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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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It's me an Fizzle who will be starstruck now - at least Fizz can wear his old boots though! (y)

Rofl cheers mate :) I've got the back seat down already to accommodate the wheels :)

I am really pleased with this though in all seriousness, can't believe all the cars that were there and they picked a humble fiat panda :) I have worked really hard though on PTP, and have more work left to go, but for a first show this is a fantastic result for me :)
 
Thanks Kev :) I am really pleased, especially since this was my first time showing my car at a classic car show :)

And you were worried about going! (y)

Maybe we can get something into the mags about Panda Camp. If someone gets a decent pic of the Panda's I'll try to convince them to put it in - better get a scrapbook ready for all your press cuttings!! :idea:
 
And you were worried about going! (y)

Maybe we can get something into the mags about Panda Camp. If someone gets a decent pic of the Panda's I'll try to convince them to put it in - better get a scrapbook ready for all your press cuttings!! :idea:

I was really worried! The show went great though :)

I reckon that's a good idea :) I am going to put the cutout in a frame, probs a bit sad but I am very happy about it :)
 
I was really worried! The show went great though :)

I reckon that's a good idea :) I am going to put the cutout in a frame, probs a bit sad but I am very happy about it :)

(y)

We'll try to get it in again for you.

I tend to forget how exciting it was the first time my car was used in a magazine - you get a bit blaise about it eventually as it's a pain going to the shoots. Time to work on the Panda's I think - the 127's have been in lots of times now, and the dawn of the age of the Panda is upon us! :idea:
 
(y)

We'll try to get it in again for you.

I tend to forget how exciting it was the first time my car was used in a magazine - you get a bit blaise about it eventually as it's a pain going to the shoots. Time to work on the Panda's I think - the 127's have been in lots of times now, and the dawn of the age of the Panda is upon us! :idea:

Well this is a great feeling man, and if you have had it with your 127s, (most likely on a bigger scale than my wee part in this paper) then I count myself in a very privileged group :) if I could do it again that would be great :) and would be even better if we all had our cars in the same photo :)
 
Well this is a great feeling man, and if you have had it with your 127s, (most likely on a bigger scale than my wee part in this paper) then I count myself in a very privileged group :) if I could do it again that would be great :) and would be even better if we all had our cars in the same photo :)

I do get asked to find cars quite often (not usually mine!), and have been known to badger magazines about 127's in the past! This eventually (over a 10 year period!!) worked as one has been in Classics Monthly twice & Auto Italia (all quite a while ago now), and the other was in Classic & Sportscar recently & Practical Classics last month - that was homeward 's fault - see https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/342702-fiat-uno-needed-practical-classics-2.html

As a result of constant badgering and making a nuisance of myself I know where to find quite a few of the journalists. Pinky was in the last Practical Classics thanks to Rich doing a piece for us. I am seriously bugging the Practical Classics staffers about Panda's (they do like them, and are actually a great bunch!), and will keep doing so until they either tell me to sod off, or put a proper feature in. :slayer:

Take some really good pics of us (including your Panda) at Panda Camp & I'll tout them around some of the magazines - they can only say no! ;)
 
I do get asked to find cars quite often (not usually mine!), and have been known to badger magazines about 127's in the past! This eventually (over a 10 year period!!) worked as one has been in Classics Monthly twice & Auto Italia (all quite a while ago now), and the other was in Classic & Sportscar recently & Practical Classics last month - that was homeward 's fault - see https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/342702-fiat-uno-needed-practical-classics-2.html

As a result of constant badgering and making a nuisance of myself I know where to find quite a few of the journalists. Pinky was in the last Practical Classics thanks to Rich doing a piece for us. I am seriously bugging the Practical Classics staffers about Panda's (they do like them, and are actually a great bunch!), and will keep doing so until they either tell me to sod off, or put a proper feature in. :slayer:

Take some really good pics of us (including your Panda) at Panda Camp & I'll tout them around some of the magazines - they can only say no! ;)

Ok Gav sounds like a plan! :)
 
Perhaps I was being a little harsh with my choice of vehicles. After all my dad did some of his formative driving in a PA Cresta with a column change.
Wow you must have been rich!
We had an FB Victor with a column change, followed by an FC,FD and finally an FE before we got an HB Viva 1600 on which the engine blew up on the M1.
My brother was a trainee mechanic at a main dealer and my dad couldn't afford their charges to replace the "short motor" as they called it. So my brother got together with his foreman and they built an engine up and he just paid for the parts, and then fitted it himself.
When he got it back Dad was well pleased. He said I don't know what you've done but it goes much better now. It also uses a bit more petrol though.
Brother then owned up to the fact that he couldn't get the parts for a 1600 so they had built a 2 litre instead and put that in, and altered the carb and everything to suit it!
(sorry for the digression from all things Panda)
 
Well done! You are right to be proud of your efforts. Good job!

Thanks pooroldcodger :)





Wow nice one getting in the paper! And there was you thinking Scots don't like old cars :p PTP's looking great, love what you've done to it so far (y)

Thanks Jamie :) there must be a few Scots who like old cars after all :)

PTP looked brill on the day if I do say so myself, I worked really hard the day before valeting, even under the bonnet and I forgot to open it on the day :ROFLMAO:
 
Wow you must have been rich!
We had an FB Victor with a column change, followed by an FC,FD and finally an FE before we got an HB Viva 1600 on which the engine blew up on the M1.
My brother was a trainee mechanic at a main dealer and my dad couldn't afford their charges to replace the "short motor" as they called it. So my brother got together with his foreman and they built an engine up and he just paid for the parts, and then fitted it himself.
When he got it back Dad was well pleased. He said I don't know what you've done but it goes much better now. It also uses a bit more petrol though.
Brother then owned up to the fact that he couldn't get the parts for a 1600 so they had built a 2 litre instead and put that in, and altered the carb and everything to suit it!
(sorry for the digression from all things Panda)

For the time I guess they were reasonably well off. Although I believe their next car was a bright red Ford Anglia. I remember it being mentioned that the Cresta needed some new panels at 18 months old.
 
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