How many cars were made????

[Dawgfan]

I have been told that the total number of Panoz cars(GTRA,GTWC&GTS)is around 200. That would include the cars that went to Texas, Sebring and Raod Atlanta. If that is infact the number why are ours cars not more of a collectors item and why are they not worth more than I see them bring when put up for sale? I personally feel that until you drive one you don't know what you are missing. I will say this, the cars are not cheap to run. Other than that the only other thing is it is not easy to find a class to run in and be competitive in.

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by Dawgfan

why are ours cars not more of a collectors item and why are they not worth more than I see them bring when put up for sale? I personally feel that until you drive one you don't know what you are missing. I will say this, the cars are not cheap to run. Other than that the only other thing is it is not easy to find a class to run in and be competitive in.

Interesting question. Perhaps it is because the car is a bit of a class "orphan" in the States? If the car was a full on GT2 contender at national level this would help. Perhaps it is time for GT2 Panoz runners to lobby Panoz to introduce and get some mods homolgated that would make the car truly competitive. I dont and wont pretend to understand the Stateside rules/classes but I think this is what I would do if I was a Panoz runner over there.

Not an issue for me at present as my focus is on endurance. Outside this though there are other classes that the car can be run in very competitively. Given this I expect healthy resale value as/when the time comes.

Kel.

[eric1h]

They don't fetch more for sale because people sell them cheaply... People get the idea in their heads that we all paid 15k for our cars, and now we want 25k.... Not taking into account what the cars are ACTUALLY worth. The cars are worth much more from a performance/value stand point, but people get hasty and give them Away too cheaply.... We see 80k GTS selling for 25k 2-3 years later... Sad!

Moral to this story... Go out , be competitive, and if You sell, REQUIRE top dollar! If we all stick together Then we can raise the price! :-)

[Dawgfan]

I would agree with you assesment. My GTS Car is very well equiped and I feel as safe in it as any car I have ever seen on the track. Again, I will say that the people who have never driven a Panoz don't know what they are missing. I was told that they were around 200 made in all class and I figure there can't be over 100 to 125 left in service. I know of 3 that are in pieces or totaled completely out just in the NE Georgia area.

[boothkc]

Well for one thing you can get a very nice GTA car going for $10-20k. My mechanic, who has been working on our 2 GTS cars for 4 yrs, thinks we are nuts for not dumping them and getting into something more competitive and cheaper to run.

There was good hope for the GTS in GT2 until Joel (?last name) left Panoz and all upgrades stopped. We need 500+hp, better brake cooling, front and rear diffuser, 11-12" rubber, adjustable wing, etc to even start to be competitive with the 996 Cup cars. It is hard enought just to get parts out of Panoz now, but maybe something to consider asking them about. Would have to come from the "factory" and move throught the SCCA.

We should compile a list of basic upgrades and see what they would consider supporting.

Kevin

[panozracing]

Kevin, dead on. I agree. I will help. Let's try something with PAD. It would be great to get them behind some upgrades. First step ideas?

[boothkc]

Brian,
I'll give Panoz a call and see what their interest is? Can you and others make a list of the top 3-4 things we should try for? We have some SCCA connections locally and I'll investigate the process, but I'm nearly certain it would require support from PAD.

Perhaps a local shop could fabricate the diffusers and sell them to PAD for distribution. I also wonder if there are any production ones (maybe off the Viper) that could be used to modify.

For the engines, I think any 351W that dyno's <500hp and <450 torque (or something like this) with stock carb, heads, manifold and headers would be a start. Would need to create some specifics to make sure there weren't big loopholes. PAD would also need to be able to deliver new cars to meet the specs. I doubt they sell any sealed motors anymore so maybe there would be support.

Worth a call.

What do we need this year 3 or 4 most important things? My list is 50hp, better brake ducts (also any pad choice), front and rear splitters.

Kevin

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by boothkc

Brian,
I'll give Panoz a call and see what their interest is? Can you and others make a list of the top 3-4 things we should try for? We have some SCCA connections locally and I'll investigate the process, but I'm nearly certain it would require support from PAD.

Perhaps a local shop could fabricate the diffusers and sell them to PAD for distribution. I also wonder if there are any production ones (maybe off the Viper) that could be used to modify.

For the engines, I think any 351W that dyno's <500hp and <450 torque (or something like this) with stock carb, heads, manifold and headers would be a start. Would need to create some specifics to make sure there weren't big loopholes. PAD would also need to be able to deliver new cars to meet the specs. I doubt they sell any sealed motors anymore so maybe there would be support.

Worth a call.

What do we need this year 3 or 4 most important things? My list is 50hp, better brake ducts (also any pad choice), front and rear splitters.

Kevin

Kevin,
based on NZ experiences with trying to keep up with 996 GT3 Cup Cars (and knowing that 997 Cup Cars are 2 seconds faster again at my local track) my thoughts for upgrading the GTS as follows;

1. AFR 205cc, Edelbrock Victor or Brodix 210cc cylinder heads,
2. Hyd roller or solid roller cam with around 240 inlet and 248 exhaust duration @ .050",
3. 4" brake hoses with modified ducts at disc to direct cooling air over wider disc area,
4. Upgraded front pad material with matching rear pad material upgrade.
5. Front splitter with integrated flat bottom and rear diffuser (needs to be an integrated design if it is to work well),
6. Raised rear wing position with provision for changing wing angle of attack (may be worth looking at changing wing profile for more efficient design),
7. 18 x 11" front rims and 18 x 12" rears.

This should cover the speed of a 996 GT3 Cup Car but would still not take a 997 on my local track as I think more hp again would be required (more like 600hp at my local track which is a very fast average speed track = 170kph+ average speed at 997 Cup Car lap times). 996/997 Cup Cars's in my view are very efficient with thier hp and can generate very good end of straight speed due high entry speeds and gearing/aero efficiency.

Another potentially worthwhile mod would be ability to "face plate" modify the TKO600 trans as this would speed shifts and aid reliability by eliminating the synchro's.

Thoughts?

Kel.