1998 PANOZ AIV ROADSTER, 4,850 ORIG MILES, ALL OPTIONS, AS-NEW, RARE & FAST!!!

We are proud to offer this very rare and extremely nice example of a 1998 Panoz AIV Roadster ... This Panoz is the first model that the company produced and is still in exceptionally nice condition inside and out. It has always been well serviced and is very well optioned (see description below for a list of all options). These Panoz are RWD, 8 powered and manually shifted. This is what the Plymouth Prowler should have been yet the AIV is even more aggressive looking and has the very cool center mount gauges that companies like BMW copied in their Z8 production. These cars are very quick, andle very well, have exceptional build quality and turn heads & elicit questions everywhere you go! With the purchase of this vehicle you will be in a very exclusive owners club as only 72 were built in 1998 and only 176 were built from 1997-1999. The body is in exceptional condition with no dents, ings or scuffs, nd the glass, arpet, eather, eats, tc. all are in excellent shape. I am an extremely picky person and this is one of the few cars I've ever had that I can say you literally don't need to do much of anything to it. It's tough to find a driven pre-owned vehicle that is this well cared for & clean. It is finished in Hot Red over Tan leather, as a 5-spd. manual trans and has only *4,850 original miles.* It will be very tough to price shop this Panoz as I have only seen 2 or 3 others on the market and they are priced well above mine. The custom HRE rims really set this one off as well. We have been an authorized Panoz dealer for over 12 years and we sold the example to its most recent owner in 2002 with only 3,898 miles. These cars are very cool - don't miss this opportunity to put this in your garage!
Additional Details:

(VIN: 1P9PA1823WB213003), ustom factory mix hot red (PPG 75614) / tan leather interior with wood instrument surround &
center console, org Warner T45 5-spd. trans., 900 original miles, uilt 12/1997 (the 3rd 1998 built), old new at Manhattan
Motorcars, hipped to the selling dealer 01/28/1998 with 39 miles, n-service date of 03/12/1998 with 45 miles, 280 cubic inch)
all-aluminium hand assembled 4.6L 32V DOHC V8, 05 hp @ 5,800 rpm., 00 lb-ft. torque @ 6,800 rpm., equential electronic
fuel injection, istributor less coil-on-plug ignition, .5" polished exhaust pipes, win-tiered extruded aluminium space frame
with steel suspension subframes, teel side-impact door beams, ollapsible steering linkage, 3" front brakes with vented discs
and twin piston calipers and stainless steel braided brake lines, 0" rear brakes with vented disc and single piston calipers,
Roush Racing tuned 4-wheel independent suspension with polished stainless steel double wishbones, nequal length upper
and lower control arms, djustable coil over shocks, arge bore extruded aluminium chassis rails and backbone, ild steel
tubular subframes, uperplastics formed aluminium body panels, ower rack & pinion steering, .8" rear differential with alu-
minium case and 40% LSD, ustom final drive ratio of 3.27:1, ar has all available options including: 3-spoke NARDI sport
steering wheel, olished aluminium shift knob - shift gate surround - pedal covers - dead pedal footrest and gas filler cap,
windshield mounted wind wings, urled walnut wood dash and center console trim, and-stitched black two-bow soft top with
plastic rear window and removable side curtains, lectronic anti-theft system with ignition immobilizaion (1 key and 0 remotes),
CFC-free a/c, anoz logo embossed in headrests, eather shifter and handbrake boots, ntermittent windshield wipers, entrally
located instrument gauge cluster with white faced full analog gauges, clipse ESN 5331 AM/FM in-dash CD stereo system with
two 6.5" Eclipse speakers center mounted in between the seats, ustom built 18x8 & 18x9 forged HRE 542 10-spoke rims with
BF Goodrich Comp T/A tires (245/40-18f & 295/35-18R) with Tread Measurements: DF: 8/32, F: 8/32, R: 7/32, R: 7/32
(10/32 is new tire tread depth), olored crest center caps, chumacher battery tender installed, o known or detectable paintwork,
no accident history or stories, eather interior and carpet look new, aint is in excellent condition with little to no rock chips or other
flaws, im lips are as new with no scuffs or curb damage, ne of only 72 built in 1998 and one of only 176 AIV's ever built, ave
factory owners manual, indow sticker and copies of magazine articles about the Panoz AIV, owners since new (BMI sold this
car to its most recent PO 09/2002 with 3,898 miles), ll services and recalls performed, hecks out with Panoz, lean AutoCheck
report, his is what the Plymouth Prowler should have been!, n as-new example of a classic cycle fender roadster with modern
day V8 muscle and a manual transmission in a great color combo, ew MSRP of $58,418.00.
Start of Panoz AIV Roadster production:
1996 Switch to Panoz AIV Roadster - 6 cars built for crash test and mules.
Only 4 survived as pre-production prototypes.
No 1996’s were ever sold outside the factory.
VIN VB213005 was the first production Panoz AIV Roadster sold to the public.
Those produced prior to #5 were built for testing, how and demonstration purposes.
