RK Motors’ Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 and New York-Buffalo-winning Panhard to be featured on Chasing Classic Cars

By James Helms - Apr 12, 2017

There are many reasons why RK Motors has been voted, “The #1 Destination in America for Car Enthusiasts.” Discovery’s Velocity Channel will feature just two of those reasons on an episode of Chasing Classic Cars. On Wednesday April 12th at 9 P.M. join host Wayne Carini, as he gets up close and personal with two of the world’s finest historic racers!

RK Motors New York-Buffalo-winning Panhard and the newly restored Le Mans-winning GT40, will be featured tomorrow night on Velocity Channel’s Chasing Classic Cars. You won’t want to miss this episode!

1966 Ford GT40 P/1046 was the car that lead Ford’s 1-2-3 charge to win the 1966 Le Mans, accomplishing Henry Ford II’s very public goal of besting Ferrari on global stage. An exercise in world-class aerodynamics and race-proven power, P/1046 and its two sister cars were a direct result of Ford studying acute aspects of the world’s finest race cars and dyno-testing engines for days on end. RK Motors purchased P/1046 as a complete racer that was in very good condition. However, to preserve historical accuracy, we extensively documented the car and sent it to Shelby experts Rare Drive, Inc. for a comprehensive, 1.5-year restoration here. P/1046 made its post-restoration debut at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, the year that marked Ford’s official return to Le Mans competition. In a fitting follow-up, Ford’s new GT claimed Overall GT Winner honors 50 years to the day that P/1046 led its sister cars to victory.

1901 Panhard-Levassor B1 3649 is most notable for its sweep of the 1901 New York to Buffalo Endurance Race. Officially the first endurance race held in America, the New York to Buffalo event was comprised of 85 cars competing for victory in a series of segments, and an overall title. Panhard B1 3649 claimed every segment and the overall victory. In 1902, race-winning driver David Wolfe Bishop removed just enough components to convert the car for road use, and would enjoy it, sometimes a bit too much, on the roads around his house. After residences in both The Franklin Institute and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the car remains the only known survivor of the 1901 Vanderbilt Cup Race and the only known survivor of the 1901 New York to Buffalo Endurance Race.

To find out more information on Chasing Classic Cars, visit Chasing Classic Cars on Velocity.