This car is the roadgoing version of the Panoz GTR-1 LeMans car, which I also have in my collection. The Panoz family made their money from the pharmaceuticals business, specifically from the time release capsule and transdermal patch drug delivery methods, which they pioneered. There is an interesting Irish connection to the company (for me especially as an Irishman!) in that their pharmaceutical business is Elan Pharmaceuticals which is based in Athlone in central Ireland. When Danny Panoz (son of company founder Don Panoz) became interested in the car business, he bought up the remains of TMC (Thompson Motor Company), which was Ireland's only indigenous car maker (they made a Frank Costin designed sports car which looked like a Caterham 7 with an enclosed passenger cockpit) and which had just folded at the time (the late 1980's). The whole operation was moved from Wexford in Ireland to Atlanta, Georgia, where Panoz cars is now based. The company's Irish roots are represented in the shamrock found on the Panoz badge.
To qualify their GTR-1 race car in the GT1 category at LeMans (now defunct), a roadgoing version had to be made and offered for sale. This car was the result, and it is basically the same as the race car except for a de-tuned Ford V8 (compared to the highly tuned race engine), a luxurious interior and larger rear view mirrors on the doors. The road car also lacks the large rear wing of the race car.
As the asking price was $800,000 few were expected to be sold, and I believe only 2 were made in total. This didn't bother the Panoz company, as they only had to build one roadgoing car and offer it for sale to qualify the race car. This model is of one of the cars complete with a chromatic purple paint job and yellow wheels, while the 2nd car had more conventional metallic gold paint. AUTOart also make the gold roadgoing car in 1:18th.
To my eyes it is an ugly car, but it's shape is dictated by aerodynamics not style. The large capacity Ford V8 is mounted in front, but behind the front axle in a "front-mid engined" layout. The car is rear wheel drive. The rear lights are from a Mazda MX-6, while the distinctive twin front lights are unique to the car.
As expected from AUTOart, this is a fine model which accurately depicts the real car. The interior is realistically done, and the purple paint job is superb. My only dislike on this model is that you have to undo 2 screws front and rear (which are awkwardly placed for the rear body cover) to expose the rear end and the engine up front.
