Last update January 9, currently 24 models in this collection
Don Panoz (born Panunzio) was a successful entrepreneur who founded Panoz Motorsports in 1997. He immediately entered his cars for the Le Mans 24-hour race. Soon after he founded the American Le Mans Series and bought Road Atlanta which became the home of the Petit Le Mans race. His cars were powered by American Ford V8 engines. This is also the case with Saleen, Steve Saleen was well known as Ford Mustang tuner. in 2000 he launched the S7, a mid-engined sports car that was successful in GT racing.
GTR-1 (1997 & 1998)
1997 Le Mans 24h, Panoz GTR-1. The Panoz GTR-1 is developed by Reynard. It is completely different from other GT1 cars; the big normally aspirated Ford V8 is situated behind the front axle and in front of the cockpit. In 1997 it is not yet up to the speed of the McLarens and Porsches, neither is its reliability. This is the DAMS entered car, it retired just as both David Price entered Panoz’.
#52 Franck Lagorce (F) / Eric Bernard (F) / Jean-Christophe Bouillon (F) – DNF
DAMS Panoz GTR-1 – 6.0 liter Ford / Roush – V8 90º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 950 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. (Reynard) #06
- ONYX Le Mans Collection XLM 99050 (diecast)
1998 Le Mans 24h, Panoz GTR-1. The 1998 version has much improved since last year and the sister car #45 reached a nice 7th place in Le Mans. The #44 retired with a broken gearbox. Both cars were entered by French DAMS team. The roar of the Ford V8 is intense; as it came past the grandstand you could ‘feel the sound’, for me one of the many highlights of my first Le Mans 24h visit.
#44 Eric Bernard (F) / Christophe Tinseau (F) / Johnny O’Connell (USA) – DNF
#45 David Brabham (AUS) / Andy Wallace (GB) / Jamie Davies (GB) – DNF
DAMS Panoz GTR-1 – 6.0 liter Ford / Roush – V8 90º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 950 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. (Reynard) #06 & #07
- ONYX Le Mans Collection XLM 99034 & XLM 99035 (diecast)
1998 Le Mans 24h, Panoz GTR-1 hybrid. Long before the Prius would become a sales hit, Panoz already raced an hybrid electric car. The revolutionary Panoz GTR-1 hybrid drove the pre-qualifying at Le Mans and managed 31st, enough to be allowed to race. Panoz however withdrew the car before the big race. It was entered again at Petit Le Mans later in ’98 where it finished 2nd in GT1. Hybrids would return to Le Mans in 2012 and by no have become the standard in sports car racing and Formula 1.
#46 James Weaver (GB) / Perry McCarthy (GB) – prequalifying 31st
David Price Panoz GTR-1 – 6.0 liter Ford / Roush – V8 90º, approx. 600 hp + Zytek hybrid 150 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1100 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. (Reynard) #Q09
- STARTER kit (resin)
1998 ALMS Ohio, Panoz GTR-1. The Panoz GTR-1 participates in the last year of the United States Road Racing Championship, that would change into Grand-Am in 1999. Next year the Panoz’ will race in the American Le Mans Series, a cooperation of Don Panoz and the ACO. On the short American tracks the Panoz is always a contender because of its engine power and torque. Brabham and Wallace compete in the race at Mid-Ohio and finish 3rd behind two Riley & Scott prototypes.
#4 David Brabham (AUS) / Andy Wallace (GB) – 3rd
DAMS Panoz GTR-1 – 6.0 liter Ford / Roush – V8 90º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 950 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. (Reynard) #08
- AUTOART 69852 (diecast)
LMP-1 Roadster S & LMP07 (1999 – 2003)
1999 Le Mans 24h, Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. The GT1 category didn’t exit anymore in 1999. Panoz had the choice to adjust their cars to GTP regulations or develop a new car that fitted LMP1. Panoz did the last. The front-engined layout was retained, the V8 engine was developed by Élan Motorsport Technologies, which was also owned by Don Panoz and built the actual cars as well. The speed was there; qualifying 5th and finishing 7th in a strong year was good.
#11 David Brabham (AUS) / Eric Bernard (F) / Butch Leitzinger (USA) – 7th
Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S – 6.0 liter Ford / Élan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. #01
- ONYX XLM 99033 (diecast)
2000 Le Mans 24h, Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. No less than five Panoz’ from three different teams competed in this year’s Le Mans. This Danish car entered by the team of John Nielsen makes it to the finish, but in such a big distance that it was not classified. All others finish as well, and in better positions.
