New Sports Car: The Panoz Roadster/AIV

ET to discuss the seventh Caterham When trading took the production rights to the original, minimalist Lotus sports cars in 1973, I doubt that they knew how many people will continue copying and derivative works today. Heck, I doubt they knew they would still do it today. Wikipedia lists a few brands that make up the Lotus / Catera seven clones, copies, and spin-offs. Here's their (probably incomplete) list: Almaça, Alpha Sports, Ram Motorsports Barnard, Birkin, Boes, Brunton, excavators, Chevron, chinkara, Cobra Dala7, Dayton, Dax Rush Diardi, Donkervoort, magic, Esther Fraser Clubman, Gillett, Gregory , HCT, Irmscher 7, Leitch Super Sprint, acacia, Lueger Mac # 1, Martin, Mitsuoka, MNRacing, MK, Notes, Pegasus 7 PRB, Quantum, race tech, Raw, Robin Hood (!) Shaw Speed Superformance (S1 Roadster) Sylva, Tiger, Tornado, alertness, and WCM Ultralite ykc. This is a list of brands that have climbed 7 clone at a time. If imitation is a sincere form of flattery, it was probably Colin Chapman, a blush in his grave.
Interesting is not included in this category Panoz. Before a terrible sight Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans before the race reached success, Miata-on-steroids Esperante, Panoz Roadster and Panoz AIV. Cars Panoz brand started in the U.S. - and if you squint, you can basically a reinterpretation of a classic American design, see Lotus 7

It all began in 1988. Daniel Panoz set to put a unique U.S. manufacturer of custom hand-built sports car that was unique, furious, and reasonably cheap and easy to use make. Funding initially came from Father Daniel, Don Panoz, who had a very different legacy. Most of their money comes from the success of nicotine patches quit smoking support, was Don in the development work in a pharmaceutical company in Ireland. While living in Ireland with his family, son Daniel, in order to feed their addiction Motorsports and dreamed of a moderate course. During his time traveling throughout the continent, he ran into a strange-looking sports car. The so-called. TMC Costin, that was one of those competitors, Lotus 7, TMC, built from the early to mid 80 years. But the chassis was designed by the famous Frank Costin ("COS" in Cosworth? "This is Frank Costin." Cos "in" Marcos! "Even Frank Costin. Lotus 11? Frank Costin. You get the picture) and the car was assembled in a warehouse in Ireland. When the company went bankrupt in 1988, Daniel bought the manufacturing rights for TMC Costin, probably for the song.

He had a simple vision: light, strong and powerful two-seat roadster built on reliable, easy to use components that will appeal to hardcore car enthusiasts service. No man is an island, and Daniel had a lot to help with the design of the original Panoz Roadster. Costin was originally designed for the Ford 4-cylinder engine and all other Lotus / Caterham 7 outside. But Danny had a real machine in mind: fuel Ford Windsor 302 V8 used in the Mustang GT Fox body and other products. In detail, anvil, hammer and somewhat hard, 302, produces enough power and great torque. Perfect for U.S. 7 - had a number of balls. Then he bought the tool will also support TMC Mick Murphy, chief engineer for chassis TMC. e It is important to realize that Costin I do not think much at first Panoz, called it a typical American corruption of the design: Together with a redesigned chassis to a wider, shorter, heavier and more powerful to take 302. Go figure.

When he arrived, there was no earthly way of TMC's body to fit the new frame - and it's damn good news, because TMC Costin was a serious matter Uglies (pictured above, Yikes) - Panoz the then little-known designer named Thomas Freeman hired to design a new roadster body. Anyway, it's the same Thomas Freeman said that the New Beetle and the Audi TT a record among his generals. The result was one of the 7-on-steroids: more curves and organic-looking and full of fat, but still with a small nose, front cycle wings, large rear fenders rubbed. The position was wrong, muscular, seriously - it seems ready for lunch, a 4-cylinder 7 clone out there. The exact inspiration Roadster is difficult to assess because there are so many features that resemble other cars. The seventh cycle fenders are clean rear leg screaming Cobra 427 Hunker total and comprehensive approach is somewhat mixed with the Allard J2X Morgan Plus 8, and maybe even a bit weird just afraid of the Predator 'Vette and Prowlers.

