1991 Fiat Panda *Sold £1,300*

Description

• Gen 2 model
• Rosso Red
• Handbooks
• Service history
• Low mileage
• New cam belt
• New MOT

Empanda. The Roman goddess of travellers. What could be a more fitting name for a small, fun functional Italian super-mini designed by none other than the brilliant Giugiaro. Much better than a black and white bamboo eating bear.

Outside

It isn’t an overstatement to say the humble Fiat Panda is a piece of design genius. Recesses in the bodywork provided access to flush fit door handles. The glass in all the windows is flat and interchangeable from left to right. It keeps both cost and weight down. The under-bonnet space could take either a north/south or east/west facing engine.

Continuous, seam welded side body panels removed expensive pressings and cleverly a formed subtle roof drip rail so when the door opens, the occupants are not drowned. The bottom section of the doors were crenulated; providing rigidity and sound proofing.

The outside of this Fiat Panda is bright, clean and tidy. As you’d expect after 33 years of British Summer time, there is some cosmetic surface corrosion in places and the odd small dent here and there. Our vendor is at pains to say, “It has never been restored which is very unusual”.

Inside

The Panda interior is clean, tidy and utterly charming. It pretty much has everything you need and not much more. Blue and black cloth seats with matching door trims is as posh as it gets. The light blue carpet and large areas of glass make the interior space feel bright and fresh. Like the outside, the inside is packed with clever design features.

The full width front shelf provides masses of storage space. The padded dashboard is a washable fabric. The seat fabric is removable and washable too. The seat design and construction are something else. There are over half a dozen rear seat configurations, from folding into a bed-flat space to easily removable and everything in between. Once the rear seat is out, the load capacity leaps from 280 litres to nearly 1,000 litres. Talk about Tardis-like qualities.

Mechanicals

In keeping with the theme of the rest of the car, this Panda’s mechanicals are simplicity personified.

The engines are usually robust and long lasting. The 999cc FIRE units like this one are capable of 200,000-plus miles with proper maintenance. If that is the case, at 52,000 miles, with service history, then this one has plenty left in it. The ever-popular Weber carb is reliable and easy to fix if problems do occur. Equally, the transmission is straightforward and fuss free.

The suspension is much the same. MacPherson struts up front. This Mk 2 Panda has the later ‘Omega’ rear axle with coil springs, which improves the ride immeasurably. There has been some remedial MOT welding where the rear axle mounts, so that is taken care of. Images in the Gallery give you a good idea of the underside. The belts have been recently replaced, along with a service and a brand new MOT is on the Panda too.

Summary

This Fiat Panda is a rare unrestored survivor. As they diminish to vanishingly small numbers their status is evolving from niche runabout to almost cult-like desire. If you can find an original one, now is the time to grab it.