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Panda (Classic) I'm Back With The Panda 750L 1991

Introduction

My Story

Hi folks, its been a while since I had a panda after selling Purple Haze the Parade and Engelbert the Sisley (to Freebo ) the former I sold because my wife was pregnant and I felt (wrongly) that I needed a bigger (and to my mind at the time safer) car for ferrying my son and wife around in.

A very short while after I sold the pandas I developed Generalised Anxiety Disorder, I have had it now for nearly 2 years and I am FINALLY starting to get better it seems. The paranoid thoughts that I was going to put my son and wife in danger in the panda were part of this in my opinion.

Selling the Parade was a huge mistake on my part (and as older forum members were know it was subsequently written off in a low speed crash by the new owner) though the Sisley is much better off with Freebo as he appreciates the 4x4's (they are not to my taste on the open road but are amazing in a field IMHO) and I have regretted it. I have not had a car for some time now partially due to my illness and partially due to the fact I have lost my job due to my illness, though as forum members will remember I am a Youtuber too.

Fast forward to last night and I was browsing the forum and I came across an ad for a 750L in Glasgow (I am in Prestwick), and it was free but had to be collected today or in 2 weeks time. Being the impatient (and obviously anxious) type, I arranged through a friend of a friend to have it collected today. It arrived at 1pm and I am utterly flabbergasted at the condition. Out of my 3 Pandas it arrived in the best condition IMHO. So I am very thankful to the seller but forgotten their forum name cos the ad has been deleted! So thanks Ian (I am sure you are reading)

Ian reported that it has an oil leak under pressure, and as far as I can tell so far the problem is the oil filter housing which would be a super easy fix :) the rear arches need cut out at the base and refabricated, though this is not a huge job to my knowledge and I have a friend who is potentially going to do that for me all being well. Aside from that as far as I can tell it just needs new seatbelts, a new passenger rear brake cluster, new door locks, the front seat cover sewed up or renewed (the rest is immaculate) and some rust spots in the usual places taken care of. And a good service just to be on the safe side!

I couldn't be happier at this point and I cant wait to share my progress on here and Youtube for you all to see :)

Cameron

Cameron

I swear if you lived 200 miles closer to Derbyshire that my panda that hasn't moved for year would be on the road by Sunday.

You are an inspiration, but don,t do too much too soon because what do you do on Thursday when the paint is dry and you have f...all to do.

Oh I know... buy another one

Dave
 
It's true you really don't hang about do you! How many days do you recon before it's a show winning concours car?;)
 
Cameron

I swear if you lived 200 miles closer to Derbyshire that my panda that hasn't moved for year would be on the road by Sunday.

You are an inspiration, but don,t do too much too soon because what do you do on Thursday when the paint is dry and you have f...all to do.

Oh I know... buy another one

Dave

I am the motivational poster boy of Panda Classic section haha :)

Being honest its so nice to work on this car that its not taxing for me to do it, I cant wait to get out to it every day just now :)

It's true you really don't hang about do you! How many days do you recon before it's a show winning concours car?;)

I am not well known for patience lol and having severe anxiety makes that more pressing lol :) (got to laugh eh)

How many days? Well today is tuesday so.... 6pm?? lol ;)

Joking, making good progress but still quite a lot to do!
 
Another big day! Finished the procedure of filling priming and painting the scabs of rust inside the boot, pretty pleased with the job tbh

Also undersealed the entire underside of the car, first time I have given it a proper inspection and I am so pleased with the condition. Its (generally) better than even the parade was!!

Also changed the locks and ignition barrel all round, locks took 5 minutes total and went very well, ignition barrel took about an hour all in as I slowly remembered how to do it haha. Pleased with the job now its done though.

Thinking tomorrow will be wax sealing the box sections underneath, but done for today. Got the photos to upload and the video to edit so will get to relax for the evening after that with a curry I reckon.
 
Good work, looking very smart under there, can't wait to get mine done now, going to make these little Panda's last for ever! Still aching a little bit from getting that tank back on the other day though;)

Why do you think Pandas have mismatched keys all the time, are the locks prone to faults?

