Panoz Roadster
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In 1992, the Panoz Auto Development Company of Georgia launched a new vehicle, the Panoz Roadster. This sports car / hot rod was built using a stainless steel frame and an aluminum body. These handmade vehicles were the brainchild of Dan Panoz who had purchased the rights to the frame designed by Frank Costin used in a defunct Irish sportscar called the TMC Costin. Then he had Freeman Thomas design a new body for the car. The car used Ford Mustang running gear - engine and transmission a solid rear axle and independent front suspension. The early cars were built to order for individual buyers. The original Panoz Roadster production continued through to 1995. In total, 44 cars were manufactured and sold to the public. There were a number of running changes that took place over the four years this car was built, but in general, the cars were quite similar.
In 1996, a new prototype of the Panoz Roadster was developed. This new version differed substantially from the original car. It had an extruded aluminum space frame with a central backbone. Special adhesives were used to attach the frame and body. Technology developed in the aerospace industry was used in its construction. Equally important, an entirely new drive train was employed. In 1996, Ford's SVT group had launched the Mustang Cobra with a hand assembled all aluminum V-8 DOHC 32 valve motor. This engine produced 305 horsepower and 300 foot pounds of torque. A new Borg-Warner T-45 five speed transmission was used. With the aluminum frame, body, engine, etc. the new Roadster was 70% aluminum. As a result, Mr. Panoz dubbed it an aluminum intensive vehicle (AIV). Thus, the new version of the roadster became the Panoz AIV Roadster. There were 176 of these roadsters built and sold to the public during the three year time span 1997-1999. Some cars built in 99 were not sold until 2000. By 2000, the Panoz Company had developed a new model the Panoz Esperante dropping the Roadster.
The Roadster was sold far earlier than the Plymouth Prowler and was the first American aluminum intensive vehicle. Although the production volume was not as great as had been hoped by the Panoz factory, it provided the start for many ventures for the Panoz family. Panoz entered GT-1 racing, created the American Le Mans Race Series, purchased race tracks including Road Atlanta and Sebring, built chassis for Indy race cars and in 2006 won the GT2 class at Sebring and at Le Mans.