#10 John Nielsen (DK) / Klaus Graf (D) / Mauro Baldi (I) – DNC
Den Bla Avis Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S – 6.0 liter Ford / Élan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. #02
- ONYX XLM 99036 (diecast)
2000 Le Mans 24h, Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. The #11 is the fastest of the works cars with a strong line-up of drivers: Brabham, Magnussen and Andretti. Unfortunately it finishes only 15th, the slower teammates with the #12 car do much better: 5th overall.
#11 David Brabham (AUS) / Jan Magnussen (DK) / Mario Andretti (USA) – 15th
#12 Johnny O’Connell (USA) / Hiroki Katoh (J) / Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F) – 5th
Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S – 6.0 liter Ford / Élan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. #04 & #05
- ONYX XLM 99037 & XLM 99040 (diecast)
2000 Le Mans 24h, Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. Japanese Team Goh entered 2 teams with a Japanese driver line-up. They do very well and finish 6th and 8th.
#22 Keiichi Tsuchiya (J) / Masahiko Kondo (J) / Akira Iida (J) – 8th
#23 Toshio Suzuki (J) / Masahiko Kageyama (J) / Masami Kageyama (J) – 6th
Team Goh Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S – 6.0 liter Ford / Élan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. #03 & #06
- ONYX XLM 99048 & XLM99053 (diecast)
2001 Sebring 12h, Panoz LMP07. The LMP07 was designed as successor of the LMP-1 Roadster. The concept was still the same with its front mounted engine. The engine however was a lighter and much compacter 4-liter V8, designed by Élan Motorsport Technologies. This gave the LMP07 a lower center of gravity and better aerodynamics. So in theory it was an improvement, but It didn’t work out very well. At Sebring and Le Mans the car retired, a 6th place in a ELMS race at Donington was the best result achieved. Before the season was over, Panoz turned to an evo-version of their old LMP-1.
#50 David Brabham (AUS) / Jan Magnussen (DK) – DNF
Panoz LMP07 Roadster S – 4.0 liter Élan – V8 90º, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Élan #02
- SPARK SCPZ03 (resin)
2002 Sebring 12h, Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. This old Panoz LP-1 was turned into a B24 bomber from WWII. Gunnar Racing always puts a lot of effort in special liveries and did this because of the 50th anniversary of Sebring, once Hendricks Airfield, a B24 base.
#00 Gunnar Jeannette (USA) / Wayne Jackson (USA) / Chad Block (USA) – DNF
Gunnar Racing Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S – 6.0 liter Ford / Élan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. #01
- ACTION PERFORMANCE AC4 028800 limited 1344 pcs (diecast)
2002 Le Mans 24h, Panoz LMP-1 evo. After the LMP07 failed to perform, Don Panoz took the good old LMP-1 again. He built an evolution version of it with some different aerodynamics but with the old 6-liter Ford V8. This car managed to push the Audi’s in the American Le Mans Series but not in Le Mans.
#11 David Brabham (AUS) / Jan Magnussen (DK) / Brian Herta (USA) – DNF
#12 Gunnar Jeannette (USA) / Bill Auberlen (USA) / David Donohue (USA) – DNF
Panoz LMP-1 evo – 6.0 liter Ford / Elan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. #05 & #07
- IXO Le Mans & GT Cars LMM041 & LMM042 (diecast)
2002 Le Mans 24h, Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S. There was a third Panoz at Le Mans, but that was entered as “Leader”. This old Panoz is the perfect car to play the bad guy in a movie. It did when the movie “Michel Vaillant” was shot there. The French cartoon star raced in a Lola B98/10 which was renamed “Vaillante” for the movie.
#50 Jérôme Policand (F) / Marc Duez (B) / Perry McCarthy (GB) – DNF
DAMS Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S – 6.0 liter Ford / Elan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. #03
- IXO Le Mans & GT Cars LMM037 (diecast)
Fun fact:
Of course we saw the shooting of the movie during the 2002 Le Mans weekend and months later, I purchased tickets in advance for the opening night. Besides the four of us, two others were in the cinema … The movie was a disaster and only stayed one more day before it vanished. I now only have this memory and a DVD that I bought on eBay later but never viewed … 😉
2003 Le Mans 24h, Panoz LMP-1 evo. In the 6th year of the Panoz LMP, private team JML finished 5th equalling the best ever result for the car at Le Mans. Gunnar Jeanette drove a great race in the last hour having a huge battle with the Dome (6th) and Courage (7th).
