1998 Panoz Roadster

This 1998 Panoz AIV Roadster is one of 176 units built between 1996 and 1999, and this example was acquired by the seller on BaT in July 2022. Finished in silver over black leather upholstery, the car is powered by a Ford 4.6-liter DOHC V8 paired with a five-speed manual transmission. It is also equipped with a removable black soft top, wind wings, SVT Mustang Cobra-specification brakes, Penske Racing shocks, 18″ Kosei-Roush wheels, carbon-fiber interior trim, a Nardi steering wheel, air conditioning, and a Kenwood CD stereo linked to aftermarket speakers. The radiator fan motor, cooling fan relay, and constant control relay module were reportedly replaced within the last 1k miles. This Panoz AIV is offered at no reserve with a tool kit, a car cover, a cabin tonneau cover, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Michigan title in the seller’s name. The AIV, or Aluminum Intensive Vehicle, featured a superplastic-formed aluminum body with fiberglass fenders and a hood scoop. This example is finished in silver and features a black soft top, a hood scoop, and wind wings as well as chrome trim on the bumpers, headlights, and trunk latches. The rear fenders were repainted under previous ownership, at which time clear paint protection film was applied. The front frame piece on the soft top is broken, the zip-in windows are yellowing, and a photo showing a flaw in the finish on one of the rocker panels can be viewed in the gallery below. Kosei-Roush 18″ wheels wear 245/40 front and 295/35 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport tires with production date codes from 2015. The car rides on a four-wheel independent suspension with adjustable coilovers. The SVT Mustang Cobra-sourced four-wheel disc brakes employ 13″ front rotors, 10″ rear rotors, and twin-piston front rotors.   The bucket seats are trimmed in black leather, which extends to the dashboard, center console, and door panels. Appointments include air conditioning, drilled aluminum pedals, a billet aluminum Panoz-branded shift knob and parking brake handle, carbon-fiber trim, and a Kenwood CD stereo with aftermarket speakers mounted between the seats. The seller reports that the air-conditioning refrigerant was recharged in preparation for the sale. A Nardi flat-bottom steering wheel sits ahead of the driver, while the centrally-mounted instrument cluster houses white-dial instrumentation consisting of a 160-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, voltage, and fuel level. The six-digit mechanical odometer shows 8k miles, approximately 1,500 of which were added by the seller. The odometer gears were reportedly repaired under previous ownership, and total mileage is unknown. The 4.6-liter DOHC V8 was sourced from Ford’s SVT division, and it produced 300 horsepower with 305 lb-ft of torque when new. Work under current ownership included changing the oil, flushing the cooling system, installing a replacement coolant hose and clamps, and replacing the radiator fan motor, cooling fan relay, and constant control relay module. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Borg-Warner T45 five-speed manual transmission. The Ford 8.8″ rear end contains a limited-slip differential, which was reportedly rebuilt under previous ownership. The seller notes corrosion on the undercarriage, and additional underside photos can be viewed in the gallery. The tool kit is mounted in the trunk and includes a Roush-branded coin. A Panoz-branded car cover is included in the sale along with a removable soft top, side curtains, and a cabin tonneau cover. The Carfax report shows no accidents or damage and lists history in New York, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan.