# 2002 Panoz Esperante – Only 17,393 Miles – Rare American Sports Car
**British Sports Cars is pleased to offer this exceptionally rare 2002 Panoz Esperante, showing just 17,393 miles and presented in excellent condition.**
If you're looking for something truly special, the Panoz Esperante deserves your attention. These remarkable American-built sports cars offer an incredible combination of performance, exclusivity, craftsmanship, and driving enjoyment. With extremely limited production, the chances of seeing another Esperante on the road are exceptionally slim.
Founded by Dan Panoz, Panoz Auto Development established itself as one of America's most distinctive specialty sports car manufacturers. Built in Braselton, Georgia, the Esperante was introduced in 2000 and combined traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car engineering with advanced lightweight aluminum construction and a rich motorsports heritage.
Unlike mass-produced sports cars, the Esperante was carefully hand-assembled in very small numbers. Approximately **234 examples of the first-generation Esperante are reported to have been produced**, making these cars considerably rarer than most exotic and specialty sports cars of their era. By early 2002, Panoz reported that only 65 Esperantes had been sold in the United States.
Power comes from a hand-assembled **4.6-liter, 32-valve DOHC Ford SVT V8 engine producing 320 horsepower and approximately 317 lb-ft of torque**. This impressive powerplant delivers outstanding performance, a wonderful V8 exhaust note, and the added benefit of proven Ford engineering. Period performance figures placed acceleration from 0 to 60 mph at approximately five seconds.
The Esperante features a sophisticated aluminum chassis, four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a beautifully balanced rear-wheel-drive layout. The result is a sports car that is equally enjoyable cruising down the highway or tackling a winding back road.
When new, the Esperante carried a base price approaching **$90,000 in 2002**, placing it firmly in the premium sports car market. Today, these cars represent tremendous value, offering exotic-car exclusivity, impressive performance, and handcrafted American engineering at a fraction of the cost of many comparable collector sports cars.
Panoz also enjoyed considerable success in international motorsports, including a GT2 class victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006 with the racing version of the Esperante. This racing pedigree adds another fascinating chapter to the history of these already special automobiles.
**Our particular example has traveled just 17,393 miles and remains in excellent condition.** It is a wonderful opportunity to acquire an exceptionally low-mileage example of one of America's most unusual and exclusive modern sports cars.
For the enthusiast looking for something different from the typical Porsche, Corvette, or European exotic, the Panoz Esperante offers a truly unique ownership experience. It is fast, beautifully engineered, incredibly rare, and offers tremendous performance for the money.
**Offered for sale by British Sports Cars, located in downtown San Luis Obispo, California.** Established in 1980, we specialize in the sales, service, and restoration of unique and collectible automobiles.
Please contact us for additional information or to arrange a personal viewing of this exceptional Panoz Esperante.