RK Motors Charlotte purchased the 1966 Le Mans-winning P/1046 GT40 #2 and has begun a 20-month restoration on the car. The iconic racer was the first American-built car to win Le Mans and it will mark the 50th anniversary of that win on its Pebble Beach unveil at the prestigious Concours d’Elegance in 2016.
The P/1046 was the first of three GT40s to take the top of the podium at Le Mans in one of the closest wins in the endurance race’s history. This 1966 race winner was developed by Carroll Shelby to beat the top contenders of the day from Ferrari. After its Le Mans win the GT40 was modified to compete in the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, where a gearbox failure resulted in a crash that ended the car’s career.
From Daytona, the car was purchased, sold, and purchased again, resurfacing in the 2006 Le Mans Classic on the 40th anniversary of its win. RK Motors has now purchased the car for full restoration.
The company promises to issue periodic updates on its website, including photos and video, at rkmotorscharlotte.com.
