Welcome new owners and members

[Rarity]

has anyone used a bbk throttle body , it looks like a bolt on and adds 15 to 20 hp if the adds are correct .

I installed one last year, Bolts right up takes about 15 minutes. not sure what results you will have. My Panoz has a JRD RS Package so i did it to get more forced Induction Air into the Intake. I know they have two models 62 MM and 65MM. i will see which one I have, the difference is one of them you have to alter the intake to make it work. it is worth the price of admission...

https://www.brothersperformance.com

[Rarity]

The Model that bolts right up is BBK1705 62MM

[PanozBob]

The Model that bolts right up is BBK1705 62MM

So someone needs to tell me if this works. More Power?

[Rarity]

it works more air in more HP out !

[PanozGTLM]

WOW where have you guys been!

Allow me to introduce myself, I am on my 3rd Panoz. My introduction to Panoz was in 1997 when my Brother-in-law became their South Florida dealer "Sterling Motorcars". I took a Black AIV out for a spin in the Fort Lauderdale area and FELL IN LOVE. After a long love affair with a 1988 911 coupe ended I became the 2nd owner of a 1997 Red AIV with a custom checkered interior. I was forced to get rid of the car due to family matters (the wife hated the car) I was fortunate enough to trade it in on a 2001 Esperante Titanium/grey with a black top. I took the car to the factory for all the necessary updates and the car ran like a champ. Then one fall day in 2006 I found a brand new triple black Esperante GTLM Convertible for sale and yep you guessed it "I had to have it". The 2001 was sold to the former Panoz dealer in Stamford CT. That’s my current car it too has been to the factory to be updated and to let Johan @ JRD tinker with. I will post some pictures of all 3 cars soon. It’s great to finally meet other Panoz owners I really felt alone out here in NJ.

[PanozBob]

Allow me to introduce myself, I am on my 3rd Panoz. My introduction to Panoz was in 1997 when my Brother-in-law became their South Florida dealer "Sterling Motorcars". I took a Black AIV out for a spin in the Fort Lauderdale area and FELL IN LOVE. After a long love affair with a 1988 911 coupe ended I became the 2nd owner of a 1997 Red AIV with a custom checkered interior. I was forced to get rid of the car due to family matters (the wife hated the car) I was fortunate enough to trade it in on a 2001 Esperante Titanium/grey with a black top. I took the car to the factory for all the necessary updates and the car ran like a champ. Then one fall day in 2006 I found a brand new triple black Esperante GTLM Convertible for sale and yep you guessed it "I had to have it". The 2001 was sold to the former Panoz dealer in Stamford CT. That’s my current car it too has been to the factory to be updated and to let Johan @ JRD tinker with. I will post some pictures of all 3 cars soon. It’s great to finally meet other Panoz owners I really felt alone out here in NJ.

Yes, Glad to see another panoz guy on the forum. Sounds like you have probably more knowledge about panoz ownership then many of us on the site and hope you'll share with us as you can. I found the site via google about 6 month ago I guess. It isn't as active as many other car sites but very glad it is here for us Panoz Guys.

I wish there was another way to get the word out but I have seen the activity grow a little each month so who knows, with a new car out from Panoz maybe we will see some renewed interest in the Panoz Cars.

WELCOME!!!

[Ackmann]

Allow me to introduce myself, I am on my 3rd Panoz. My introduction to Panoz was in 1997 when my Brother-in-law became their South Florida dealer "Sterling Motorcars". I took a Black AIV out for a spin in the Fort Lauderdale area and FELL IN LOVE. After a long love affair with a 1988 911 coupe ended I became the 2nd owner of a 1997 Red AIV with a custom checkered interior. I was forced to get rid of the car due to family matters (the wife hated the car) I was fortunate enough to trade it in on a 2001 Esperante Titanium/grey with a black top. I took the car to the factory for all the necessary updates and the car ran like a champ. Then one fall day in 2006 I found a brand new triple black Esperante GTLM Convertible for sale and yep you guessed it "I had to have it". The 2001 was sold to the former Panoz dealer in Stamford CT. That’s my current car it too has been to the factory to be updated and to let Johan @ JRD tinker with. I will post some pictures of all 3 cars soon. It’s great to finally meet other Panoz owners I really felt alone out here in NJ.

Glad to have you onboard Panoz Life. Can you post a seperate attachment on one of your post of your Esperante? Looks like a cool pic but it is smaller than I want to check it out closer.

Welcome Again and happy to see you here.

