Under The Hood: RK Motors Charlotte
The crew at RK Motors in Charlotte have been churning out beautiful restomods for quite some time. Not your usual garage, Rk Motors really steps their game up when tackling a project and here are some categories that the guys have broken down to better help explain the process and the projects that they specialize in. The categories beside restos are important to check out. When you find a shop who is knowledgeable and appreciative of the stock originals as well as restos, you know you found a place worth sending your car to. Make sure you click into their inventories to see some of the amazing vehicles that are currently for sale!
All original
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Specifics aside, all-original does encompass a bit of a spectrum. For example, a restored car could have all-original sheetmetal, or a re-bodied car could have an all-original drivetrain. On the other end of the scale, some classics are so authentic that they’re considered ‘reference grade’. That means the vehicle can be used as an example for enthusiasts restoring their projects to factory-correct status. One such reference grade classic is RK Motors Charlotte’s Zack Reynolds ‘Cuda. Completely authenticated, it features original sheetmetal, an original drivetrain, an original interior, original tires and even original paper tags.
As long as vintage cars remain an investment-worthy hobby, all-original classics will be the standard by which the market is judged. To many enthusiasts, it doesn’t get much better than exactly what left the factory. And that’s a good thing, since the preservation of our automotive history rides on individual buyers and collectors.
View inventory here
Antique Cars
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There is one thing we know about Antique cars; they are not going away anytime soon. They’ve been around for quite a while now and as more of these cars emerge from private collections and go up for auction and for sale, you never know what you will come across or see.
Antique Cars command a certain type of elegance and respect for the shear fact that these cars have been around longer than any of you reading this. To someone who sees one of these cars at a car show or museum, take another look and imagine driving on those skinny tires, small power and rough suspension. In the past at RK Motors Charlotte, we have featured a small amount of high-end antique cars that will surely make you appreciate the craftsmanship and time put into such a vehicle.
View Inventory Here
Hot Rods
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Hot Rods. Although the origin of those words is unclear, the term first appeared in the 1930’s in southern California to describe a type of car that had been “hopped up” by modifying the engine and stripping off weight to make them faster.
As Hot Rods evolved thru the years, so has the terminology, as they have evolved into what most call Street Rods. The modifications that were made to improve performance are still being done, but also the appearance, ride quality, and safety of the Street Rod is equally important.
RK Motors Charlotte offers an enticing selection of Hot Rods and Street Rods, whether you want a classic 1932 Ford Roadster or Hi-Boy, a frame up restored 1951 Mercury Convertible, or even a 500 horsepower, blown 1941 Willys, we will always have top shelf cars to choose from.
See Inventory Here
Muscle Pony Cars
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‘Muscle car’ and ‘Pony car’ are two of the classic car hobby’s most confused terms. To the general enthusiast, they’re virtually interchangeable. To the investor, they mean two very different things. At RK Motors Charlotte, we feature a plethora of Muscle and Pony cars including Challengers, Chargers, Chevelles, Camaros, Mustangs and Trans Ams. And if a buyer can properly interpret those offerings’ traits and desirability, they can accurately predict future value and growth potential.
As a rule, the term ‘Muscle car’ refers to a full-size platform that features a big engine and ample horsepower. Most Muscle cars were created from pedestrian models that, at some point in their production cycle, received a large displacement engine. In the early part of the 20th century, automakers sold a minimum number of models. That meant, when a certain brand entered motorsports, it had to modify an existing nameplate for competition. Chrysler’s “Industrial Strength” cars are considered the first example of this philosophy, as the mass-market Belvedere spawned the high performance Fury. That said; most people equate the beginning of the Muscle car era with Pontiac’s storied GTO. Not surprisingly, the GTO originated as a hot trim option for the popular Pontiac Le Mans.
The ‘Pony car’ took Detroit’s successful Muscle car formula and added two things: 1) a smaller footprint and 2) purpose-built performance. While it can be argued that compact offerings like the Dart, Falcon and Nova actually kicked off the Pony car segment, the ideology didn’t really catch fire until Ford introduced the Mustang. From inception, the Mustang was designed with performance in mind. GM would follow suit with the Firebird and Camaro. And, eventually, every American automaker started duking it out by fielding factory-engineered performance offerings in SCCA’s popular Trans Am Series.
There’s little doubt that today’s Pony car replacements will, at some point, be desirable collector cars. However, in the eyes of most purists, the modern Camaro, Mustang and Challenger do not qualify as true Pony cars. Thanks to increased safety equipment, more technology and shared development with sedans, they have, ironically, matured into substantial Muscle cars. But that’s okay. In the era of Hellcat Challengers, 662 horsepower Mustangs and Porsche-slaying Z/28s, not many buyers are complaining.
Unfortunately, as with most interpretation, classic car nomenclature isn’t exact science. But, having a basic understanding of how, and why, a certain niche came into existence will help you, the buyer, determine if you’re making a wise investment. Will the market swing toward traditional Detroit metal that’s right at home prowling Main Street, or will buyers be drawn to high-revving intermediates that track well in the twisties? Either way, you’ll find whatever you need at RK Motors Charlotte.
