1998 Panoz AIV Roadster

The Panoz AIV Roadster is an all-american lightweight roadster with European roots. The Panoz family purchased the rights to a defunct sportscar manufacturer in the late 1980s, and after much retooling and essentially a start-from-scratch redesign, the Panoz Roadster was born. The first iteration was stainless steel and utilized a 5.0L Ford V8 and did not come with any top, radio, heater, or air conditioning. In 1996, the AIV, which stands for Aluminum Intensive Vehicle, was born. It used largely the same styling as the first-gen roadster, but the car was now 70% aluminum, weighing in at only 2500 pounds, and a new 4.6L 32-valve aluminum V8 from the Mustang Cobra was shoehorned in, bumping the power up to 305bhp. Additionally, they created a surprisingly easy-to-install top with side curtain windows, plus luxury amenities like a radio, heat, and air conditioning. They were hand assembled in Braselton, Georgia, and to this day remain as one of the most unique American cars ever produced. A total of 176 AIV Roadsters were sold to the public during the 3.5-year production run. Unlike most limited production hand-built sports cars, these are actually incredibly reliable, simple to maintain, and are very pleasant to drive. Parts are easy to source given that it is mostly Ford components. Many critics of the Plymouth Prowler say that this is what the Prowler should have been.

This particular Roadster is finished in Silver/Black, and as with all 1998s, has the Roush 5-spoke wheels. According to our database this is one of just 22 cars finished in silver during the three-year production run. The previous owner had it regularly serviced by Davie Motorsports in FL and had all fluids changed and new tires installed during his ownership. The tires are Bridgestone Potenzas date coded 2015 with full tread. After our purchase, we went through the car as we do with all Panoz Roadsters, ensuring functionality of all accessories and checking mechanical condition. We changed the oil and filter along with the serpentine belt, tensioner, and idler pulley, and repaired the odometer (the plastic gears in these odometers are a known weak point - 3/4 of the Panoz we've had through our shop have needed repair). We also replaced the power steering pump and rebuilt the differential. The car checked out with a clean bill of health. We removed the dated and ugly elephant-ear black rock guards on the rear fenders and had clear PPF installed after refinishing. We've done this to all the Panoz that have come through our shop as it provides better protection against stone chips and it helps to accentuate the car's shape and make it more visually appealing with a more modern look. 

This Panoz is all stock besides an aluminum e-brake handle, Kenwood stereo head unit, and upgraded speakers. The original parts are boxed up and included. It is also complete with all accessories: Two keys, owner's manual, Panoz-branded top with bag, Roush tool kit with Roush silver coin, convertible top and side windows with all hardware and leather Panoz-branded bag, and a rare tonneau cover for the cabin. 

This is an impresssively clean, no-excuses example that is ready to enjoy.