2002 Panoz Esperante Prototype Magnussen Drivers Edition.

The first of ten cars produced. Designed as a fast, capable and comfortable road car. 

This car is perfect for the collector putting together a collection of important American sportscars.

Powered by a Ford 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 320hp and 317 lb/ft of torque.

The car uses Panoz designed suspension and damping system allowing for more aggressive driving without compromising the cars everyday drivability.  Built on Panoz’s aluminum space frame chassis with aluminum bodywork.

The Magnussen edition incorporates extensive carbon fiber use creating a monocoque like tub for the passenger cabin, similar to race cars, resulting in greater safety, weight saving and rigidity.

The car is in excellent condition with only 9,000 miles since new. It comes with a full set of factory fitted luggage. Window sticker and copy of the Road and Track road test.

The car is currently available at Rapley Classic Cars in Brookfield, Connecticut.

Back in April 2002 Road and Track did a road test of this very car. Below are excerpts.

Based on a bonded and bolted, multi celled aluminum space-frame chassis, the Magnussen edition Esperante goes a step farther by incorporating carbon-fiber composites in the main cockpit structure and trunk. This preformed assembly is a monocoque-like tub for the passenger cabin, similar to those used in race cars, and helps the chassis to achieve an impressive rigidity. Extending out from the chassis, the fronts upper and lower A arm suspension is located off a steel subframe that also cradles the engine. At the rear another steel subframe holds the fuel cell. It too serves as a mounting point for the rears double A-arm suspension taken from the Mustang Cobra. Panoz engineers designed their own tighter packaged horizontally opposed coil over shocks acting through rockers and pushrods. The rocker geometry simulates a rising rate suspension allowing better compliance under normal use and more aggressive settings for sportier driving. Magnussens suspension specifications call for stiffer spring rates and different rear rockers to make the car handle more like his race car, but not compromising too much on everyday drivability.  BBS LM wheels with a better brake and rotor package are also on the list of improvements for the Drivers edition.

On the outside are sleek Magnussen Red superformed aluminum body panels. More carbon fiber components such as the front chin spoiler, side engine vents and trunk lids rear lip give the car a high-tech racy look. Inside the leather wrapped instrument panel and center consol are also furnished with glossy carbon fiber composite accents complimenting the billet alloy pedals and shifter. Lighter more supportive seats are standard on this Esperante Drivers Edition.

According to Panoz the overall weight savings with the extensive use of carbon-fiber components on the Magnusen Esperante are about 130lbs. So the same 4.6 litre, 320 bhp and 317 lb-ft of torque V8 combined with tighter suspension setup should propel the Drivers Edition ff the line a little quicker and provide better cornering ability than the standard model.  Compared with the standard model the Magnussen Edition rides stiffer on the highway, but not so much to make it uncomfortable for two to three hour stint on the interstate. Surprisingly, top-down cruising at higher speeds generates very little buffeting inside the cockpit, so holding a normal conversation is not a problem. The noise that does come through, however, is a welcome low rumble from the good-ol-American V8. With help from its precise and short throw 5 speed manual transmission, this Georgia built muscle car can speed past slower traffic quickly with its addicting broad powerband.  Of note, the heater was fantastic and worked flawlessly in keeping us warm while the outside temperatures hovered near freezing levels.

Through the winding roads in Washington state, the Magnussen Editions steering feels positive and robust with an appropriate amount of assist and effort. The cars 50/50 weight distribution lets the front wheels do the guiding and keeps its rear in check with ease. Only mild understeer is detected through slower corners. At Bermerton Raceway, which is basically an unused airport, an impromptu racetrack is set up by connecting a series of taxiways. The Magnussen corners with modest roll but confidently grips the concrete and asphalt surfaces. Power on oversteer is easily induced. However, oversteer can also be corrected with throttle modulation and counter steer. Push the car around a long, sweeping corner and it drifts nicely on all four tires as you feed in more power.

Simply put the Esperante Magnussen Edition is a delight to drive!

A few notes on Panoz racing from Wikipedia.
Since 1997, Panoz cars have competed in racing series around the world. Team Panoz Racing race the Panoz Avezzano in the Pirelli GTS class, and in 2018 won the Manufacturer’s Championship. In addition to Le Mans series (Now European Le Mans series) wins, an Esperante GTLM won the GT2 class at the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mansand in the same year, won the 2006 12 Hours of Sebring and was on the podium at the endurance season finale, 2006 Petit Le Mans. For the 2007 American Le Mans season, Panoz contracted longtime BMW Motorsport partner Prototype Technology Group to campaign the GTLM in the ALMS and Le Mans. Panoz has also provided IndyCar with the G-Force GF05 and GF09; and the Champ Car World Series with their final race car, the Panoz DP01 which was the final chassis used under ChampCar until the unification of the American open wheel series in road racing.