See Inventory Here
Numbers Matching
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In the collector car hobby, most investment-minded buyers are acutely interested in a specific car’s history. One of the main aspects of that history is an original or, as most people state it, numbers-matching drivetrain. At RK Motors Charlotte, we feature a plethora of original and numbers-matching classics including ‘Cudas, Road Runners, Chevelles, Camaros, Corvettes and Trans Ams. And, if a potential buyer knows how to properly identify and interpret certain manufacturing codes, they can further validate their car’s history.
Numbers-matching refers to the car’s unique VIN being stamped on major drivetrain components, thus verifying those components’ authenticity in relation to the car. That said; there are a few different variations of that definition. Some people believe the car only needs an original engine to qualify as numbers-matching. Others believe the engine, transmission and rear unit must all be stamped for the car to qualify as numbers-matching. But the generally accepted rule is a car that has both its engine and transmission stamped.
It wasn’t common for components of classic American cars to be VIN-stamped until the 1968 model year. That means most 30s, 40s and 50s era cars are considered original if they have an era-correct drivetrain. From the factory, each piece of that drivetrain is equipped with a casting and/or date code. If that casting and/or date code is correct to the time period in which the car was assembled, it is assumed to have an original drivetrain.
Beginning in 1968, virtually all American cars featured major components that were VIN-stamped to prevent theft and fraud. With that in mind, it’s pretty easy to fake a simple stamp and, believe it or not, some clubs actually condone re-stamping components to create a correct appearance. This scenario is where a little bit of personal knowledge comes in. If the partial VIN stamp looks too clean, aligned or planned, it could be a re-stamp. Always look for stampings that appear to be done in haste, as Detroit’s production lines were humming along very quickly when most muscle cars were monotonously stamped.
Unfortunately, as with most historic things, classic car provenance isn’t an exact science. That means there are a few exceptions to the rule. For example, Chrysler’s 426 Hemis were cast in batches, with some of the blocks seeing quite a bit of shelf time before installation. And the 6.6 liter V8s for Pontiac’s ‘79 Trans Ams were assembled from stockpiled blocks cast in 1978.
See Inventory Here
Restomods
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Over the years the term has become very broad and is used to identify cars that have seen some sort of custom restoration. For restoration projects to avoid the Resto-mod branding they will have to be restored to stock specifications, however items like changing the paint color wouldn’t necessarily move it into the Resto-mod category.
Most vehicles that are branded with the Resto-mod name have seen a restoration with some modification liberties taken usually in the name safety. For instance the addition of 4-wheel disc brakes during a restoration would mean the car is no longer an original, rather it is a Resto-mod now. Other safety upgrades that push it to a Resto-mod category are electronic fuel ignition, headlight upgrades, or even radial tire. Even though these are only slight modifications made in the name of safety during the restoration process, it still is considered a Resto-mod. Convenience upgrades like power steering, power brakes, or air conditioning will also lead to a classification of a Resto-mod.
The tougher class identification happens when extreme liberties are taken during a restoration and push the Resto-mod build towards the pro-touring classification. Both a pro-tourer and an extreme Resto-mod will both appear to be restored. And if you lift the hood and look under the car you might see upgrades like a massive engine, upgraded modern suspension, big disc brakes, 6-speed transmission, modern interiors, etc…
However the difference lies in the fact that pro-touring builds are built to push the limits of cornering ability and traction. They are built to compete in events like autocross courses and usually feature a ton of adjustability built into the build to make tuning adjustments on the fly. A Resto-mod might have a lot of the same upgrades, but was built in such a way to be enjoyed more so then to compete.
Make no mistake, having the name Resto-mod attached to a car is not a bad thing at all. But depending on your build and car, it very well could hurt the value of a particular vehicle. Do your research before you start any project, in some cases the value of the car will be hurt if to many modifications are made during the restoration. However, there are plenty of vehicles where adding niceties like power steering or air conditioning would actually increase the value of the car.
See Resto Inventory here
Resto Gallery
1971 Chevrolet C10 Pickup
2014 Detroit Autorama First Place C10 Pickup Lingenfelter EFI 383 V8 6 Speed
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Crawl under this rig and you’ll find a fully restored undercarriage that’s barely been assembled long enough to amass its first layer of dust. The floors wear a fresh coat of black undercoating, which looks great against the red engine and silver drivetrain components. At the center of that drivetrain, a hydraulic clutch funnels torque through a modern, 6-speed transmission to a Currie 9-inch that’s equipped with beefy, 3.73 gears. Fluid power steering makes quick work of turns while power-assisted discs bring everything to a quick halt. The aforementioned headers dump spent gases into ceramic-coated side pipes, which employ an X-shaped crossover and burly Borla mufflers. The truck’s powdercoated chassis rides long, lean and low thanks to tough drop spindles, thick sway bars and traditional traction bars. That stance clears 20-inch Foose wheels, which spin 255/50 Hankook Ventus AS in front of 295/45 Hankook Ventus AS. And a stainless, relocated fuel tank rounds out a roster of very impressive hardware.
