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Panda (Classic) My Purple Panda Parade Progress log

Introduction

Well folks, after keeping it under my hat all week (to avoid any embarrassment if the ebay winner actually collected the car) I have bought the purple panda parade from another user on here, neeny. They had sold it on ebay, and to cut a long story short the winner of the auction didn't collect, so the transaction was cancelled, and I offered to buy it in his place (I had actually nearly bid on the car on the original run but I confused myself and thought it was LHD which wouldn't have been any good to me) So I made the trip to fife (and on the way crossed the forth road bridge and saw the forth rail bridge which is a bit of an ambition of mine) and collected it. It took some getting used to driving! My current daily is a Citroen C2 GT, and the two cars are very very different. I have prior experience driving Fiats, as my first 3 cars were a mix of mk1 and mk2a puntos, and the first car I ever drove was my dad's tipo.

Anyway I digress, I drove it home in blizzard conditions and am very impressed with it! The only thing is that it has sat for a while and the brakes are very spongy (not a criticism of the previous owners, they were extremely honest about the car and answered all my questions, they were very kind and nice people and I hope to see them again, perhaps at a show) The Mohair twin sunroofs were slightly damp on the inside (again, not a criticism, it has been extremely wet in Scotland recently, and there is only so much it can take) not leaking or anything, just slightly damp, so I aim to treat this with fabric water repellant. There are some decals and stickers on it which aren't to my personal tastes, so I will remove these, and keep the ones which are to my taste :) The rear sunroof needs a new strap, so I will need to source one of these, or get my fiance to make a new one if I can get a hold of some leather or rubber if I find they are unavailable :)

I am very pleased with my new purchase, and consider myself very lucky to have managed to get it, the buyer on ebay should be kicking himself! And also I am very lucky to have met such kind people as Janine and Stewart, and to have found a forum with such helpful people. Anyway folks lets get down to business...photos! I apologize for the poor quality of some of these photos, it was dark before I took some of these and it is very cold so my hand was shaking. Hopefully you join me on my journey folks :) The panda is currently in my garage being aired out in an attempt to part dry the sunroofs before I bust out the hairdryer tomorrow :)

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Good detective work..(y) I bought the car from a guy in Milton Keynes..or rather I saved it from Milton Keynes.

I'm sure I have the name of the chap with an email address. He was going to be next on the list for asking for photos and or thoughts and work he perhaps did. (I have saved all the photos I can't find from the forum by the way) but when you say saved from Milton Keynes I can't help thinking there is a story there...care to elaborate? Or pm me if you wish? Just curious to find out more about ptps history! :)
 
Story is.....you need to go south of the border and experience the delights of the town...yuk.

It was my first panda purchase since 1990 and I was not sure how I was going to feel about it. I told him that I may drive it to Mali on a rally. I fell in love and the rest is history... A Nissan micra was sorted for the rally. I don't think he did anything to the car..just drove it. He didn't see it as anything special, but was a nice guy.
 
You don't want to upset the MKonites Kev - you might end up with concrete hooves.....

Sad that a few lumps of concrete are the most interesting thing that can be said of the town :yuck:

Good for tyre fitters I suppose, or roundabout spotters! Slightly better than Peterborough imo........ ;)
 
Story is.....you need to go south of the border and experience the delights of the town...yuk.

It was my first panda purchase since 1990 and I was not sure how I was going to feel about it. I told him that I may drive it to Mali on a rally. I fell in love and the rest is history... A Nissan micra was sorted for the rally. I don't think he did anything to the car..just drove it. He didn't see it as anything special, but was a nice guy.

I have never been to Milton Keynes on my various journeys south of the border, I am glad you didn't take him on the rally though (y)
 
ok folks, the latest (and likely last) update

Good Afternoon Cameron,

With reference to your enquiry, Falles Hire Cars were sold in 2003 so there is no information left.
When we relinquished the Fiat Franchise in 2004 and all the computers were taken back by Fiat.

The only slight chance is if you have the original Jersey registration number or the chassis number we can check our current system to see if any work was carried out on the car.

Kind Regards
Graeme Le Cornu
Sales Manager
 
Quick update, thanks to aquamarine I now have a BRAND NEW lockset!! I am beyond chuffed!

Also I managed to buy Fiat wheel trims as fitted to the Parade from new, they were advertised for £36.99 But being Scottish (and in keeping with the spirit of the panda) I managed to get them for £25 which I am pretty pleased with :) ALSO I have officially signed up to show PTP at Dean Castle in Ayrshire on the 11th of May! Its a show run by Ayrshire classic car club :) I am super pleased!!

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Is the trim silver...looks quite dark in the pic. You keeping the alloys?

I thought that too when I first saw the picture, I compared the design as best I could to some other photos of parades I found, and I reckon the design is right. I'm betting (hoping might be a better word) that they are the correct silver, if you look in the middle of the trim in the photo it seems to lighten, so I am hoping its just the lighting in the photo that is wrong!

The plan right now is to keep the alloys, because I really like them, I would just like steel wheels and the correct trims for the original look, I love both looks!!
 
I changed the boot lock and removed the 4 point power socket :) It looks much neater this way, but can always refit If I decide against it :) I also put kurust on a couple of wee annoying bits of rust, nothing serious but will paint over tomorrow after leaving it overnight :) just got the front doors and ignition left to change now too :)

Although most annoyingly the old boot lock didnt work at all until I had removed it and changed it for a new one! I suppose I would have changed it anyway as the drivers door lock is truely buggered and I would replace the whole set anyway, but still :)

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Sorry to say this, but I would not waste too much time treating and painting the rust in the boot floor/inner arch seam. Once there is rust exploding out of the sealant, the only way to get rid of it is to cut out the seam and re make it. If you look in the wheel arch you may see the layers in the seam pushing away from each other due to the corrosion inbetween them.

Obviously no need to panic about it, it will be a few years until you need to do anything, especially with you not using the car during the winter. Unfortunately its a problem all Pandas suffer from.
 
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Sorry to say this, but I would not waste too much time treating and painting the rust in the boot floor/inner arch seam. Once there is rust exploding out of the sealant, the only way to get rid of it is to cut out the seam and re make it. If you look in the wheel arch you may see the layers in the seam pushing away from each other due to the corrosion inbetween them.

Obviously no need to panic about it, it will be a few years until you need to do anything, especially with you not using the car during the winter. Unfortunately its a problem all Pandas suffer from.

Thanks for the advice :) I know I will have to cut it out and remake it at some point, but I am trying to delay doing this as much as is reasonable/safe/practical. I like that it is original. Making it a little tidier won't do it any harm, but I appreciate your advice :)
 
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