Vehicle Description
This 1994 Panoz roadster is powered by a Ford Mustang 225hp
5.0-liter V8 engine paired with a BorgWarner T5 5-speed manual
transmission. It rides on an independent front suspension and a
solid rear axle. It is finished in green with a tan leather
interior with a matching snap-on tonneau cover. In addition, it is
equipped with power 4-wheel disc brakes, a Traction-Lok
differential, an analog speedometer and 16-inch alloy wheels fitted
with BFGoodrich radial tires. The Panoz Auto Development Company of
Braselton, GA, was founded in 1989. Don Panoz, who made his fortune
developing the nicotine patch, provided the financial backing for
his son Dan to build a no-frills, lightweight sports car. The
younger Panoz purchased the rights to a chassis designed by Frank
Costin and previously used in the defunct Irish sportscar called
the TMC Costin. Panoz then secured Freeman Thomas to fashion a
Lotus Seven-inspired body for the car from aluminum panels. The car
was launched to the public in 1992. Interestingly, the Costin
chassis never underpinned the Panoz roadster: Early cars used a
TIG-welded stainless-steel tubular frame, along with extensive use
of CNC machined and stamped parts. The first 10 cars were
hand-assembled with a seven-man crew; additional production
personnel were later added. This is one of six cars built in 1994
of the total 44 produced between 1992 and 1995.