The case is stainless steel coated Formed Super-Space Frame aluminum body. Front suspension is a conventional arms unequal length, rear suspension Ford 8.8 "solid axle proportions, original roadster was short, stocky door-to-the-corner affair. About as wide as the Corvette C4 1.5-inch longer wheelbase makes be 3, 5 inches shorter than the total first-generation Miata. total weight is about 2200 pounds with the production of aluminum body panels, and 302 V8 is coupled to a manual Tremec T5. One would have thought it would be total war dragging but the Roadster has won the highest prize in the corners - the Roadster is designed to be neutral, light car with a progressive and sustainable levels is just that with as little weight as a good suspension, tires and so A-level was very high as in the northern part of 0., 9 g's lateral acceleration in the early 90's band technology. hell, the Roadster is not an anti-roll bar.

Cool thing was 302-injection V8 is completely off-the-rack Ford parts. It was the same as what you get a '88-'94 Mustang LX 5.0/GT, oil pan, ignition wires, fuel filter, etc. So Panoz is expensive for car maintenance. It was not very expensive: $ 44,000, the change was still less than the Corvette Convertible when it was released in 1992, and it was damn fast, easy to catch sub-five seconds 00-60 times.

But it was a pretty traditional recipe. Steel tube-frame chassis, dealing with the V8, drive shaft, a Tremec T5, we get it. This is really a nice car. But Panoz had bigger things in store for the Roadster. And then AIV Roadster was dropped in 1997, the sports world began to throw pop near Atlanta seriously.

AIV aluminum chassis, but with steel subframe. The new aluminum chassis was developed in collaboration with engineers of Alcan and Alumax. Make it easier cabin living, eh, people have the wheelbase is 6 stretched "on the original roadster. Along this route is always the same length as the Miata, so it's huge. But mechanical changes everywhere. Before all that meet EPA OBD II 302 Windsor-regulation was dropped in favor of the new all-aluminum 4.6L quad-cam 32V Modular Mustang Cobra engine has more power, it was easier, and it was OBD-II compliant. 8, 8 "rear axle to replace independent rear suspension with 90-Us (Cobra IRS was not until 2001, remember), the transfer of new Tremec T45 and the car got bigger brakes and wheels around. Oh, and a huge hood scoop and clearly more powerful engine. This, together with Saab Sonnet II, was one of those cars that are mechanically using the new engine, but has little aesthetic. A large tumor on the cover hid the 305bhp V8 high resolution, though, so perhaps all is forgiven.
one must be aware of something, though. AIV is hand-built cars weird guy in the barn (actually a former DOT salt storage building) in Atlanta. But shares many parts with the Mustang Cobra. As in, the engine and gearbox. . 13 "vented twin-piston front brakes and 10-inch ventilated piston rear brakes Tools, A / C and heater core, power steering, wiring, ECU and many other small parts came directly from Cobra It sounds pedestrian, but it's true.: They were largely (no claim Cobra 4.6 32V engine is anything but terrible, is not it?) Panoz, a lot of money saved from the need to develop, and as a result of the Advisory Council may be served ... Yeah, the local Ford SVT dealer .