[Searover]

New Member - actively shopping

I had been researching Lotus Sevens - finally realized I did not fit - 6'1" 250# 60+. When I discovered the better and bigger Panoz AIV Roadster I got excited. Still trying to see one live. I live in South Florida but am in Persian Gulf till May. Anyone my size have a problem with in/out of the Roadster?
Are there any things to that are above and beyond 'normal' used car buying I should worry about?

Thanks

[LeManns67]

I wish I could help but only have experience with the Esperante. I'm sure one or two of the Roadster gus on here will give you a heads up soon.

[don fryer]

Category to enter Esperante GT in to win car shows

Hi. I just registered as a new member. My name is Don Fryer. I have an '04 Esperante GT. Excellent condition, very low miles, full provenance. I have a nice car show presentation display including a Summary Chart and a detailed 3-ring binder. I detail the car before the show and keep it touched up during the show. I stay with the car. 1 of only 14 GTs ever built; 1 of only 2 (convertibles) in the Pewter Metallic. Lots of interest, questions, and picture taking from spectators at shows. But....I'm not winning, and against lesser competition. Most recently, lost to a Lotus Exige. Not detailed, no presentation, didn't even raise the hood or stay with the car. I am told that the problem is the typical car show categories, i.e. that Panoz does not fit into. I was required to select the entry category; the judges typically are not present at the registration tent. I selected Exotic/Foreign simply because it was the closest match, knowing obviously that the Esperante GT was exotic but not foreign. The other categories were like "Import/Domestic Sport Compact", "Late Model Muscle Car (post-'72)", etc. What are other Panoz owners doing to win car shows and what do I need to do to start winning? Thank you, and I look forward to actively participating in panozlife.

[99PanozAIV]

I had been researching Lotus Sevens - finally realized I did not fit - 6'1" 250# 60+. When I discovered the better and bigger Panoz AIV Roadster I got excited. Still trying to see one live. I live in South Florida but am in Persian Gulf till May. Anyone my size have a problem with in/out of the Roadster?
Are there any things to that are above and beyond 'normal' used car buying I should worry about?

Thanks

I'd definitely recommend sitting in one before you take the plunge. There are not many adjustments and it's a snug fit. I'm 5'10" and 200 (62). My first concern, and it was legitimate, is that the footwell is very narrow and my EEEEE width feet don't help. I have gotten used to one pair of New Balance shoes and always wear them when driving the car.

[Ackmann]

Hi. I just registered as a new member. My name is Don Fryer. I have an '04 Esperante GT. Excellent condition, very low miles, full provenance. I have a nice car show presentation display including a Summary Chart and a detailed 3-ring binder. I detail the car before the show and keep it touched up during the show. I stay with the car. 1 of only 14 GTs ever built; 1 of only 2 (convertibles) in the Pewter Metallic. Lots of interest, questions, and picture taking from spectators at shows. But....I'm not winning, and against lesser competition. Most recently, lost to a Lotus Exige. Not detailed, no presentation, didn't even raise the hood or stay with the car. I am told that the problem is the typical car show categories, i.e. that Panoz does not fit into. I was required to select the entry category; the judges typically are not present at the registration tent. I selected Exotic/Foreign simply because it was the closest match, knowing obviously that the Esperante GT was exotic but not foreign. The other categories were like "Import/Domestic Sport Compact", "Late Model Muscle Car (post-'72)", etc. What are other Panoz owners doing to win car shows and what do I need to do to start winning? Thank you, and I look forward to actively participating in panozlife.

Welcome to Panoz Life. happy to have you on the site.. Good question and your timing is perfect for me as I was thinking of entering mine into the Forest Grove Concourse de Elegance in Portland this year. I have emailed the show asking where to place it under and as of today I haven't received a reply. I think I'll need to follow up this week. Last year I saw a AIV listed under American Sports Cars, but I didn't see that as a catagory this year. The theme this year is the romance of the convertable, so I would think the Esperante would be a nice fit.

Interested to see some pictures of your display and presentation as this would give me some ideas for my presentation.

I am going to start a new thread Showing your Panoz under the Library section as a reference guide. Please provide any knowledge that you have as it will help any of us who plan on taking on this experience of SHOWING our cars.

Good Subject!!!!

[don fryer]

Category to enter Esperante GT in to win car shows

Ackmann,

Thanks for responding. I just got timed out after drafting a lengthy response to you and then losing it (my response, that is). This time I'll be brief. No pics as you requested, but as a description of my presentation, I can say that I have a large chart conspicuously under the hood. With bullet points like "Rare & Exotic American-Built Luxury Performance Sports Car", "1 of only 14 GT's Built", and stuff like Panoz Motorsports, Engine, Performance, Body & Chassis & Carbon Fiber Superstructure, Suspension, Brakes, Wheels, Tires, Full Provenance on the car, etc.

