1997 Panoz Esperante GTR-1 In Action: Accelerations, OnBoard & 6.0L V8 Engine Sound!

[@robm3534]

Former lead cnc machinist at Panoz here; I helped restore these a few years back and still remember that Roush 6 liter being fired up out back for the first time in forever. Literally gave you goosebumps. Delighted to see them being driven in anger!

[@greezyweezy5836]

Thats so cool man, i grew up watching these cars rip around mosport thanks to my dad always taking me. Was our favorite car by a mile...Truly a beast of a machine to experience. Your one lucky man Sir.

[@MrDAllen1124]

For years, I had no idea what this car actually sounded like. I'm just glad that people finally went back and got the footage that all of us that grew up racing with this car in video games, so desperately needed. Gran Turismo could never....

[@gavedillis2040]

Kudos man. This car was a delight to my 90's adolescent ears. I still seek it out in every sim I run today. Watched, and pulled for you guys with every car. Thanks for the memories!

[@legend-qw2ec]

is panoz selling one of the road version of the car.?

[@painxxxl]

@@legend-qw2ec I heard they are making them on demand for 900k USD...at least they used to back in 2015.

[@jackthomas1959]

The Gray one is straight out of Gran Turismo. What a gem.

[@supercooled]

You do realize Gran TUrismo scanned their cars from real life counterparts, yes?

[@NickG40]

Not exactly the same car though.

[@supercooled]

@@NickG40 When ever possible and apply the same livery. Are we going to split hairs here?

[@antoniotaveira6522]

It was also bundled with rFactor back in the day and it was amazing!!

[@supercooled]

António Taveira oh yeah a game that was ahead of its time. I remember racing those cars with straight cut transmission around the Nurburgring. The sound, the FF was amazing sin that game compared to what was available.

[@neoguaren]

The GT1 class was the pinnacle of motorsport racing. We were living a golden age and we didn't realize :( Great video !

[@cbence96]

Same how we only fully realized the awesomeness of the F1 V10's after the V6Ts were introduced. People only appreciate things once they are gone :)

[@mcarp22]

Perhaps it's because I was 16 at the time, but I knew!

[@stalledrain4093]

Pinnacle of Motorsport? Bit of a bold claim tbf

[@unrealgoat_6878]

StalledRain40 I know right 😂. I would say 70’s 80’s f1, 70’s imsa, group C of course and 70’s 80’s ATCC.

[@HoodOnFire]

ALMS and WSC was the peak for me.

[@the-stig-nickname]

1997. It looks timeless.

[@ventisette.]

The Stig 1990s cars and bikes have mostly aged really well.

[@greatcolor]

The softness in 90's design is more appealing every day when we're drowning in "angry angular" monstrosities. At least late 70's to early 80's angular wasn't obsessed with looking like it wanted to kill you.

[@MrDrBlahh]

Right? If you put more modern headlights(like LED or whatever it is they use nowadays) you could tell people it was made this year and many would believe it.

[@MDDeGrande1994]

I remember drawing the street version of this car (when I was in secondary school) then showing it to one of my friends. He legit thought the car was from 2030 lmao

[@dukenukem6137]

1997? Wow! I though this car was Brand New! Love it! 👍🏻

[@Dashriprock4]

I live near Road Atlanta where the Panoz shop is located. Got to see these monsters quite a bit back in the day. Miss the old GT1 cars greatly.

[@Jefreeman13]

Hey Jeff, hello from Athens👋🏼

[@LukeWhite15]

The Visteon car is giving me deja vu. Can’t remember if it was an old Petit LeMans, or maybe it was at this year’s Mitty. Between these and the old 7 liter Corvettes of that era, I really miss the sounds. They literally shook the ground.

[@MrDrBlahh]

Bet you got to see some cool stuff!

[@michaelpass1831]

Hell yeah. I was at the race debut of the car. I live in winder.

[@brianskibbe7881]

Petit lemans, baby. 2000/2001 races were incredible... All of that music..

