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Panda (Classic) Snatch Panda

Introduction

It's taken a while but I'm going to try uploading some photos..

Inspired by Snatch Land Rovers deployed to Gulf War I, Afghanistan and previously in Northern Ireland, I wondered how the Panda version might have turned out..

Dragonman gave me a useful kick early on and David, Aquamarine has been wonderfully helpful throughout -thank you both.

Things got a bit loose with the interpretation as I got carried away - so the mudflaps aren't necessary (but I like how rally cars look) and the bonnet lamps are because of a soft spot for the Matra Rancho. - Please be reassured that only a rusty bonnet was harmed in the making of this modification.

Similarly - all the changes can be undone fairly easily if Sisley prices continue to head for the stratosphere.. So I didn't paint the grill and I have kept a good unmodified bullbar to one side.

Hope you like it. Let me know what you think.
Mud flap fixing pics as AndyPanda4x4 asked for.

The outside bumber and cill brackets are obviously just aluminium angle.
The second pic is looking up into the void behind the rear bumber. - Thin strip of galvanised steel bent to bridge between the rivet on the bumber and the box section on the chassis.
You can see it's already bent from me trapping the flap between tyre and a kerb, giving it a tweak. - It's worth building in a weakest point I'd say, to stop the flap being destroyed or doing bumper damage when incidents like that inevitably happen. Maybe thin cable ties instead of bolts for me in future.

Front was another nail chewer - I don't like putting holes into car's where there weren't any originaly but.. the mudflap now sits up nicely behind the arch liner and the rivets go into the front jacking point box which is holed already so..:eek: It isn't perpendicular to the car but sweeps in a nice forward curve following the turned wheel's arc. Ahem. ;)

Hope this helps.
 

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Re: Snatch Panda wedding pics

The bride smiled, thank goodness, and most of the guests laughed and looked a little confused. - So a perfect result I'd say.

A navigational error en route to the ceremony meant a three point turn in a minor Yorkshire lane. A second driver error put the two front wheels onto wet grass that was too slippery to reverse off leaving us staring into a ditch.. with 10 minutes to go before the ceremony was due to begin.

Engaging 4 wheel drive popped us cleanly back up onto the road, fortunately. But made me very thankful for what we were driving. If I never need that prop shaft and axle again, I will gladly drag them around for years, knowing the disaster they averted yesterday.

Phew.

Apart from that it was drama free.
Oh, and the windscreen wiper fell off. And we broke down on the way to the reception. And the exhaust's melted the bumper. And I can smell coolant with the heater on. And the headlamp switch is only working intermitantly..

:)
 

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Re: Snatch Panda wedding pics

Fantastic! so it was all standard issue panda driving then? just with a few less faults than normal panda driving? nice!

all the faults seem to be standard issue panda faults.
if you are good with electronics i really recommend running your headlights through relays. ive done it on mine and now they are so bright >_<

the coolant smell will be coming from the heater matrix valve tap. it will have a small crack in it that sadly the only way of fixing it is to replace it :(
 
Re: Snatch Panda wedding pics

AndyPanda4x4 was right.
Mounting the spare wheel on the front made seeing track details more difficult and the cooling fan work harder at low speeds. So I did this:
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(Please excuse the random orientation, I can't get my gallery edits to stick.)

Which means that the original front mount bracket is up for grabs.. This bolts to the spot lamp brackets on the standard roobar with no modifications necessary.
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If anyone can use this, let me know.

Panda Express, collection from Liverpool or for postage at cost please.
 
Wave as you go past us on the way down.
We're camping with Speed Chills in Beausejour if you're nearby and fancy a beer.(y)

ooooo interesting!...Beer is actually my plan also....well that and watching some fast moving objects with people inside...yes not sure where I am camping yet but that would be a most splendid idea :cool:
 
....well that and watching some fast moving objects with people inside...

- Some sort of racing you're describing by the sound of it. I've never really noticed that but now you mention it, the traffic seems to go on all night, and the French MOT seems quite generous on exhaust silencing..

Beer, I do understand however.

Keep your eyes open for the Snatch and I won't be far away. We'll be out and about around the circuit Thursday to Monday and it would great to say 'bonjour'.:cool:
 
1600 miles without a serious hitch (hitch to follow). Maximum speed reached 89mph (per the sat nav) downhill obviously. Snatch Panda flew beautifully to Let Mans and back.
We thought we'd hit upon a cunning way to transport the sticky smelly grill and get it cleaned on the way but
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..it didn't rain so its out with the brillo.

Got this snap of some sexy Italian bodywork, lusciously smothered in deep paint of a classic hue and set off by those divine wheel rims.. Not sure about that addition to the wing though - I think it detracts from the lines.

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