Pictured at SEMA 2015

Interview with Jon Sibal

1. It seems as though I’ve seen you everywhere, but I am still not too familiar with your background. If you can, can you let us know a little about yourself?

   I’m just an average guy who finds art as a great way to express myself. I’m an Automotive Artist where I design body kits, liveries, concept and speculative renderings, etc. I’m also a Comic Book artist where I’m an inker for various titles from Image, Marvel, and DC Comics. I’ve always loved cars and been in the local So. Cal import scene since the early 90’s.

   

   C7.R concepts by Jon Sibal
   

   

   Rendering for Super Street by Jon Sibal of a Mazda MX-5.

2. So can you tell us about your RWB 964 build?

   I’ve dreamed of owning an RWB ever since it caught my attention way back in the days before they blew up here in the US. While walking at our local Cars&Coffee with RJ de Vera, I told him about a matte black Porsche 964 I saw at SEMA that I thought could be a good donor car for an RWB project. He introduced me to the owner and it turned out that the car went straight to a body shop to have the fender flares redone. We made a deal and a few days later, took delivery of the car. Seeing the car in person for the first time felt like a huge financial mistake because the car needed way more work than I had expected. It sat in my driveway for over a year until I was able to save up enough money to get it prepared and to also afford the RWB conversion. After figuring out a realistic schedule, we thought that it may be a good idea to debut the car in the 2015 SEMA show. Parts started coming which was a directly reflected by my bank account which was quickly being drained. By the time the SEMA doors opened, our project was on display at the H&R booth.

   

   Before and after build shot by Jon Sibal

3. How do you go about rendering your concepts, and are you at all critical of which components you put on the vehicle (form or function?).

   I have some great ideas of what I want the car to be, but when reality hits, some of those ideas gets shut down. So right now, I’m taking it step by step so I can make better decisions on a realistic direction for the car. One thing I know for sure is that I want this car to have the best parts that I can afford which is why we chose Brembo to handle the braking system for it. Along with the Brembo Club Race system, some of the other parts we’ve chosen might be overkill for the car’s current set up, but they’re carefully chosen in preparation and consideration of our future plans for it.

4. I was a huge comic book collector, specifically from the 80’s to the late 90’s, so I can really identify with this part of your career. So can you let us know a little more about your time at Image (Awesome?) Comics.

   My first published comic book work was back in 1993 when Image Comics was still in its infancy. I was fortunate enough to be given a chance to learn the craft as I never had any prior experience. I just loved to draw and was hungry to learn. My first published work was under Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Studio as an inker for a monthly book titled “BloodStrike”. Then later on, I got to work with other studios like Marc Silverstri’s Top Cow Studio and Jim Lee’s Homage Studio. It was fun inking titles like Gen 13, Fathom, Tomb Raider etc.Since then, I worked for Marvel and DC Comics and got to work with some great artist and writers on books like X-Men, Avengers, Spiderman, Iron Man, Superman and currently working on a  Batman Earth One Graphic Novel with writer Geoff Johns and penciller Gary Frank.

   

   A Witchblade piece Jon Sibal inked over with Marc Silvestri back in the days

   

   Fathom double page spread cover for Top Cow. Job Sibal’s inks over the unforgettable Michael Turner.

   

   One of Jon’s favorite pieces Jon worked on for DC Comics – Superman: Secret Origin. This is page 24 from issue#3. Pencils by Gary Frank, Inks by yours truly and colors by Brad Anderson.
5. I know you for your Dodge Challenger which is not only one of my favorite Challengers but also a couple others at RT. That brings me to ask: What other cars have you owned, or would you like to own?
   I’ve owned a Dodge Challenger, a BMW M roadster, and my E36 which were all fun projects to drive and work on. Although all the hard work and sacrifice that went the RWB 964 will probably satisfy my wants and needs for a long while”.
   

   Jon’s BMW (E36)

   

   Jon Sibal’s Dodge Challnger

6. Is there anything you would like to add?

   By God’s amazing grace, the journey to get to reach the goal makes it fun when you have the help and support from family and friends through all the craziness. We’re very fortunate to have the support we received from companies like Race Technologies and Brembo to help make the dream a reality. Special Thanks also goes to H&R Springs, RSTRADA, WORK Wheels, PIRELLI, RJ De Vera, RWB Family, and Team CP.

   Thank you very much Jon for taking the time to do this.

   Jon Sibal
   Automotive Artist and Consultant
   1992 RWB Porsche 911 (964)
   http://www.jonsibal.com
   IG: jonsibal

Image Gallery

Brembo Club Race Brake System

The Brembo Club Race (XB1E7) brake system offers several racing caliper features such as a hard anodized finish for protection in high heat environments, stainless steel piston inserts for improved heat rejection, 20 mm thick brake pads for extended pad life over the OE (typically a 16.5 mm thick pad), and a swing bridge for easy brake pad changes.

The lightweight 2-piece Brembo disc assembly is a 332 x 32 x 54a, slotted type 1 disc is a substantial upgrade over the heavy inadequate 25+ year old Porsche OE system.

The Brembo Club Race (XB1E7) brake system for early to late model Porsche applications. Pictured system goes for $3,895

Specifications

BASE VEHICLE

• 1992 RWB Porsche 911 Carrera 2 (964)
• Air cooled flat-6, 3.6 L
• 5-speed manual transmission

ENGINE:

• Air cooled flat 6, 3.6 L
• 5-speed manual transmission
• Porsche 997.2-GT3 center exit muffler
• Porsche 997 GT3 muffler support
• Porsche 997 GT3 RS titanium dual tips
• Porsche 1.75″ stainless steel headers
• RothSport 3″ J-pipes
• RothSport GT3 muffler port block off
• RothSport GT3 muffler tip plate

CHASSIS/BRAKES:

• H&R custom front coil-over suspension system
• H&R custom rear coil-over suspension system
• H&R front 24mm sway bar
• H&R rear 26mm sway bar
• H&R Trak+ 7mm front wheel spacer
• TARETT front drop links
• TARETT rear drop links
• Elephant Racing quick change strut brace system
• BREMBO Club Race System
  • Front, drilled, hard anodized finish and 2-piece 332×2 mm discs.
• RT 20 mm TS20 brake pads

WHEELS/TIRES:

• WORK Meister S1 3-pc wheels
  • Front, 18×10.
  • Rear, 18×13
• PIRELLI PZero Rosso Asymmetric 265/35/18
• PIRELLI PZero Ross Asymmetric 315/30/18

EXTERIOR:

• Full RAUH-WELT BEGRIFF conversion in nardo gray
• Custom LED projector headlights
• MEGUIAR’S car care products and detail
• ROTHSPORT rear tow hook

INTERIOR:

• 3-spoke leather steering wheel
• Brushed aluminum sill plates
• Aluminum gauge bezels