[@leejones5026]

Aww brings back memories of Midtown Madness 1 & 2

[@17plus9]

Yes!

[@アマ-p2l]

man I was never even able to get it probably because I was 5 years old and couldn't figure out that you need to slow down for corners and so on

[@christianniederdorfer45]

YESSS!!! i'm not the only one thinking about that! Nostalgia deluxe😅👍👍👍

[@xocoyotl4]

@@アマ-p2l in midtown madness 2 with this car you crashed against the street curbs like if you were crashing against a wall

[@coced]

The good old times of trying(failing) for hours to run over pedestrians

[@CalculatedRiskAK]

This is one of those timeless car designs. Absolutely fantastic.

[@pedrochevez2090]

Ahh yes. Brings back Gran Turismo 3 memories.

[@brandonkim7931]

I remembered being so happy when I was able to buy that car

[@mmatthews61687]

@@brandonkim7931 Me too...and the Escudo Pikes Peak aka the snowplow

[@siktwistofFATE89]

I beat GT3 100% it took forever to just get gold on all the licenses.i broke 2 controllers over that game.i have ptsd about those endurance races.lol

[@happycanayjian1582]

@@siktwistofFATE89 Lmao. Same here, without breaking controllers, though. I remember clearing my schedule on weekends just so I could complete the endurance races. 😂

[@siktwistofFATE89]

@@happycanayjian1582 great times with a great game

[@Rozzado]

I always expected a more Ferrari like sound just looking at this car. But it has such a unique growl to it, aggressive but not loud as all hell. Real clean.

[@turboboy1983]

I watched these cars driven in anger alongside the Porsche, Mclaren, and Mercedes GT1 cars as a kid. Didn’t realize what a special thing I was seeing. I think ‘97 was the year I had the unfortunate opportunity to watch the Gulf-liveried Mclaren F1 burn after a clumsy crash in the rain at Sebring for the 12hr. What a time. Late ‘80s watching the GTP cars hitting 220-230 on the banks of Daytona and bouncing around at Watkins Glenn- ending with this era. This was the end of the truly pure GT racing. I was lucky to have a dad that dragged me around the country to see it all.

[@steveness7909]

I was a guest of Panoz at LeMans in 98 & 99. It was one of the most magical experiences in my life watching these cars race during some of the best years at LeMans with all the manufacturer participation. Still have my black 1997 Panoz Roadster AIV with an Ostrich interior. Great car!!!

[@GTvsForza]

The most brutal sounding V8 I've ever heard :)

[@kierenboimufc5940]

GTvsForza Aston Martin Amr-1 group c ?

[@GTvsForza]

@@kierenboimufc5940 That one too :)

[@hunterwashington8893]

Nah guys, that title goes to the Sauber-Mercedes C11 haha

[@kierenboimufc5940]

Hunter Washington you ain’t got a clue then mate

[@kierenboimufc5940]

So what about a judd v8

[@Loulovesspeed]

I used to love seeing Panoz machines at Lime Rock Park in the days. You could always pick up on their great sound before you could even see the car on the main straight. The fact that they had big, potent Ford engines didn't hurt either! RIP Don and thanks for the great memories.

[@crashbandicootnerd4321]

Serious Gran Turismo 4 vibes here.

[@jalenad11]

I saw it first on Gran Turismo 3 on ps2 foreeeever ago.

[@niko1600]

@@MrCatseyes01 do you have to be like this

[@divecolosio4988]

Plays Eddie Van Halen - Panama

[@mro9466]

PGR3 too !

[@albedo9127]

There's something oddly satisfying about hearing one of your Le Mans childhood Heroes perform such a nice concert on 8 Cylinders in a duett. Thank you very much for making this video!

[@bogthing1]

Ah, long live the front engine coupe. The local legend, The Batmobile. Still one of my all-time favorites.

