$32,900

Designed and prototyped in 1996, the first Panoz AIV Roadster was sold in 1997. Production of this model ceased in 1999, but some were sold as 2000’s. There were even some cars that remained unregistered and were first sold in more recent years.

The Panoz AIV Roadster was made possible by the special engineering of its aluminum frame. Discussed in detail in this section, cars with aluminum frames are now much more common. Some Honda, Audi and Jaguar models are now built this way. However, in 1997 there were very few. The Acura NSX used aluminum unibody construction. The Plymouth Prowler used a partially aluminum body on an aluminum frame. What made the Panoz car so special was that it came from a small independent manufacturer who produced an innovative design before the majors.

Another event that allowed the Panoz AIV Roadster to come into being was the production of the Mustang Cobra. First offered in 1996, this Mustang had an all aluminum sophisticated V-8 engine. These engines were built by hand by a two person team. Each had a plaque that carried the signatures of the engine builders. The Mustang Cobra was built by the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) of Ford - the arm of the company that designed and built high performance vehicles. Panoz employed Roush to help fit this new engine and its five speed Borg-Warner transmission to the new Panoz Roadster chassis.

The Panoz AIV Roadster employed many other systems that were used in the Mustang Cobra such as the brakes, heating, air conditioning, ventilation system, wiring, engine computer, instruments and so on. As a result, the car can be serviced at any SVT Ford dealer.

The Panoz AIV Roadster was a mix of the very latest technology with features derived from cars of the 40’s and 50’s. For example, the top is a two bow affair with cloth covering that is erected and snapped onto the body with plastic side curtains similar to early British sports cars. In many ways, the car is a cross between the Shelby Cobra of the 60’s and a modern American hot rod.

 

From the Panoz web site:

Like A Punch to the Solar Plexus!
The mold has been broken. The blanket of automotive conformity lifted. The true American sports car has returned. A car that captures the imagination and awakens the senses. Not a rehash of past glory, but a new sports car, built with the passion and independent spirit once found in American cars.

This is the Panoz AIV Roadster.
As its name suggests, it is a roadster in the purest sense. Designed and built for the essence of open cockpit driving. A perfect marriage of new automotive technology, classic styling and hand-built craftsmanship. Its all aluminum body and chassis are the first to be designed and built in the U.S. The unmistakable shape of its aerospace industry's Superplastic Forming (SPF) technology, another automotive industry first. Each panel is carefully assembled by hand. Every weld eyed with precision. Every coat of paint lovingly applied. You can see it as you trace its curves with your eyes. You will know it the first time you slip behind the wheel. The passion and devotion that can only come form a car built by hand. Turn the key and hear the throaty growl of the AIV Roadster's 305hp. V8 confirm what your other senses have been telling you. This is a high-performance exotic meant for spirited driving. One short throw of the shifter and you're off. The response of the accelerator matched only by the AIV Roadster's quick and nimble handling. Braking is precise. Even the tightest corners come and go with ease. And your connection with the road grows stronger with every mile. The Panoz AIV Roadster stands as a defiant challenge to automotive convention. As different in philosophy as it is in its design and manufacture. It is proof that high-performance and reliability are not mutually exclusive. Proof that the American sports car still lives.

Panoz AIV Roadster specs:
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Engine 4600cc (Ford)DOHC V-8
Power (bhp) 305 @ 5800 rpm
Torque 300 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Redline: 6800 rpm
Miles Per Gallon: 17/23 mpg
Curb Weight: 2570 lbs
Performance (0-60mph) 4.3sec
Performance (0-100mph) 11.7 sec
Top Speed (mph) 140
Skidpad: .97g
Slalom Speed: 67.0 mph
Braking, 0-60 mph: 119 ft 
Place Of Manufacture: Braselton, Georgia (USA)

 

Overview

The Panoz AIV Roadster has often been compared to or confused with the Plymouth (Chrysler) Prowler. Although there are some important similarities, there are many more differences.

