Akira Nakai coming to Estonia to build his signature RWB Porsche 993 is probably the biggest car culture news in Estonia this year. Only back to back wins of Ott Tänak and mathematical championship title can compete here. That said, Nakai-san isn’t very known to general public, kids know him from the Need for Speed game, car freaks saw his monstrous builds on the Internet. How many car nuts saw Zweite Entwicklung Porsches with their own eyes? Quite a few. How many saw one being build by the master himself, probably few thousand people at most.

 

I heard about the news early and was anticipating the moment for some days, figuring what memorabilia I wish him to sign, will he be speaking English, how will the build go, how many other photographers and videographers will show up and make life hard for me and so on. Nakai-san was building the car over the weekend, but I already went to the workshop on Friday, I figured out that car will be there – getting prepared.

And it was. Mechanics were installing brakes, suspension and interior so the RWB one-man-show car work on the body. Most of the body panels were lying around in the shop, so I got a good reference what to expect over the weekend.

This massive wing holder was waiting for its turn on the casting couch.

Its competition would be this ducktail version.

All the small bits were prepared also

Even the stencils

As you understood, car will be grey with yellow bits here and there. Theme will continue through the build’s process.

As for the number plates

I was in the workshop at 6PM, than went there again around midnight and the work was still going. There was a massive bummer for me, tomorrow would be Saturday, and that’s the day I went to Finland for Fittedfest, so I would miss the first day of the build – all the fun part, like fender cutting!

Still,  here you have it, few pics from my friend’s camera.

When I arrived on Sunday, car was looking like this.

Interior was in place. RWB dials, OMP wheel, Sparco REV II LF racing seats, custom trim and carbon fibre bits.

What left of the original fenders was signed and stashed.

At this moment Nakai-san himself made an appearance, got a coffee, a cigarette, a bottle of coke, browsed through the phone and started working

Checked the fenders, applied a layer of silicone and continued with the bodywork.

Guys event found his beloved chair

One of the best autograph ideas I saw (Stella Artois is his favourite beer and name for his own RWB)

The infamous Idlers stencil. First time ever to be in a different color to white.

I think many missed the horn knob, was added at the end

I didn’t notice him taking many measurements, a lot of things scanned by his eyes alone.

As the afternoon started, car was looking solid

Finally it was on the ground

By the way, wheels are Work Meister M1 10×10.5J at the front and 18×13.5J in the rear. Tyre size is 335 in the back.

Last bits. Stickers, autograph and “Second Development/evolution” stencil

And straight to another hustle, taking the car outside.

Fresh air, finally

Akira Nakai is invited to sit at the wheel. Owner next to him and surprisingly, stock 3.5L atmospheric engine spins those 335s quite easily.

Yes, I couldn’t dream to see an RWB Porsche in Tallinn’s suburbs driven by the legend himself.

 And that’s a wrap for the weekend. Many couldn’t get enough of the car, same as me, so on Monday morning I was back to the location. Plan was to drive the car to the centre and park it next to a hotel, before it goes away to Finland. For me it was a proper photo opportunity.

Name of the car is not revealed at this point, but we should have it soon.

Big spoiler will give way to the ducktail at some point of car’s evolution.

Now number plates are in place, as well as the yellow hook.

These vents in the windows are special also. Only one other RWB has them – Nakai-san’s.

As I heard, there will be a bright future for the engine also. It’ll get turbo charged.

Driving alone and trying to make car-to-car shots is challenging, but I made something..

It was a rainy day, but still, some shots at the hotel must be made!

Unfortunately I’m not strong enough to move the stone.

I thought that rain will end by when the night times, but I was wrong. Still, had to do it!

I already meet two Porsche heroes; Magnus Walker and Akira Nakai. Hopefully I’ll have the honour to speak to Rob Dickinson of Singer and Rod Emory as well.