[@mattp3792]

My father got a job as a fabricator at Panoz in 98. I grew up with the GTR-1, esperante, and roadsters. Ive ridden in the only street legal version and loved every minute of it. I love running into someone with an esperante on the street and getting them to open the hood so i can show them my fathers name on the engine plate. I wish the company hadnt got the way they did with the LMP cars and the delta, but Panoz will always be very special to me.

[@CascadeFreak]

My favourite car in PGR4. What a beast.

[@Talon173]

I can’t thank you enough for this video. I was around as a kid when these raced....and along with the f1 GTR ponytail they were my favourite cars. Great to see them back on track and hopefully il see them racing in historics one day. What Dr Don did with these cars, the LMP version and forming the ALMS was incredible

[@fabulousfilou7235]

I love how dirty it runs in low revs. Just an angry racecar engine. And the pushrods over the transmission in the back just looks funky. I love it!

[@Mastermindthreethousand]

Bozzy, thank you 🙏. Wonderful to hear that brute again. And to see them Panoz overtake a Viper... how nostalgic is that 👌❤️

[@demondave1576]

That Onboard Part of the Video! Ohh man that was great! 😀👍 Brings back GT3 Memories a wonderful Game 😁

[@stalledrain4093]

Such a legendary man. Don Panoz. 🙏🏼🙏🏼 I was at Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans in 2018 when they paid tribute to him. Love the design of these things.

[@davidlundmark9359]

*Midtown Madness 1 & 2!!* Wow it even sounds like how I remember it in the game! 0:23

[@ivanleal4432]

It's the exact same barking engine sound as in the menu! This car was great in the game :) except for going over sidewalks, it was too low.

[@mertcanuruni863]

Memories that idle sound good old days.. 😌😌

[@pitbullpunk100]

Ja🇩🇪

[@juleslacrapule]

Straight cut gears sound never gets old!

[@whtlightnn]

My Favorite era of GT1....favorite car! Saw in in your video a couple weeks back, thanks for the compilation!

[@whtlightnn]

see also that Red/White/Blue Chrysler Viper ; )

[@maxbrandt6]

Listen deep, that is music no electric car could ever produce!

[@williamford9564]

I saw the Visteon car at the Watkins Glen 6 hours. The throaty roar of the engine was breathtaking. VERY different from the high pitched tones of the Ferraris.

[@jessetz]

Ooh, I remember this car from Midtown Madness! Can't believe it's been 20 years since then

[@ultrasonidoymedicina]

We all spent hours and hours of fun in Gran Turismo with this great machine!! Thanks a lot for this video and congrats!!! Merry Christmas from Yucatán!!

[@snoopdutt1985]

My all time favourite race car. What a noise. I was at Donnington 1998 as a 12 year old and remember the feeling of it literally sucking the air out of my lungs as it went past. Never mind what it did to your ears!

[@tropixx_xlr1549]

This vehicle will always be a masterpiece! And I wish we could get another original design just like it!

[@donniemarks94]

Amazing Ford v8 sound

[@BDR_Photo]

Best video you've uploaded. Yes, I am biased. Panoz is my favorite GT1 car and top 5 favorite all around. I am so happy you captured this amazing footage of these cars. I got to see one of them at Petit 2018 but it wasn't pushed like these guys are doing here.

[@temkki]

My first memory of this car in a video game is the game "Midtown Madness" and the sound was awesome back then :P Edit: This sound still gives me chills! Love it! :)

[@plamenantonov9366]

I know this car from the game Total Immersion Racing from 2003

[@kristiansand2480]

I can't believe how accurately they recreated the engine sound in that game. The car idling in this video sounds almost exactly the same as in MM.

[@zekkai1005]

The Big Daddy of GT Racing, absolute beast of a car! That car literally is an earthquake, it shakes everything and makes your body feel the vibrations of that V8 engine!!! A BEAST!!

[@fontheking5]

That sounds and look fantastic, these Panoz cars were always some of the meanest looking and sounding cars on the grid :)

[@jamesprew789]

Brings back memories of going to watch racing with my dad and hearing that v8 blow by, the best times

[@djibrilsissokho9387]

R.I.P Don Panoz 😭😭😭

[@Legend-lc9bv]

Are you ok?

