DEALIN' IN WHEELIN': RK Motors' inventory of custom, rare and classic cars brings buyers to Charlotte from around the world.

• Author: Anderson, Pete M.
• Position: PICTURE THIS

Details matter in classic-car collecting. Take the 1971 Plymouth Herni 'Cuda in Charlotte-based RK Motors LLC's showroom. The most-optioned one known to exist, its 2,010 miles were driven by one owner, Winston-Salem-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. heir Zach "Dr. Zacho" Reynolds. "It actually still has his cigarette butts in the ashtray," says James Helms, marketing director for the classic- and custom-car dealer. Even its oil hasn't been changed since leaving the lot. The only thing not original is its price: $1.18 million.

The 'Cuda is one of about 200 vehicles inside RK's 60,000-square-foot climate-controlled showroom off Interstate 77. Parked on polished floors, the glistening cars represent different eras, manufacturers and amounts of customization. "We mainly deal with classic American muscle, but we'll get European stuff in occasionally," Helms says. "It depends on what we find." That draws buyers from as far as Japan and the Middle East, though about 85% of cars go to U.S. buyers. While their addresses are international, motives are universal. Acquisitions manager Tony Klein says buyers are often reminiscing about a car their parents or grandparents owned or are seeking rare cars as collectibles.

RK Motors opened in 2010 as a way for its chairman and CEO, Rob Kauffrnan, to support his own collection of classic cars. "I had acquired a few cars and motorcycles that were spread all over the place, so I consolidated them into one place, here in Charlotte," Kauffrnan says. His first "great car" was a Ferrari F40. "And the 1966 Ford GT40, which is a 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, is a very special car to me as well." But his love of cars started earlier. "My mom says that my first word was 'Mom,' my second word was 'car' and 'Dad' was the third," he says. "So I always seemed to like cars. I was a mechanic when 1 was younger, and I've stayed interested in cars ever since."

Kauffman co-founded New York-based Fortress Investment Group LLC in 1998 and spent a decade-and-a-half at the private-equity and hedge-fund company before cashing out for $180 million in 2012. A resident of Charlotte, he's been involved in NASCAR ownership for many years, is co-owner of Pittsburgh-based Chip Ganassi Racing and leads Race Team Alliance, 14 teams that organized in 2014 RK employs 22 workers and holds monthly public car shows, though test drives require a financial commitment. It was named a Top U.S. Gearhead Destination by Collectors Car World magazine last...