2002 Panoz AIV Roadster

(Pay-Nose)

Chassis: Aircraft extruded aluminum. Suspension: Polished Stainless Steel, independent double wishbone lotus type. Body: Hand assembled, aircraft aluminum and kevlar. Engine: Hand assembled dual overhead cam. 32-valve, 90 degree aluminum cobra hemi V-8 miles per gallon: 17/30 MPG. Curb weight: 2200 lbs. Layout: Front/mid engine. Transmission: aluminum, borg warnger, T45, 5-speed manual. Displacement: 4601 CC-280.8 CU. IN. Horsepower: 365 BHP at 5800 RPM torgue: 340 Lb-ft at 4800 RPM. Redline: 6900 RPM. Performance: 0-60 MPH: 4.0 Sec. 0-100 MPH: 9.7 Sec. Quarter Mile: 11.7 Sec at 106 MPH Skidpad: 97G Top speed: 160+ MPH. Braking: 0-60 MPH: 109 ft. Slalom speed: 76.0 MPH. Factory: Atlanta, Georgia. Lateral acceleration: 0.97G 700 FT. (212M) The Panoz AIV Roadster (Aluminum intensive vehicle) is the first U.S. made care made of aluminum (only 84 were built). The Panoz Motor Sports Co. Owns: Road Atlanta, Sebring and Mosport Park, (All have premiere racing schools at them).Also the American Le Mans Series, Mario Andretti will be driving Panoz at Le Mans this year. Panoz took to the Le Mans circuit in 1997. The Cobra powered Panoz was the first front/mid engine entry in nearly thirty years. "But we were determined to race on the track what we build for the street".

Click here to view Panoz Roadster Factory Video

Click on photo to enlarge

PANOZ ROADSTER

Ask the average person on the street if they've ever heard of a car company called Panoz and you probably won't get much of a response. In the automotive world, however, the name Panoz is well-known and is synonymous with cycle-fendered roadsters, elegant convertible GT cars, and a short but already amazing racing history.

The start of Panoz Auto Development actually began in Ireland where Danny Panoz first worked for a car company called Thompson Motor Company. The company was eventually liquidated, and Danny decided to buy the rights to their chassis. Moving to California, Danny and a friend went to work on the chassis, modifying it so that it could fit a V8 engine. "He always wanted to put a V8 in it," said John Leverett, the director of engineering for Panoz who gave me a tour of their facilities. "The original chassis had a 4-cylinder and they re-did the whole chassis to fit the V8." Using this chassis and a Ford V8 engine, Panoz went on to develop the roadster that he would eventually sell to the public. In 1990 Panoz moved the company from California to a 2000 sq-ft facility in Hoschton, Georgia that now serves as a small museum for Panoz featuring several cars that make up the history of Panoz and also as a parts storage and construction facility for the Esperante GTS racer. By this time the company had grown to seven employees and had finished a production version of the Roadster. The first customer car was delivered just two years later in 1992.

The Roadster went basically unchanged until 1996 when it received several major updates. Renamed the AIV (aluminum intensive vehicle) Roadster because of its new lightweight aluminum frame, the new roadster featured leather and other such luxury items, a contrast with the original Roadster with had "no pretences to practicality." Handling improved with a new independent rear suspension, and 13-inch brakes stopped the 2200 lb car in incredibly short distances. The power plant of the car was also changed from a 5.0 liter V8 to a newer and more powerful 4.6 liter engine from the SVT Mustang Cobra. The Roadster ended its production in 2000 due to new federal regulations. However, Leverett said that the Roadster "will probably live again."

After small break in production, Panoz began producing the Esperante in 2001. The Esperante was a much different car than the Roadster. A real convertible top, a spacious and luxurious interior, and elegant styling reminiscent of classic sports cars of the 1950's and 1960's elevated the Esperante to compete with the likes of Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar in the high-end convertible category.

Specifications:
Chassis: Aircraft Extruded Aluminum.
Layout: Front/Mid engine.
Body: Aircraft Aluminum, Carbon Fiber and Kevlar. Hand Assembled.
Horsepower: 365 BHP at 5800 RPM Torgue: 340 Lb-ft at 4800 RPM. Redline: 6900 RPM.
Performance: 0-60 MPH: 4.0 Sec. 0-100 mph: 9.7 Sec. Quarter Mile: 11.7 Sec at 106 mph
Engine: 280.8 CU. IN. Dual Overhead Cam. 32-valve, 90 Degree Aluminum Cobra Hemi V-8.
Transmission: Manual, Aluminum, Borg Warner, T-45, 5-Speed Manual.
Suspension: Polished Stainless Steel, Independent Double Wishbone Lotus Type.
Top speed: 160+ MPH. Braking: 0-60 MPH: 109 ft. Slalom speed: 76.0 MPH.
Skid pad: 97G Lateral acceleration: 0.97G 700 FT. (212M)

Wild Bill Hill started collecting cars about 18 years ago with a Model T and now has a garage full of specialty cars, including a 1915 Ford Speedster, 1932 Ford Phaeton, 1954 Porsche Spyder, 1959 Messerschmitt, 1963 Amphicar, 1966 shortened VW Bus, 1999 Chevy flat-bed car hauler, 2002 Panoz AIV Roadster, 2005 Lincoln Aviator, 2005 Panoz Esperante GTLM, 2007 Pontiac Solstice, four Motorcycles, and three Minis. To check them out go to: Wild-Bills.com and click on Bill’s garage.

“The first time I saw the Roadster it knocked my socks off. I knew I had to have it. It’s so responsive and very, very quick,” said Hill. “I love taking it to the track, the way it holds the road going into corners is just incredible.”

TATTOO ARTIST WILD BILL HILL’S
2002 PANOZ AIV ROADSTER
America’s First Aluminum Production Car

Ask the average person on the street if they've ever heard of a car company called Panoz and you probably won't get much of a response.

In the automotive world, however, the name Panoz is well-known and is synonymous with cycle-fendered Roadsters, the Esperante GTS racer and a amazing racing history. Wild Bill Hill, a tattoo artist from Roseville, will be showing his rare 2002 Panoz Roadster at the Pacific Coat Dream Machines Show on Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport. In 1997, Panoz Motor Sports took to the Le Mans circuit. Determined to race on the track what they build for the street, the Cobra powered Panoz was the first front/mid engine entry in nearly thirty years. Their Esperante won the GTLM Cass at Le Mans in France in 2007.