RK Motors Charlotte acquires iconic ’66 Le Mans-winning P/1046 GT40

RK Motors Charlotte announced it has purchased one of motorsports history's most iconic racecars – the 1966 Le Mans-winning #2, P/1046 GT40, the first American-built car to win endurance racing's most prestigious competition.

The company also revealed a comprehensive, 20-month restoration has begun, culminating with a formal re-introduction at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, Calif. That event will mark the 50th anniversary of the Le Mans victory.

Developed by legendary car builder Carroll Shelby, the P/1046 GT40 carved its niche in racing history as the first of three GT40s to take the checkered flag and earn podium finishes at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, besting Ferrari in the #1, #2, and #3 winning positions. The 1966 race continues to rank as one of the closest finishes in LeMans history.

Following its historic victory, the Holman-Moody race team took ownership of the car, giving it a new interior and shorter tail section prior to the 1967 running of the 24 Hours of Daytona. It would prove to be the GT40's final racing competition, as a gearbox failure led to a race-ending crash.

In subsequent years, the car exchanged hands through a series of private party owners and has made appearances at various vintage events, including a 40th anniversary celebration at the 2006 Le Mans Classic alongside the second and third finishers of the 1966 race.

"We're thrilled to add this historic GT40 to the RK Motors stable of rare collector cars," said RK Motors Marketing Director Jeff Spiegel. "Given the international notoriety of this racecar, we feel it's important to share online updates throughout the course of the 20-month restoration, allowing a worldwide audience access to this process."