[@djibrilsissokho9387]

@@Legend-lc9bv Don Panoz He's dead in 2018 the creator the Panoz brand

[@Legend-lc9bv]

@@djibrilsissokho9387 suck it up

[@DontAttme]

Kamar wow you're edgy, have some respect you dust mite.

[@Legend-lc9bv]

@@DontAttme ok termite

[@MDDeGrande1994]

My absolute no. 1 all-time favorite. Glad this machine is getting more and more recognition nowadays.

[@budyeddi5814]

Well done Bozzy!! I loved watching this beast race when I was a kid. It was one of my fav GT1 cars. Also liking the pit action as well 👌 Keep up the great work 👏

[@helmutquad1960]

Hi , I have two of these legendary Panoz Esperante GTR in 1/18 Scale Die Casts. Amazing models and also seen in real. Tremendous sound, heavier than on TV. Amazing style of these race cars. Pove these a little more than the open ones that followed a little later. Nice that you thankfully showed this video ! Greetings and best wishes from Germany!

[@_JimS]

I'll never forget watching and feeling one of these monsters at Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course for an American LeMans series race in the mid-2000's. It was the red livery with the Robert Yates engines and open cockpit that just thumped the hell out of your chest when it went by......what a feeling!!!

[@darkpit1303]

Midtown Madness really nailed the sound

[@MDDeGrande1994]

rFactor as well.

[@TheEvil909295]

Sports Car GT best Game ever

[@saablife6009]

I've always said that but never knew anybody else who as played it

[@veiculosnaweb9556]

same here!

[@bicyclist2]

It just goes to show that you don't need a mid-engined chassis to be competitive in motorsport. I absolutely adore the looks. I with they made a road going version. I also remember this from Gran Turismo as well. Thank you.

[@RACECAR]

They built 2 just to satisfy the rules (pretty much identical to the race cars sans the rear wing, different mirrors and leather upholstry) but last I remember from 2016, Panoz were actually willing to build you one if you wanted.

[@nekozabuza]

The audio from that in care footage is just......orgasmic.

[@RE-RotaryExperiment]

I'm an absolute Rotar Head but I will respect a stonk V8 when I see one. What an amazing video. The only thing I missed was the smell. That in car footage was bliss. Even when the driver missed the gear. Truly appreciate this stunning machinery. What a sound. What pace. Superb 😎

[@timb9322]

Ah man! I used to watch this car rip around Road Atlanta back in the day! Loved watching this thing scream. Thanks for posting!

[@WETiLAMBY]

it just looks like a car that should sound like that, its like someone with a face that matches their voice perfectly, satisfying

[@IceKoldKilla19]

Midtown Madness 2 introduced me to this (10 year old at the time)

[@Bazzemboi]

I was 5 at the time. Can't believe time is that fast

[@joshhayesksu]

Finally a clear video of this beautiful beast. I drive it all the time in project cars 2. The 90's was great decade in my opinion of GT cars.

[@lemondorkhead]

My first ever race was at Portland International Raceway for the American Le Mans Series. Seeing these beasts in person is amazing. I remember scoring the hot wheels models at the track, both the hard top and the open top versions. Amazing cars

[@rparello]

Many people dream about Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but THIS is my real dream car. It's like a love child of a Batmobile and a first generation Dodge Viper, with the sound of a dozen angry lions. Pure perfection.

[@apancher]

This is one of the most delightfully brutal engines I've ever had the joy of hearing.

