Let’s say you had plenty of money, loved racing, and weren’t satisfied with the options out there regarding fast, minimalist automobiles.  If you were Don Panoz and his son Dan, then you would dive headfirst into the world of automobile production.  A near-perfect example of one of their most famous products is this 1998 Panoz AIV Roadster for sale on eBay in Medina, Ohio.  Bathed in gorgeous Cabernet Red, this roadster is one of the only 234 Aluminum Intensive Vehicles built by the company.  With a 4.6-liter Mustang Cobra engine under the hood and a scant 7,074 miles on the odometer, this full-fender collectible is sitting at a high bid of $25,100 with a Buy It Now price of $44,990.  Is this the seldom-seen sports car worth that kind of money 26 years after it was built?

So how does one come up with enough money to make some sound investments, lease and own a handful of famous racetracks, and open a car company?  Don Panoz was the guy who led the research group that invented the transdermal patch.  These patches gained notoriety as an aid to help people quit smoking, but they have a multitude of other medical applications.  Panoz made a lot of money off this invention and began to diversify his assets and make investments in racing-related ventures.  One of them was his son Dan’s company called Panoz Automobile Development.

It was this company that made the curvy roadster you see here.  Manufactured from 1996 through 1999 in Braselton, Georgia (home of then Panoz Properties Road Atlanta and Chateau Elan Winery and Resort), these revolutionary vehicles were built around an extruded aluminum space frame, and the body panels were attached using advanced adhesives.  Ford Mustang Cobra 4.6-liter engines which featured aluminum blocks and heads, powered the car.  Aluminum made up 70% of the vehicle.  Hence the name Aluminum Intensive Vehicle.

The car you see here is a great example of this revolutionary automobile.  As it sits, there are 7,074 miles on the odometer.  The narrow seats and body combined with a center tunnel that is a bit obtrusive remind one of the interior of a Lotus Seven.  As both are built for the unhinged pursuit of speed and ride on a backbone chassis, comparisons are appropriate.  In contrast to the Lotus would be the inclusion of a full leather interior, air conditioning, and AM/FM/CD entertainment system.  Add to those niceties a full set of gauges lifted from the Mustang parts shelf and burled walnut trim.

Under the hood is the previously mentioned 4.6-liter double overhead cam Mustang V-8.  This engine was rated at 305 horsepower and 300 ft.-lbs. of torque.  While those aren’t jaw-dropping numbers today, bear in mind the power-to-weight ratio.  Due to the abundance of aluminum, this car weighs a scant 2,570 lbs.  For comparison, a 1998 Mustang GT weighed in at 3,227 lbs.  That power was pushed through a Tremec T45 five-speed transmission and out to a Ford-provided rear end.  Stopping power was handled by disc brakes at all four corners.  Roush provided the tool kit and the wheels for these cars as well.

While you don’t have to have nicotine patch money to purchase a used Panoz, it certainly would help.  While these exceptionally well-engineered sports cars certainly provide a lot of speed and handling for the price, the price is stiff for a car not many have even heard of.  However, the love of speed has been known to make people open their wallets wide for lesser automobiles.  This one will surely find the perfect home soon.