1997 Panoz AIV Roadster Production:
21 Red
19 Black Metallic
4 Green
3 Blue
2 Silver
Total = 49
1998 Panoz AIV Roadster Production:
19 Red
13 Black Metallic
7 Sunburst Yellow
7 Silver
7 Blue
6 Cabernet
6 Ocean Extreme
4 Green
1 British Racing Green
1 Pearl White
1 Copper Bronze Extreme
Total = 72
1999 Panoz AIV Roadster Production:
16 Yellow
14 Silver
11 Titanium
8 Black Gloss
2 Red
2 Black Metallic
2 Blue Metallic
Total = 55
The last 10 1999 cars were sold in 2000 as 10th anniversary editions. They were all Titanium color with polished valve covers and polished Penske shocks. Four of these cars had aftermarket superchargers installed as non-factory equipment. In addition to the four anniversary editions that were supercharged, ome regular 1999 cars were supercharged for dealers after they were sold by the factory.
Production Summary:
1997 49 Panoz AIV Roadsters
1998 72 Panoz AIV Roadsters
1999 55 Panoz AIV Roadsters (includes 10 Anniversary models)
Total Panoz AIV Roadsters sold to the public = 176
Total of all Panoz Roadsters sold to the public = 220
Pre AIV Panoz Roadsters have a stainless steel space frame and aluminum body. Power is a 5 liter iron block 225 horsepower Ford V-8 with Borg-Warner T-5 5 speed, nd solid rear axle.
Panoz AIV Roadsters have an aluminum frame and body. Power is a 4.6 liter DOHC 305 horsepower Ford V-8, org-Warner T45 5 speed, ndependent rear end.
General Info on the AIV Roadster:
The Panoz Roadster and the Panoz AIV Roadster are rare and unusual cars that were built in Georgia from 1992-1999. At that point in time, ederal laws changed making its production no longer possible. The factory then began production of the Panoz Esperante which continues till this day. While the Esperante has similar aluminum construction and Ford mechanicals, t is a more conventional design.
The Panoz Roadster began as a small venture of Dan Panoz who had purchased the rights to a chassis that was designed by the famous Frank Costin. The Panoz Roadster body was designed with the help of Freeman Thomas, esigner of the Audi TT and the New VW Beetle.
The early Panoz Roadster had a stainless steel space frame chassis covered in special aircraft technology aluminum body work. The drivetrain was a Ford overhead valve V-8 with a five speed transmission and solid rear axle. Most of the componentry was Ford.
The later design first offered for sale in 1997 was called the Panoz AIV Roadster. This version had an all aluminum intensive frame with steel subframe. The engine was an all aluminum Ford modular double overhead cam 32 valve V-8. As a result, he car earned the designation Aluminum Intensive Vehicle (AIV). In fact, t was the first AIV made in the United States. This version had independent suspension all around. The most noticeable distinguishing feature of the AIV is the large hood scoop.
Designed and prototyped in 1996, he first Panoz AIV Roadster was sold in 1997. Production of this model ceased in 1999, ut some were sold as 2000’s. There were even some cars that remained unregistered and were first sold in more recent years.
The Panoz AIV Roadster was made possible by the special engineering of its aluminum frame. Discussed in detail in this section, ars with aluminum frames are now much more common. Some Honda, udi and Jaguar models are now built this way. However, n 1997 there were very few. The Acura NSX used aluminum unibody construction. The Plymouth Prowler used a partially aluminum body on an aluminum frame. What made the Panoz car so special was that it came from a small independent manufacturer who produced an innovative design before the majors.
Another event that allowed the Panoz AIV Roadster to come into being was the production of the Mustang Cobra. First offered in 1996, his Mustang had an all aluminum sophisticated V-8 engine. These engines were built by hand by a two person team. Each had a plaque that carried the signatures of the engine builders. The Mustang Cobra was built by the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) of Ford - the arm of the company that designed and built high performance vehicles. Panoz employed Roush to help fit this new engine and its five speed Borg-Warner transmission to the new Panoz Roadster chassis.
The Panoz AIV Roadster employed many other systems that were used in the Mustang Cobra such as the brakes, eating, ir conditioning, entilation system, iring, ngine computer, nstruments and so on. As a result, he car can be serviced at any SVT Ford dealer.
The Panoz AIV Roadster was a mix of the very latest technology with features derived from cars of the 40’s and 50’s. For example, he top is a two bow affair with cloth covering that is erected and snapped onto the body with plastic side curtains similar to early British sports cars. In many ways, he car is a cross between the Shelby Cobra of the 60’s and a modern American hot rod.
AIV Changes 1997 - 1998 - 1999:
The Panoz AIV Roadster was manufactured for public sale from 1997 through 1999. During this time, variety of small and some large changes were made. In general, he improvements over the three year period favor the 1999. Still, ome of the changes altered the appearance of the vehicle and thus some people have a preference for one year over another.