In 1993, a year after the Panoz Roadster was marketed, Chrysler showed the Prowler concept car in Detroit.  It was not until 1997 that a production version was offered to the public. The car was "upgraded" in 1999 with a more powerful engine and other changes. This model was sold through 2002. Unlike the limited production Panoz AIV Roadster (176), over eleven thousand Prowlers (11,578) were manufactured and sold.

Both cars have two-seat hot rod roadster design, aluminum construction, cycle fenders, and wide tires. However, in most other ways the cars are different. The Prowler is, according to road tests conducted at the time, considerably underpowered. It has a 3.5 liter six cylinder motor with automatic transmission. There is no trunk in the Prowler, but a towable luggage trailer was available.

In contrast, the early Panoz Roadster and the Panoz AIV Roadster were V-8 powered with 5 speed manual transmissions. They are a true sports car hot rod rather than a boulevard tourer. The following table provides a review of the stats for the three cars.

	92-95 Panoz Roadster	97-99 Panoz AIV Roadster	99-02 Plymouth / Chrysler Prowler
# produced for sale	44	176	11578
Construction
Frame	triangulated stainless steel tube frame	extruded aluminum space frame	extruded aluminum space frame
Body	SPF formed aluminum body panels	SPF formed aluminum body panels	aluminum and composite plastic body panels
Front suspension	unequal length A-arms, coil-over shocks	unequal length A-arms, coil-over shocks	upper and lower A-arms with pushrods, coli-over shocks
Rear suspension	4 link trailing arms, quad shock traction, coil-over shocks	independent: unequal lenght A-arms, coil-over shocks	independent: multilink, modified double wishbone, coil-over shocks
Steering	rack & pinion, power assist, 2.4 turns lock to lock	rack & pinion, power assist, 2.4 turns lock to lock	rack & pinion, power assist, 3.13 turns lock to lock
Brakes F/R	11" vented disc / 11" disc	13" vented disc / 10" vented disc	composite 11" vented disc / 13" vented disc
Wheels F/R	16"x7" / 16"x8"	18"x8" / 18"x9" (1999: 18"x8.5" / 18"x10")	17"x7.5" / 20"x10"
Tires F/R	205/55ZR-16 / 255/50ZR-16	245/40ZR-18 / 295/35ZR-18	P225/45HR17 / P295/40HR20 runflats
Engine	Ford 5.0 liter V-8, iron block & heads (OHV 2 cam, 2 valve)	Ford 4.6 liter V-8, aluminum block & heads (DOHC 4 valve)	Chrysler 3.5 liter V-6, aluminum block & heads, (SOHC 4 valve)
Fuel system	electronic port fuel injection	electronic port fuel injection	electronic port fuel injection
Horsepower - bhp	225 @ 4200 (later: 215 @ 4200)	305 @ 5800	253 @ 6400
Torque - ft. lbs.	300 @3200 (later: 285 @ 3400)	300 @ 4800	255 @ 3950
Compression	9.0:1	9.9:1	10:1
Transmission	Borg-Warner T-5	Borg-Warner T-45	Automatic transaxle with Autostick
Differential	Ford 8.8 solid, 3.27 Traction-Lok (later: 2.73)	Ford 8.8 independent, 3.27 Traction-Lok	Chrysler transaxle, 3.89
Dimensions
Wheelbase	98.5"	104.5"	113"
Length	156"	159"	165"
Width	73"	76.8"	76"
Height	47"	48"	51"
Track F/R	66" / 64"	66.9" / 63.7"	62" / 63"
Curb weight	2315 lbs.	2595	2838
Weight distr. F/R	49 / 51	50 / 50	45 / 55
Performance
0-60	5.3 seconds	4.5 seconds	6.5 seconds
Quarter mile	14.2 @ 97 mph	13.3 @ 102	14.9 @ 93
Top speed	130 mph	135 mph	120 mph
Lateral accel.	.92g	.97g	.83g
Braking	194 ft. from 70 mph	110 ft. from 60 mph	154 ft. from 60

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