With most aluminum construction (Panoz said the car is 70% aluminum, which is why he was Aluminum Intensive Vehicle), a fully independent suspension, large brakes and tires, advanced, powerful V8 engine and a redesigned comfortable (relative term) on the inside, AIV Roadster is more than the current car, and more than a fast car. Although barn door aerodynamics AIV is really fast. Motor Trend Magazine, from May 1998 to seven new cars AIV competitor performing the different price tags - BMW M Roadster and the new C5 Corvette Z51 at the bottom, and Viper GTS (996) 911 Carrera, Lotus Esprit V8 Twin Turbo, Aston Ferrari F355 F1 and Martin DB7 high end. The results of the study showed what everyone already knew: AIV is not top-speed of the car, hit a Vmax 134 mph, slower than everyone else. But it was faster than the M Roadster and $ 130,000 Supercharged DB7 around the road course, this is the best brake Winning the DB7 and Corvette slalom course, and published 4, 6, 00 (110 meters to 60 mph ... with no ABS! ) - 60 seconds - for the brutal second half performance, the Viper 450 hurricane on wheels Esprit V8, but binding very expensive and hit the Corvette C5 F355 0.2 seconds.

AIV Roadster and Roadster production is largely confined to her life. Panoz Roadster with 302 just turned 44 and driveshaft for sale to the public. AIV are equally rare, with 49 in 1997, 72 in 1998 and 55 in 1999, including 10 "2000" 10 anniversary edition car. All rooms are painted in Titanium, and had accessories like Penske shocks and polished valve covers, black leather interior, especially cycling. Four of the anniversary of the cars were sold with compressors (!) From the factory and a number of other models in the aftermarket compressors installed in 1999 pre-sale in the shops. Since the factory 4.6 32V 390 hp supercharged Cobra, one of the rare turbo AIV and the autopilot be crazy!

With a total of 220 roadsters sold to the public in the period between 1992 and 1999 Roadster / AIV is not something I definitely see the day. Which brings me to why I write this article. Sum a slag and Maske underway to lift 2-3 years SOLV AIV necessarily reduce Deres søvnige kvarter Gader i Raleigh, NC. I was never fast enough images, or diving in the car, with no chance to go to him. But if I do, I think the pictures! Seeing such a rare animal in the course of nature is something of an event, it is completely safe.
So how are you a hand? Only Roadster / AIV that I found on sale on the Roadster Registry. 1996 AIV prototype (probably can not be given on the way) with 3400 miles listed for $ 35,000. Yellow with black leather in 1998 and 2500 miles at $ 44.900, and yellow / black in 1999, only 77 (!) Miles is listed for $ 54,900 in Illinois. Finally, in the 1999 annual edition (one of the supercharged four!) In titanium, for sale in New Jersey in the heady $ 65,000. Panoz car trader or the list of names if you are looking for the car. It's small.

Moved to a more conventional Panoz Esperante Roadster in 2000, and made other AIV-style vehicle. That's a shame, because we have waited ten years back a new Panoz car, and give us one that looks like a beach whale. (Sorry, Danny - no fan of Abruzzo.) But one thing: AIV was sixty cool along with the Plymouth Prowler, one of them is a true sports car, and another is a real tough question.

Although the full AIV 32V DOHC V8 and 5-speed gearbox, a 3.5L V6 SOHC Prowler had 24V, 4-speed automatic drive automatic ". AIV had 18" wheels front and rear, arranged in 9 "rear 8" front, and it was actually intended to wear. Prowler had 17 "front and 20" rear wheel, which only makes sense for management and manageable if your primary interest in order to attract Char-grill look cool and it is especially good for the Prowler. pedal to the metal, Mopar "hot" pool is a good extra 2 seconds to sixty, registering 6.5 and AIV 4, 5 / 4 mile is just ugly, the light falls on Prowler 1.6 seconds later, nine kmh slower than AIV. Although both exotic look-hot-rod fenders cycle with an aluminum frame, Mopar trying to hold a candle to the real thing. AIV also had a suitcase!
Panoz Roadster is a rare success in the industry, mostly filled with stories of optimism and a good start, bankruptcy fiasco. Vision and ingenuity of man has evolved into a successful store brand is still around 20 years later, after many other boutique makers come and go. Let us toast to the Internet Danny Panoz (pronounced PAY-nose is, by the way) Cajon after his big ideas into big results. AIV is largely forgotten today, but give him another 10 years, and these cars will change hands for large sums of money.