[@haxicgamerhun]

Liked when you played with Panoz Esperante in Sports Car GT

[@arjanarendsen5414]

kapitány pancser Scrolled way to far for this comment

[@rsajay6256]

Yep, this was my lap record car. My best mate and I would have our own 6 hour endurance events, taking turns in the car while the other made food or coffee... we had a serious problem now that I think about it LOL

[@GT_Racer347]

I miss that! Screaming down the front stretch at Daytona during the Rolex 24... Or Road America. Uff da

[@BLMrappar]

Midtown Madness made me love this car

[@MDDeGrande1994]

Same here

[@kushagrragkalra1645]

Same

[@jareddavis8480]

Same

[@dennyardiansyah2369]

11:06 that downshift! ☺️☺️☺️

[@TomDeWeerdt1]

Finally some good footage of this beast!

[@mikoajjaros3570]

This idle sound is satisfying

[@jas_1959]

Absolute Beast !!! These cars were manufactured in the area were I live Braselton G.A. Pure power.

[@Jefreeman13]

Hey Jim, hello from Athens👋🏼

[@hansgeorgschwarz1664]

That was the only car i could identify by the sound from the parking lot when visiting the 1998 GT Race at the Hockenheim Ring.

[@markpenman1]

I’ve been looking forward to this video since 1997! My ears never recovered from seeing/hearing them at LeMans!

[@Nervosooo13]

Project Cars 2 have this car (as a DLC), and the sound of this car is orgasmic! V8 modafocaaa!!!!!

[@supercooled]

I thought you said organic prompting me to think you must be chewing kale and cooking quinoa in the kitchen.

[@manasseh2577]

Car has aged very well. The design still looks astonishing for a 1997 car. GT1 was a hell of an era.. Shame I was too young to truly remember it. All I have is videos to watch of this era. Also, I'm kinda impressed by how close PD got the engine note to match on Gran Turismo 3. Wasn't spot on, but for a 2001 PS2 game, they did pretty good looking at it now.

[@TimmyTantrum]

I've waited so long... My favorite racecar of all time!

[@AkinaMic]

Cool! Yes, I also met this car in the game Gran Turismo 4, this is a car - I remembered my exhaust sound and good handling. It was nice to watch the video, thanks!

[@wesleyrivera192]

Been awhile since I've seen any new videos on this car. Glad to see it still around :D

[@Paronak]

Midnight Madness vibes, hell yeah 😎

[@AeRiaL_]

Still play that game to this day, MM2 is amazing.

[@TimW576]

You mean Midtown Madness? MM2 was my jam

[@daveshively3295]

I saw one at Laguna Seca. I was on the front strait and could easily hear it goin' decelerate for the corkscrew and then get back on it for Rainey....badass!

[@matthewweste1233]

really love your work man - doing a super job - love my cars.

[@joe2788]

The greatest video on the net

[@texleeger8973]

One thing wrong with a Panoz GTR-1. They should have been louder. Don Panoz was a genius. PS I saw the roadster version (LMP-1) race at Trois Rivieres. Indelible sounds and visions. Man, you could stand right next to that track. It seems one could nearly touch the cars as they streamed by just before the main straight.

[@mattseamarks4843]

Have seen both of these at the Leman Classic! That noise is amazing!

[@Zofsm]

I was at the Le Mans 24hr in 1997. Didn’t get a wink of sleep until the last Panoz broke down.

[@zachogdahl210]

Sports car GT ftw. the sim that made me fall in love with motorsports and racing

[@mishalmohamed8789]

Gotta say, Angel Studios did really nail the sound for Midtown Madness! the idling sound does pretty much sound exactly in the game iirc

[@giansdiecasts]

That shot of the Panoz flying past the GT40… chills!!

[@texleeger8973]

I saw the next iteration, Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S, up close and personal at the ALMS 2002 Trois-Rivieres race, a 1.521-mile eleven-turn street course. [See link below.] It was sort of a crappy course and no big time racing series visit now, but one could get up close and personal to the catch fences as the cars swept by not more than four feet away. In hindsight,this was probably much, much too close by current safety standards. My fav was turn 11 whereby cars entered the home straightaway and pits, standing so close with fingers through the catch fence mesh as cars braked, entered, and exited the turn. My god, the Panoz! The Panoz! So very true: that 6.0 liter/366 ci engine shook the bones and rattled ear drums. C'est formidable! Alas, the LMP-1 really could not compete with the Audi R8s and they were relegated to 4th and 6th. Yes, I do concur. The roadster is not the true legend, the GTR-1 "Batmobile." Just the next best thing. :) PS I have the GTR-1 in metal model form. I dream of driving it. Saving Gotham City from Ferraris and Corvettes. zoompics.com/2002al3r.htm

[@MrDaviddannunzio]

You can go see them at the Panoz museum/factory outside Atlanta - open every weekend.

