Overview
The Panoz Esperante is a hand-built American sports car produced in Braselton, Georgia by Panoz LLC. Founded by Dan Panoz in 1989, the company has raced at Le Mans and carries genuine GT endurance racing heritage.
Panoz is one of very few manufacturers building sports cars from scratch in the United States — making every Avezzano a genuinely American vehicle.
2026 Trims & Pricing
Contact Panoz LLC at panoz.com for current pricing and availability.
Full Specs
| Spec | Panoz Esperante |
|---|---|
| Built | Braselton, Georgia |
| Layout | Front-Engine, RWD |
| Engine | Ford-sourced V8 |
| Price | Historical |
| Founded | 1989 |
Powertrain
Ford 4.6L V8 produced 305-310 hp in the Esperante. Aluminum space frame and plastic body panels kept weight low for the era.
Panoz uses proven Ford V8 engines — providing long-term reliability backed by the world's largest Ford service network.
Construction
The Esperante competed in the American Le Mans Series and GT class racing, earning Panoz significant motorsport credentials.
Panoz LLC is one of the very few American sports car manufacturers still building vehicles in the United States.
Panoz Heritage
Panoz LLC was founded by Dan Panoz in 1989 in Braselton, Georgia. Panoz has competed at Le Mans since the 1990s — one of the most successful American manufacturers in GT class endurance racing.
Panoz has raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans multiple times, earning GT class results that give the Avezzano genuine motorsport provenance.
Reliability
Reliability data from Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and NHTSA.
| Area | Rating | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford V8 Engine | ★★★★☆ | Good | Ford-sourced — proven reliability |
| Build Quality | ★★★★☆ | Good | Hand-assembled quality |
| Overall | ★★★☆☆ | Limited Data | Very small production volume |
Check consumerreports.org and nhtsa.gov before purchasing.
Recalls
Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Updates
Pros & Cons
✓ 430 hp hand-built Georgia sports car
✓ Panoz Le Mans GT racing heritage
✓ Aluminum space frame — advanced for era
✓ Hand-built American sports car
✓ Strong collector appeal
✗ Very limited production
✗ No longer in production — collector market only
✗ Limited parts and service network
✗ 305 hp modest by today's standards
FAQ
AmericanCarBrands.com is independent. Prices March 2026.