Will keep an eye on progress, have you worked out where the oil leak is coming from?
 
Good work, looking very smart under there, can't wait to get mine done now, going to make these little Panda's last for ever! Still aching a little bit from getting that tank back on the other day though;)

Why do you think Pandas have mismatched keys all the time, are the locks prone to faults?

Will keep an eye on progress, have you worked out where the oil leak is coming from?
Yeah the oil leak is sorted, it was the oil filter housing. New filter and oil stopped that :)
 
Good work, looking very smart under there, can't wait to get mine done now, going to make these little Panda's last for ever! Still aching a little bit from getting that tank back on the other day though;)

Why do you think Pandas have mismatched keys all the time, are the locks prone to faults?

Will keep an eye on progress, have you worked out where the oil leak is coming from?

I am not entirely sure why, normally in my experience the drivers door lock stops working, the barrel pulls straight out due to age and use over time, and instead of replacing lock sets only one lock at a time is changed from scrap cars, and end up with all these different keys to operate all the different locks on the car haha
 
I am not entirely sure why, normally in my experience the drivers door lock stops working, the barrel pulls straight out due to age and use over time, and instead of replacing lock sets only one lock at a time is changed from scrap cars, and end up with all these different keys to operate all the different locks on the car haha

One of the things I love with the keys on the 4x4, 1 key does all! So thanks for that cameron!

Interestingly the ST has a key wich does everything but the Bianca has three keys, one for doors and boot, one for Fuel Filler Cap and one for iginition. All are Fiat stamped and suspect they are originial, may just have been how they were done pre 90's.
 
One of the things I love with the keys on the 4x4, 1 key does all! So thanks for that cameron!

Interestingly the ST has a key wich does everything but the Bianca has three keys, one for doors and boot, one for Fuel Filler Cap and one for iginition. All are Fiat stamped and suspect they are originial, may just have been how they were done pre 90's.
You are very welcome :)


Thats interesting, would be interesting to hear from someone who bought one new out the showroom

Imagine a showroom full of lovely pandas, unos, tipos and tempras? Amazing! Tried for a while to find photos from a fiat dealership in the late 80s early 90s to no joy
 
I've not even checked which locks match on mine as I've not had it on the road yet! Got a bunch of keys and I just keep trying them until one works! Could be one key does everything but I've never checked! Not great for a quick getaway:D.

I remember reading about the oil leak non issue now, just the welding to be done and all good then!
 
I've not even checked which locks match on mine as I've not had it on the road yet! Got a bunch of keys and I just keep trying them until one works! Could be one key does everything but I've never checked! Not great for a quick getaway:D.

I remember reading about the oil leak non issue now, just the welding to be done and all good then!
Hopefully man! Got the seat belt parts i need from a member on here too!
 
So took the car a test drive in my street today for a shakedown. It stalled and wouldnt move and eventually i managed to bunny hop it back to the driveway. Also established the speedo wasnt working. After changing the fuel pump and the cable that goes from the dizzy to the condenser it ran a lot better after it was warmed up. Changed those parts simply because spares came with the car. Then by testing and retesting estsblished that the speedo cable had come loose on the clocks side, managed to get it reattached on that side and it should in theory be working properly now though havent tested it again as im knackered.

Also got an underbonnet screwdriver in and wax sealed in the cavitys and box sections underneath the car.

Very pleased so far. Reckon the wheel cylinders need changed (luckily a pair came with the car)

Knackered
 
Can hardly keep up reading the progress you're making on this one! What's next on your list??

I am waiting on spark plugs coming so that will be soon certainly (had to return the set I bought as the seller sent the wrong ones)

Need to fit new front set belt stalk when it arrives, should be being sent out soon, the chap on here is sorting out a price for postage

Going to investigate whether the sound from the exhaust is blowing or whether im just not used to a catless exhaust note! If its blowing I will fit the spare in the shed

Waiting on rear shock absorbers arriving so I can fit them

Then just take for an MOT, book into welders and get retested (assuming nothing else is an MOT fail on the car)

still quite a lot to do! Though at this pace it hopefully wont be too long :)
 
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