johor in January 2018. Whereas the museum is lengthy gone, the settlement made throughout that dialog has held up by means of the whole lot that’s occurred since, bringing us to this second.
That’s the place we determined that my just lately acquired, semi-barn-find, pale yellow 964 would ultimately be given the total RWB remedy. It’s just about the principle cause I bought the automotive within the first place. Nicely, that, and after driving a Singer, I’ve all the time wished to construct my very own 964.
Quick ahead to mid-October 2024, and I’m standing in entrance of my naked RWB equipment at Nakai-san’s store in Kashiwa, Chiba.
I first observed the rear bumper, already sanded down and prepped for paint by Nojima-san of Nojireal, Nakai-san’s trusted painter since his transfer from AE86s to 911s.
Then, I noticed the rear Turbo-inspired wing – the piece that, to me, would flip this automotive into the dream 911 I’ve all the time wished ever since seeing RWB Stella Artois at Tsukuba again within the early 2000s.
I didn’t need to miss a single second of this construct, not simply to share it with you however to correctly benefit from the expertise. The Nojima x Nakai contact would make this RWB HQ-built 964 one thing actually particular for me.
As Nakai-san’s personal 997 trio took over the store, there was one thing surreal about seeing my air-cooled 964 lastly being labored on.
A month earlier, I had introduced the 964 to RWB so Nojima-san may color-match the yellow paint – a course of that took over three hours, as each panel had pale in another way because the automotive’s final respray 15 years in the past. However in the long run, he nailed it, and we had been prepared for step two: the portray.
The portray course of took two days. First up had been the entrance bumper, the 4 overfenders, and the RS-style air vents that might exchange the bumper lights. The next day, Nojima-san tackled the remainder of the components.
The method was easy – white primer base coat, adopted by a number of coats of yellow.
I introduced Mission 964’s largest fan alongside for the journey: my son Gaio, who rapidly embraced the Tough World method.
With the 12-piece equipment totally painted, we had been nearly there – simply ready 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 physique components, however you get the thought. Seeing all these bits painted introduced residence the truth that this factor was going to occur, but it surely nonetheless felt a bit like a dream…
The Construct: Day 1
Nakai-san’s message got here before anticipated – he was prepared to start the construct the second weekend of December 2024. And that was that. Quick ahead 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 way in which to create space.
Recognizing the previous Speedhunters sticker I caught on the store window again in round 2009, I simply had so as to add my very own to mark the event.
Then I drove the automotive into the store.
A fast go searching on the acquainted environment of one of the crucial iconic automotive outlets in Japan, a deep breath… and I used to be prepared.
Slim-body, bye-bye. Purists, I’m positive, wept someplace. The purpose of no return had arrived.
I gained’t intrude an excessive amount of with the method – I’d relatively let the photographs inform the story. In spite of everything, for those who’re a daily Speedhunters reader, that is one thing you’ll be very acquainted with. So sit again and revel in…
With all of the unneeded bits faraway from the automotive, it was time for the pivotal second. The primary reduce.
And there it was. First reduce. Cigarette break.
No massive deal… properly, perhaps not for Nakai-san. For me? Let’s simply say I had coronary heart palpitations. I almost requested if I may bum a cigarette to calm my nerves. However no time for that – it was on to the subsequent three fenders.
And the end result? Increase. Straightforward. Now, onto the overfenders!
The entrance bumper went on first, and immediately, the automotive began to take form, dramatically reworking in entrance 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 assist.
By mid-afternoon, the automotive was already wanting unbelievable. I requested Nakai-san how lengthy it used to take him to construct a automotive to start with. His reply? 4 days. Now, he may end most of it in half that point. Loopy!
With the wheels on, the suspension top dropped, and a preliminary alignment performed, Nakai-san drilled the remainder of the holes for the fenders and bolted them into place.
Subsequent up was the sealant – the black caulking that’s change into the signature contact of RWB overfenders. On my automotive, it offered the proper distinction to the yellow physique and tied the whole lot collectively.
And that’s how easy all of it finally ends up wanting.
By the top of the primary day, the RWB transformation was nearly full.
Sealant was utilized throughout the fenders and skirts, and I used to be despatched residence with a set of loaner wheels on the automotive. All of it felt so alien to me; I may barely acknowledge it as the identical 964 I had been bringing again from the semi-abandoned state I discovered it in years in the past.
The Construct: Day 2
Day 2 was all concerning the ending touches, together with becoming the rear deck with the built-in Turbo wing. For that, I introduced my total household to see all of it come collectively. The boys had been mesmerized by Nakai-san’s pace and precision.
Though they didn’t totally grasp who he was or what he did, they had been taken by the vibe of the store and the metamorphosis occurring proper earlier than their eyes.
Then Nakai-san did one thing sudden: he let Gaio assist with the sealing. He confirmed him rub his finger alongside the bead of sealant between the masking tape. It was such a touching second and one thing Gaio hasn’t stopped speaking about since.
The hours flew by as Nakai-san fine-tuned the whole lot – knocking up some aluminum bumper helps, becoming the wheel arch liners, and making certain the tires wouldn’t rub on something.
This meant steady changes of the suspension geometry and fitment with the second set of loaner wheels Nakai-san pulled out of storage.
In the meantime, Nojima-san cleaned mud off the paint and buffed it to a shine, each on the RWB components and the remainder of the automotive.
Subsequent got here the Idlers stencils on the tires. When Nojima requested if I wished them, I didn’t hesitate to say sure. For me, it was all about creating probably the most balanced, old-school, period-correct RWB construct I may, and to me, these stencils tie the whole lot collectively. I bear in mind being confused about what ‘Idlers’ meant once I first began seeing them on RWB vehicles.
Marking the completion of the undertaking was the ‘RAUH-Welt’ windscreen banner and the ‘RAUH-Welt Head Quarters’ sticker on the again window, simply above the unique ‘Mizwa Porsche’ sticker.
And there it was. The tip of one of the crucial epic automotive journeys I’ve ever taken – or wait… perhaps it’s just the start! An enormous thanks to Akira Nakai and Yusuke Nojima for serving to me make considered one of my largest desires a actuality. 本当にありがとうございます。
The First Drive
Earlier than I wrap this up, I wished to go away you with just a few pictures of the automotive out within the wild – or, extra particularly, on considered one of my favourite driving roads in Japan, the Izu Skyline. The way in which the 964 sits now’s utter perfection in my eyes. The proportions, the steadiness, the fitment, the way in which it handles the corners – it’s all simply overwhelming.
I’ll save the driving for an additional publish. For now, I hope you’ve loved coming alongside on this journey with me.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
Further Photos by Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