Then I have a detailed 3-ring binder, with each page inserted in plastic cover sheets. A nice binder cover with logos, etc. Contents such as pictures, more details on the car's many features & options, the Press Release announcing the GT model, the Build Sheet, Sales Brochure, service records, and then several pages about Panox in general (Co history, CarandDriver article from July '01, Panoz Motorsports, Road Atlanta, ALMS, Chateau Elan, etc).

I even wear my Panoz hat and polo shirt.

This is all "very well & good", but I think the issue is not fitting into typical car show judging categories. Any help on that?

[Ackmann]

Ackmann,

Thanks for responding. I just got timed out after drafting a lengthy response to you and then losing it (my response, that is). This time I'll be brief. No pics as you requested, but as a description of my presentation, I can say that I have a large chart conspicuously under the hood. With bullet points like "Rare & Exotic American-Built Luxury Performance Sports Car", "1 of only 14 GT's Built", and stuff like Panoz Motorsports, Engine, Performance, Body & Chassis & Carbon Fiber Superstructure, Suspension, Brakes, Wheels, Tires, Full Provenance on the car, etc.

Then I have a detailed 3-ring binder, with each page inserted in plastic cover sheets. A nice binder cover with logos, etc. Contents such as pictures, more details on the car's many features & options, the Press Release announcing the GT model, the Build Sheet, Sales Brochure, service records, and then several pages about Panox in general (Co history, CarandDriver article from July '01, Panoz Motorsports, Road Atlanta, ALMS, Chateau Elan, etc).

I even wear my Panoz hat and polo shirt.

This is all "very well & good", but I think the issue is not fitting into typical car show judging categories. Any help on that?

The Timing out thing has bit me more than a few times. "%$@)(*$%#!!!!"

I hope others will share about their experiences. The Esperante in the July/01 Car & Driver is my car and I was thinking about enlarging a copy of the cover to a poster board to place with the car. Still gathering my knowledge of the showing routine.

[JPardue]

New Member, an Original Panoz Employee

Hello,

I met Danny Panoz during 1989, and was present for and in the photograph the unveiling of the original protoype of the Panoz Roadster. 125 people attended, mostly automotive press. Danny hired me to design the wiring system for the early Roadsters, and I became part of the original six man team that built those cars. My friend Ray, the 7th Panoz employee, owns the prototype and three of the first serial-numbered Roadsters.

Danny drove the first production Roadster at dawn on a hot Saturday morning. Having stayed there all night working with him to finish it, he came back and made me drive it. I was the second person to ever drive a porduction Panoz auomobile. Thank you Danny.

It is amazing that Danny Panoz was able to start a car company from scratch on the budget he had to work with. Never met anyone that works as hard or believes as strongly in what he is doing. The focus and intensity he has is never written about. Those early cars had the stainless steel chassis and the cast iron 5.0 liter Mustang GT powertrains. Far as I know, its the first car ever sold that passed EPA with glasspacks from the factory.

None of those first ten cars had a top, or an option for one. No heater, no radio, just a defroster, a 5-speed, and a key. I got to drive every one of them, sometimes to shows, for sales, parades, and in the first rally. It brought me to the joy of an automobile - which is driving, hearing the engine purr, seeing the tires turn and experiencing the road.

I built and installed an optional theft-deterrent system on many of the cars, a clever system still in use. When Autoweek put the Roadster on the cover in the early 90's, I bought a box of that issue. Still have 50 copies or more, and if you are trying to show a Panoz you might want one.

Of the original employees, it seems I'm the only one that is a writer. I a have a few photos and some video footage from back then. Recently have wondered if writing a book about those years would be of any interest to the real Panoz fans out there. Commentary welcomed, I have asked some of the guys about a little reunion to relive those days. If it happens, we will videotape it. Not sure where all the original guys are these days.

Danny's father got the first supercharged Roadster. "Vlasic Green" was the color and the SVO engine ran with a monstrous fury. Fitted with a Kenne-Belle blower with welded and smoothed hood blips (aluminum aircraft parts) for clearance, Mike "Crawdad" the body and paint man named it the "Atomic Pickle" after a blast in it.

When Danny pitched building the first Esperante to his father, I used my computer to assemble the inital layout and proposal. Made two copies and I still have one on hand. If you are going to show an Esperante you might email me and see if something of interest is in that book, it reveals of a history and a timeline of the car that is simply not available elsewhere.

Thanks for having me.