This is a 1993 Panoz Roadster, and amazingly, it has just 695 miles on the odometer since it was new. One of the reasons for this is that this car was built for company founder Dan Panoz as his personal car, it was then largely used for PR and promotional duties.
๐ The Core Development
The Panoz Roadster was one of the most unusual, and capable, low-volume sports cars in production in the United States in the mid-1990s. It had a chassis designed by Frank Costin, a body designed by former Porsche stylist Freeman Thomas, and it had the kind of sharp, intuitive handling of cars like the Caterham 7 .
Panoz Auto Development only built 44 examples of its original Roadster between 1992 and 1995, and 176 of the aluminum-framed โAIV Roadsterโ that replaced it. Both used Ford Mustang running gear, and unusually, the model line began when Dan Panoz bought the rights to an Irish sports car whose manufacturer was going into receivership.
๐ Background & Sector Context
Panoz Auto Development only built 44 examples of its original Roadster between 1992 and 1995, and 176 of the aluminum-framed โAIV Roadsterโ that replaced it. Image courtesy of Panoz Auto Development.
Dan Panoz founded his namesake company in 1989 with backing from his father, Don, whoโd made his fortune in pharmaceuticals and drug delivery, including the wildly successful transdermal nicotine patch for those wanting to quit smoking.
๐ Industry & Real-World Impact
In 1988, Dan approached the Thompson Manufacturing Company of Wexford, which had been building the TMC Costin since 1983. The Costin was a sports car, essentially a Lotus Seven rival, with a chassis designed by legendary British engineer Frank Costin.
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๐ฎ Strategic Outlook & What Lies Ahead
TMC was going into receivership, so Dan bought the rights and shipped its jigs, drawings and two sets of parts to Georgia. His first workshop was a former state salt shed. Two TMC men came too. The engineer soon flew home, unhappy that the carโs original 1.6 liter engine was to make way for a Ford V8, but the head fabricator Mick Murphy stayed on long-term.
Dan wanted the reliability that most small-volume sports cars lacked, so he used a complete Mustang driveline โ including the engine, clutch, cooling system, Borg-Warner T-5 five-speed, as well as the rear axle and brakes. The company says a shortened driveshaft and the fuel tank were the only non-Ford parts needed to install it.
