Resurrecting the 1966 Le Mans-winning GT40

Ten months after announcing its purchase of the iconic Le Mans-winning 1966 Ford GT40, chassis P/1046, RK Motors Charlotte today provided an update on the 20-month, comprehensive restoration of the historic racecar.

The first American-built car to win endurance racing's most prestigious competition, the GT40 will be formally reintroduced to the collector car world at the 2016 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That event will signify the 50th anniversary of the Le Mans victory.

Developed by legendary car builder and racer Carroll Shelby, chassis P/1046 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 race besting Ferrari in the #1, #2, and #3 winning positions. The 1966 race continues to rank as one of the closest finishes in Le Mans history.

The ensuing years were not kind to chassis P/1046, as the racecar changed owners, became a test vehicle, and underwent numerous modifications and changes. RK Motors has committed to returning the vehicle to its original glory in a painstaking nut-and-bolt restoration.

Since beginning its restoration in January, the famous racecar has been completely disassembled, leaving only its monocoque chassis, which has been extensively treated with the car's original green primer. The chassis has also undergone extensive repairs, including removal of a roll bar, which was installed after Le Mans.

In addition:

• Original fiberglass has been restored, with new fiberglass being incorporated as-needed.
• New parts have been added, meticulously copied from original pieces so thickness and weight are precisely replicated.
• Restorers have studied thousands of period images of the car, ensuring that every decision that is made and every single detail - no matter how minute - has been checked against a period photograph.
• Parts are being sourced and/or fabricated as needed. Example: The restorer is working with a glass company to manufacture a correctly shaped windshield, and a wiring company to re-manufacture a correct wiring harness using period-correct materials.
• The GT40 has been undergoing meticulously refinishing – cleaning, stripping, repairing, re-plating and repainting all parts and hardware back to their original form.

For access to periodic video and photo updates of the restoration, enthusiasts can visit: http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/.