1993 Panoz Roadster

Description

For those of you wondering what, exactly, this 1993 Panoz Roadster is, we'll give you a brief history lesson. Don Panoz was instrumental in getting the American LeMans Series (ALMS) off the ground. His son, Danny Panoz, was the visionary who wanted to create his own car, and the result was this early roadster, distinctively known for its stainless-steel frame and aluminum body. It was two parts sports car, one part experimental technology, and one part crazy, and it really works.

This is not a kit, but an actual car manufactured by the same guys who built ALMS cars for the track. The look draws from a lot of different sources, ranging from the Shelby Cobra to the Caterham 7 to the Allard J2. And as the name would imply, it's mostly made from aluminum, so it's got a featherweight curb weight that drastically improves performance. We love the bare front wheels with the cycle-style fenders, which also allows you to plant the front tires exactly where you want them and you'll never get tired of watching the suspension do its thing as you drive. Other details include the flared rear fenders and graceful trunk lid that has an almost British look to it. It still wears its original paint, and for being nearly 25 years old, it's quite remarkable. Of course, with only 4956 original miles, this one has led a very easy life and Reef Blue was quite rare with only 44 total cars built in 1993. Minimalist bumpers, some very cool cut-down doors, and stand-alone headlights help with the oddly intriguing mixture of old school looks and modern tech.

The tan leather interior speaks to Panoz's mission to build a genuine sports/luxury car without compromise. The body-hugging buckets are nestled deep into the cockpit and the wide side sills are structural elements that make this car as rigid as a railroad bridge. The wood-rimmed wheel looks better here than in almost any other car we've seen and the centrally-mounted instruments are a funky touch that was designed to make this car easy to assemble in both left-hand- and right-hand-drive models. You can't argue that they weren't paying attention to the details, either, because you get a slick-shifting 5-speed shifter and a tilt steering column, both of which were designed with serious driving in mind. There is no top and the trunk is neatly upholstered but little more than a slot for your briefcase out back, with the rest being taken up with the car's axle and fuel cell.

For power, the Panoz borrows liberally from the Mustang 5.0, and there are certainly worse places to go for horsepower. The engine is a familiar Mustang 5.0 V8, complete with fuel injection and factory tuning, so it's bulletproof reliable and incredibly docile. On the other hand, in the lightweight Panoz, it delivers sparkling performance and a brawny V8 soundtrack from the twin SuperTrapp mufflers, which are actually tunable to suit your tastes. It also uses the Mustang's 5-speed manual gearbox and catalytic converters, further cementing its reputation as a real production car. The tubular front A-arms work with coil-over shocks and a fabricated frame to deliver superior handling, even with an 8.8-inch rear axle hanging out back. There's a big disc brake at each corner and since it's so light, tire sizes are modest, with 205/50/16s up front and 255/60/16s in back, and yes, those are the original Goodyear Eagle VR radials.

Beautifully built, this is a cool footnote in automotive history and the car is an absolute blast to drive. A go-cart for adults with plenty of race car DNA, the Panoz definitely stands out in a crowd. Call today!