#11 Olivier Beretta (MC) / Max Papis (I) / Gunnar Jeannette (USA) – 5th
JML Panoz LMP-1 evo – 6.0 Ford / Elan 6L8 – V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. #08
- SPARK SZPC05 (resin)
Esperante GTLM (2005 – 2006)
2006 Le Mans 24h, Panoz Esperante GTLM. Panoz quit the LMP project and turned to developing a car in the GT2 category. The Panoz Esperante made its debut in 2005 and quite surprisingly won GT2 in only its second year against Porsche, Ferrari and Spyker.
#81 Lawrence Tomlinson (GB) / Richard Dean (GB) / Tom Kimber-Smith (GB) – 15th / 1st GT2
LNT Panoz Esperante GTLM – 5.0 liter Élan V8, approx. 450 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1200 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. Multimatic #006
- SPARK S0099 (resin)
Saleen S7R
2001 Le Mans 24h, Saleen S7R. Mustang tuner Steve Saleen built his own supercar, the Saleen S7R. The first competition versions are built in the UK by Ray Mallock. Due to its limited production numbers the car got an extra restriction on engine power. That is the main reason that this magnificent car doesn’t perform better, although a 3rd place in class in its debut year at Le Mans is not bad at all.
#60 Franz Konrad (A) / Terry Borcheller (USA) / Oliver Gavin (GB) – 18th / 3rd GTS
Konrad Saleen S7R – 7.0 liter Ford / Saleen 90º V8, approx. 580 hp (restricted). Goodyear tires. Weight 1150 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. (Mallock) #002R
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT cars LMM031 (diecast)
2004 FIA GT Championship Monza 4h, Saleen S7R. In 2004 the extra restrictions are gone and the car is a winner again. This Konrad Motorsport operated Vitaphone car won 3 races in the 2004 FIA GT Championship.
#5 Michael Bartels (D) / Uwe Alzen (D) – 1st
Konrad Saleen S7R – 7.0 liter Ford / Saleen 90º V8, approx. 580 hp (restricted). Pirelli tires. Weight 1150 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. (Mallock) #002R
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT cars GTM022 (diecast)
2005 FIA GT Championship Brno 500km, Saleen S7R. British Graham Nash Racing is running two cars in the FIA GT Championship with different paying drivers. They finish 12th at Brno.
#8 Luca Pirri-Ardizzone (I) / Robert Senkyr (CZ) / Ryan Hooker (GB)
Nash Saleen S7R – 7.0 liter Ford / Saleen 90º V8, approx. 600 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. (Mallock) #010R
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT cars GTM027 (diecast)
2006 Le Mans Series Spa-Francorchamps 1000km, Saleen S7R. The Saleens are now ran by the famous Oreca team. The car is always quick in qualifying but in the long run they are often beaten by the Astons Martins and Corvettes. In shorter races such as the 1000 km of Spa- Francorchamps the Saleen is a real favorite.
#55 Soheil Ayari (F) / Stéphane Orteil (MC) – 7th / 1st GT1
Oreca Saleen S7R – 7.0 liter Ford / Saleen 90º V8, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. (Saleen) #066R
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT cars GTM046 (diecast)
2007 Le Mans 24h, Saleen S7R. The Saleens are ran by the famous Oreca team. The car is quick in qualifying and the beginning of the race. But then they have to let go of the Corvettes and Astons. Both cars finish, this one 16th, their teammates 11th overall.
#55 Soheil Ayari (F) / Stéphane Orteil (MC) / Nicolas Lapierre (F) – 16th / 9th GT1
Oreca Saleen S7R – 7.0 liter Ford / Saleen 90º V8, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. (Saleen) #066R
- SPARK S0380 (resin)
2008 Le Mans 24h, Saleen S7R. French Larbre Competition entered this Saleen in 2008 in GT1. Of course the team could not compete against the factory Corvettes and Aston Martins, it finished 7th in class. In 2010 the team would try again with the same car and then they actually won GT1 but also got beaten by some GT2 cars ..
#50 Christophe Bouchut (F) / Patrick Bornhauser (F) / David Hallyday (F) – 28th / 7th GT1
Larbre Saleen S7R – 7.0 liter Ford / Saleen 90º V8, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. (Saleen) #080R
- IXO LMM157 (diecast)
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