[@pro-seriesfabrication3810]

You can still come by during the week as well =)

[@meebs99]

Man, I remember this when I first started getting interested in sports car racing... 1998? Back when we had the Speedvision TV channel in the states that showed all sorts of racing. I miss those days.

[@JaredR1996]

What a glorious sounding V8 ❤️❤️❤️. Thanks Bozzy 👍

[@mrthunder8190]

Yeah, watching these cars race against the other GT-1 cars of the late 90's: Mercedes, Porsche, BMW...Absolutely some of the greatest race cars for looks, sound. Great racing - always rooted for the American V-8!

[@ricardotelles3925]

OMG!!! Ty ty ty for sharing this with us!

[@Kamukix]

Man I miss these glorious machines, always loved the Panoz cars 👌👌👌

[@cupidstunt22]

If this was the last thing I ever heard I’d be a happy man

[@bradleyland]

What an absolutely beautiful and furious piece of machinery.

[@getinit56]

"The Batmobile" Front/Mid Engine. I live 30 mins away from where these were built. I knew many that worked on these as well as many others at Elan Composites. For years, the road car version of this car sit in an unmarked, unassuming garage with showroom windows beside the track. I never seen the place open or anyone there. I used to drive by there and just stop and stare at it through the window. It was mystic blue, with tan leather interior. I watched them race as well, and I will always have a special place for a Panoz, but seeing this great video makes me wonder where that road legal car is these days. I'd dare say that there can't be more than 2 of them in the world. That blue car may be the only one, I dunno.

[@EmperorXaozx]

Panoz has the 1st and supposedly only road legal iteration. It's mostly on showroom display with green/yellow changing paint.

[@getinit56]

@@EmperorXaozx Its mystic. Like the Mystic Cobra, Ford had about the same time. In regular light its bluish green. Low light its blue. It does change with the light. Ive looked at it many times.

[@pro-seriesfabrication3810]

Panoz still has the road legal GTR-1. 1089 highway 124 in Hoschton, GA

[@mike-js1jj]

I remember watching these racing in 1998 at the Daytona 24 chasing down the Porsche GT's at night. The sound and the sparks !

[@NotDaender]

I love how a GT1 race car has the tail lights off a Mazda MX-6. Damn, they sound WAY better than they do in GT4!

[@mmatthews61687]

Love that long hood, such an amazing looking and sounding car!

[@zetsuei53]

Growing up, I had the 1/64 Hot Wheels car, and I never would have guessed that's what it would sound like... What a unique-looking beauty of a machine

[@angus3963]

Seen this bad boy in person when it was brand new, still sounds amazing!

[@brianfriday1422]

Music to my ears

[@Gojira_uz]

Man, Gran Turismo 3 had the right idea with the sound design of this car. Even in that game it sounded brutal as hell!

[@neiki5]

Saw the Beast in spa, the sound is straight from hell

[@jdmaine51084]

I saw the Panoz race at the 6 Hours of the Glen back when it was still the WSC series... now its IMSA, I think? Anyone - it was awesome to watch. Those cars are the best... Gianpiarro Moretti racing that killer Ferrari 333SP... SO GOOD!

[@Pandamasque]

Well done on capturing this rare bird!

[@andrewgillis8572]

Rear quarter view & that teardrop window frame - resembles Talbot-Lago!!!! - but with up-curves, not down-curves - fantastico!!!! And OMG BBoz, the sound, & indeed faster shifting than the next-gruntiest, the Sauber C-11