USA · Launched 1996; 1997 production-year example

Panoz AIV Roadster

Panoz rebuilt its small roadster around bonded aluminum and paired the lighter structure with Ford's new four-cam Cobra V8.

Sports cars

Exterior view · Photo shows Exact AIV Roadster identity, but source explicitly identifies a 1998 car rather than 1997.. Exact AIV Roadster identity, but source explicitly identifies a 1998 car rather than 1997.
1997 USA Panoz AIV Roadster · Valder137 · CC BY 2.0

Auction-based estimated value

Research pending

A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.

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A place in vehicle history

More than a set of wheels.

Dan Panoz's first production Roadster used a stainless-steel tube frame and a 5.0-litre Ford V8. Development of its replacement began in 1994. The AIV launched in 1996 with an extruded-aluminum spaceframe, a longer wheelbase, a wider track and the all-aluminum 4.6-litre engine from the SVT Mustang Cobra. This profile represents the same early AIV in the 1997 production year.

Look a little closer.

AIV is not an engine code: it stands for Aluminum Intensive Vehicle, describing the car's structure and body strategy.

Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.

The name describes an engineering programme

Panoz replaced the earlier roadster's stainless-steel tube structure with extruded aluminum sections arranged around a central backbone. The company calls the result America's first Aluminum Intensive production vehicle. The label matters because this is not simply an old Roadster with a larger engine; the chassis, dimensions, suspension and cabin equipment were all reworked together.

Source: Panoz · The Panoz Roadster and How It Came Into Existence ↗

A modern Cobra heart changed the roadster's character

The donor engine came from the 1996 SVT Mustang Cobra, where Ford's new aluminum 4.6-litre V8 used dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Ford rated it at 305 hp and 300 lb-ft. Panoz says the change brought roughly 100 more horsepower than the previous Roadster while the new AIV chassis also added independent suspension at all four corners.

Source: Ford Media · 50 Years of Ford Mustang Milestones ↗

Where these facts come from

Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-02.

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