383 cubic inch GM LS6 V8 / Modified by John Lingenfelter
Currie 9-inch rear axle / 3.73 gears
4-wheel power disc brakes
Modern air conditioning
Borla side-exit exhaust
Modified suspension
20-inch Foose wheels
6-speed manual transmission / Hydraulic clutch
Power steering
Leather interior / Modern sound system
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
Frame Off Built Bel Air 4 Bolt Main 350/375 V8 700R4 4 Speed A/C PS PB Leather
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Over the past few years, many of the world’s finest Bel Airs have graced the RK Motors Charlotte showroom. According to sales, ‘55-‘57 resto-mods are often considered our best offerings. And, it’s certainly easy to see why when cars like this slick ’56 sedan, which combines a professionally-assembled 350 with a carefully planned restoration, are casting glares in our photo booth. It’s pretty evident that the goal of this Chevy’s build was to create one of the coolest Bel Air cruisers the hobby has ever seen. And, judging by initial reaction, that mission was certainly accomplished! If you’re searching for a sizzling custom that mixes fully sorted mechanicals with great aesthetics, you’ve found your next classic.
Professionally built 350 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 / Roughly 375 horsepower
Ford 9-inch rear axle
Power disc brakes
Air conditioning
$4K polished stainless steel exhaust system
Lightly modified suspension
17-inch American Racing Torq Thrust II wheels
GM 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission / 2,800RPM stall converter
Power steering
Custom Paul Atkins interior
An original trim tag
An original owner’s guide
Restoration photos
Restoration receipts
Restoration notes
Component literature
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport
Frame Off Built Chevelle SS 468/540 HP TKO 5 Speed Leather A/C Disc Brakes
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Decked in an inverse Tuxedo Black and Shadow Gray paint scheme, updated with modern chassis components and hooked to a 468 cubic inch big block V8, this tastefully modified Chevy turns a traditionally appealing platform into a head-turning super star. If you’re ready to hit the streets in a sinister muscle car that’s built to take on anything, have a close look at this stunning Chevelle!
Gaze in to the car’s glossy engine bay and you’ll find 468 cubic inches of big block bliss that creates an estimated 540 horsepower! At the top of that sinister mill, a big Holley 4-barrel mixes wind supplied by a color-keyed Edelbrock air filter with fuel that’s piped through polished stainless fluid lines. That air/fuel mixture floods an Edelbrock aluminum intake on the way to Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, which hang Edelbrock-branded valve covers between coated Hedman Hedders and a matching Edelbrock breather. At the back of that intake, an aftermarket HEI distributor sequences spark through loomed MSD plug wires. At the front of those wires, a high quality March serpentine system spins an Edelbrock water pump between a polished alternator and modern AC compressor. In front of those ancillaries, a polished Champion Cooling radiator circulates fluid around two electric puller fans. And items like chrome bolt-ons, polished power steering components and custom cowls add a high level of visual detail.
468 cubic inch big block V8 / Roughly 540 horsepower
Lowered and upgraded suspension
20-inch BOSS Motorsports wheels
Kenwood / Kicker audio
Tremec 5-speed manual transmission
Power steering
Custom leather interior
GM 12-bolt rear axle / Posi-traction differential / 3.08 gears
4-wheel power disc brakes
Vintage Air conditioning
1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS
Frame Off Built Camaro RS EFI 6.0L V8 5 Speed Manual Hotchkis A/C
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Completing an intricate transformation from solid Detroit steel to lean, mean Chevrolet dream machine, this stylish F1 displays bodywork that’s nothing short of excellent! The car’s ground-up, nut-and-bolt restoration started with an original Camaro body that appears to have never seen major rust or significant damage. Once that shell was thoroughly prepped, each of its panels was carefully aligned to uniform consistency. And when that professionally-tailored profile was close to perfect, DuPont black was accented with a red stinger stripe and sealed under mirror-like clear.
In keeping with unspoken tradition, this Chevy proudly displays small “Fuel Injection” emblems on its fenders to warn would be challengers of its top option powerplant. Lift the car’s lightweight fiberglass hood and you’ll find a potent, cast iron 6.0L small block that’s dressed to look like an LS2. Up top, GM’s familiar intake and contoured fuel rail covers feature “CAMARO LS2” branding. Up front, there’s a beefy radiator that’s fitted with a massive Flex-A-Lite Syclone puller fan. To the left, a conical, reusable filter element feeds a clean, stainless-trimmed air tube. To the right, a chrome-capped Optima battery makes sure the fires get lit, even in the worst elements. Aesthetically, the engine bay looks fantastic with the aluminum mill and textured core support accented by Satin Black fenders and chrome brace bars. And one twist of the key zings the powerplant to life, pulsing rhythmic notes through high quality Hedman Husler hedders.
GM 6.0L V8 / 400 horsepower
Hotchkis springs
18-inch Rushforth wheels
Kenwood CD player
Tremec 5-speed manual transmission / Hydraulic clutch
Power steering
DuPont paint
10-bolt rear axle / Posi-traction differential / 4.11 gears
4-wheel power disc brakes
Vintage Air conditioning
RK Motors Charlotte
5527 Lakeview Road, Charlotte, NC 28269
info@rkmotorscharlotte.com
(704) 461-3139
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