|Rant| Is this the day that the music died for RWB?

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Earlier in the year, Raul-Welt creations started to emerge from Japan and make its way into the mainstream. When that happened, I started to express a general concern about how I wasn’t sure if exposure into the global limelight was going to be a good thing for the once underground-awesomeness that was RWB.

And then it happened…knock-off kits have started to appear of Nakai-san’s unique body kits. This body kit by VAD is just the first example that I’ve found. It’s clear that they’re trying to copy the Raul-Welt style, even down the riveted fenders. They say that imitation is the kindest form of flattery, but honestly I just feel like aero-kits like this start to white-wash out the impact that RWB has spent so much time trying to build.

Does this have the raw-style of an RWB car? No. Does this car look like it was built with meticulous passion and care? No. Take a look at any videos of Nakai-san working on one of his projects, and you’ll see that Rauh-Welt cars are built with a bespoke passion and enthusiasm that can’t be duplicated. But it sure can be washed out by imitation-look kits.

Does anyone care about imitation parts? Am I overreacting?

|Photo| – RWB Photo Bomb!

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From the beginning of time, I’ve been a fan of Raul-Welt Porsches. I’ve already done some posts on why I respect Nakai-san, and his desire to build his version of the perfect car. I just noticed that I had a lot of photos of Raul-Welt Porsches saved on my drive, and I decided that I wanted to share them with you.

Note: I didn’t take any of these photos, but one day I will go to Japan and take some myself.

Rough Unity: RWB

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Can Raul-Welt (RWB) become ‘played out?’

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Note: I’d advise watching the video in full screen.


In my opinion, most things in life are cooler when fewer people know about them. Having something fall into the mainstream can risk a dilution of its uniqueness, as imitation starts to creep up.

Years ago, Nakai-san and the Raul-Welt brand made a quiet, but impactful presence on the automotive scene. Creating small shockwaves for those in the ‘know’ in the corners of the internet, Nakai-san’s cars sat in a comfortably ‘hip’ niche in tuning world brandishing a uniquely rough fusion of German performance and Japanese styling.

Recently, RWB fever has exploded through the tuning world. On the one hand, that’s great! I would never blame Nakai-san for wanting his business to reach as many people as possible. It’s clear that he really wants owners of Raul-Welt cars to enjoy his work and share his passion for driving.

However on the other hand, the question gains to be raised: “Does RWB become any less unique, the more people that know about it? Is RWB starting to become too mainstream? Can Nakai-san’s creations become ‘played out’, if people start to attempt to copy the style?

Does any of that even matter?

RAUH WELT Begriff // Night Session from eGarage on Vimeo.

Reflections- Raul-Welt Begriff @ the Idlers Games

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I’ve had Raul-Welt Begriff and RWB Porsches on my mind a lot lately. Although, not for the reason that you might think.

Of course, I think that Raul-Welt (RWB) Porsches are just straight-awesome. The RWB 964 is one car that I have to own in my lifetime.  However, what I’ve really been thinking about is the lifestyle that owners of Raul-Welt cars involve themselves in.

It’s obvious that RWB brand displays a personified passion for cars through their products, but that’s not the point. What’s stands out to me is the impassioned community of enthusiasts; all joined by the love of what they want to do most.

Fatlace TV x RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF : Idlers Documentary from Luke Huxham on Vimeo.

There seems to be less competition about having the best car, or being the fastest driver. They’re just all out at the track to have a good time. Maybe the grass seems greener on the other side of the Pacific, but I don’t see this purity out of many car enthusiasts in the States.

What do you think?

Rauh-Welt 964

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Another RWB video, as these cars have been on my mind lately. This is how a car should be tuned for the street. I love how RWB has developed a following of committed enthusiasts.

Favorite quote from this video. “There is no existant roll-center geometry, ok?”

Love it. He knows what he did. ;)

RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF : Shinji’s RWB 964 from Luke Huxham on Vimeo.