Panoz

Panoz Auto Development was founded in 1989 by Dan Panoz after he acquired the assets and chassis designs of the Irish-based Thompson Motor Company. The company's first major milestone was the 1992 release of the Panoz Roadster, followed by the 1995 launch of the AIV (Aluminum Intensive Vehicle) Roadster, which was the first American production car to utilize an aluminum-intensive chassis. In 1997, Dan's father, Don Panoz, expanded the brand's reach by entering the company into professional motorsports, leading to significant success in endurance racing, including a GT2 class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006 with the Esperante GTLM. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the company continued to produce limited-run sports cars like the Avezzano and the Abruzzi, while also engaging in experimental projects such as the DeltaWing. Today, Panoz remains a boutique manufacturer focused on bespoke craftsmanship and maintaining its legacy in both the automotive and racing sectors.