Similarities:
In general, he major mechanical specifications of the cars did not change throughout production (except for the special supercharged cars). Each Panoz AIV Roadster had the same hand assembled Ford SVT Mustang Cobra engine and Borg-Warner T-45 five speed transmission originally introduced in the 1996 Mustang Cobra. This 305 HP all aluminum Modular 4.6 liter V-8 had the DOHC 32 valve configuration. Brakes came from the Mustang Cobra as well with 13 inch vented twin piston discs up front and 10 inch vented single piston discs in the rear. All Panoz AIVs had four wheel independent suspension with the 8.8 Ford limited slip differential. All had the large bore extruded aluminum chassis rails with an aluminum backbone frame with mild steel tubular subframes. The bodies were super plastic formed (SPF) aluminum with fiberglass fenders and hood scoop. Standard interiors were vinyl with leather seat inserts in black or tan. Consoles had either carbon fiber or walnut burl wood insert. Paint was a urethane base two stage with clearcoat. Top and side curtains were standard.
Differences between the years:
• The first 1997 Panoz cars had the Roush truck mounted tool kit. Later cars had no toolkit.
• 1997’s and 1998’s had Japanese Kosei Seneca S5R five spoke cast aluminum18x8 front wheels and 18x9 rear wheels. These wheels carried the Roush logo on one spoke. The front brake caliper had the Cobra logo from the Mustang Cobra.
• 1999’s had the lighter weight BBS RK cast aluminum 18x8.5 front wheels and 18x10 rear wheels. The BBS wheel had a different Panoz logo cap than the Kosei. The front brake calipers had a Panoz logo (all years had 245/40 ZR18 front tires and 295/35 ZR18 rear tires).
• 1997’s and 1998’s had the Fujitsu Ten Eclipse 5331 180 watt stereo with CD having both speakers mounted between the seats. In 1999, anoz installed an Alpine 300 watt stereo with CD, emovable faceplate and speakers mounted under the dash with a trunk mounted subwoofer. With the moving of the speakers, he 1999’s had a small storage box between the seats and a lowered center console to add interior room.
• In 1999, he last 10 cars were sold in 2000 as anniversary specials. The Anniversary Editions are identifiable by their titanium paint, and-sewn blue upholstery and 18-in. BBS RK chromed wheels with a unique chrome center cap. They had polished Penske shocks. Under their hoods, he Anniversary Editions had hand-polished aluminum valve and plenum covers. Panoz's signature was engraved on the top of the cylinder heads. Each engine also carried a number plaque. Four of these cars had aftermarket superchargers installed as non-factory equipment. In addition to the four anniversary editions that were supercharged, ome regular 1999 cars were supercharged for dealers after they were sold by the factory. The 10th Anniversary Limited Edition A.I.V. Roadster carried a suggested list price of $68,850. The supercharger added $5695 to that. All 10 were sold before they were built.
• Prices rose during the production run with 1997’s base sticker price at $56,750 and standard 1999’s at $62,500. All years had available options such as wind wings, luminum pedal covers, luminum logo shift knob and floor mats.
Some running changes:
• Early cars had a thick core Griffin radiator and 45 degree mounted AC condenser and pusher fan. A transition change went to a thinner Griffin radiator with upright AC condenser and puller fan.
• Early cars had a steel case independent differential case and later cars had the aluminum case.
• A transition change had early car engines topped with a Cobra plaque and later cars with a Panoz logo plaque.
• Early cars had no emblem in their wheel cap centers and later cars had a Panoz logo topped cap.
• Earlier cars had a round Nardi steering wheel and later ones went to the similar D-shaped Nardi wheel to help give leg clearance.
• Color choices changed over time (see production #’s for what was offered).
Caveat: While the variations mentioned above in the three years are generally true, here are exceptions seen in a number of cars. Since the Panoz Roadster was hand assembled, he factory made running changes as production progressed. Also, f certain parts were not available, thers might have been used. For example, hile many 98’s and 99’s had the D shaped Nardi steering wheel, ome have the round Nardi wheel. Some 98’s have been seen with BBS wheels. It is possible too that some of the owners switched parts. So take these model differences as guidelines rather than as definitive. You can best distinguish years of manufacture by VIN numbers: 97 cars had VIN numbers with VB, 8’s are WB and 99’s are XB. But here again, any Roadsters were slow sellers at Ford dealers and some sold in a later year than its year of manufacture!
Bid with confidence - we have been a member of eBay since November 1998 and we have a 100% feedback rating!! We do have a complete collection of photographs that document every aspect of this vehicle, o please request them! And be sure to mail us if you have any questions! Please also keep in mind that this vehicle is being advertised via other retail venues, o we reserve the right to cancel this auction at any time and without notice.
God bless and good luck in bidding!
*This vehicle is located in Southern Indiana - more information or photographs are available upon on request. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the description of this vehicle, istakes regarding hp ratings, ptions, tc. can be made. I have also done my best to be very honest and very critical about the cosmetic and mechanical condition of this vehicle. Of course, t is not always possible to pick-up on every minor detail or flaw. Please keep expectations realistic as this is a pre-owned vehicle, nd I have personally found blemishes on brand new un-driven vehicles. If you are an exceptionally detailed oriented person, lease contact me to verify any information directly, nd I will do my best to specifically photograph anything you request and to answer any of your questions to the best of my ability.