General Panda strip project

yul · Feb 5, 2010

Hello all, so you may have read a post I placed a few days ago about my Panda. I have decided to start my Panda Strip project. The build or conversion will be starting next week. I am planning on documenting the project with photos and possibly video clips. If anybody has any pictures or information on the Panda Strip I would appreciate the link or pics for reference. The donor car is a 1999 Panda CLX. The car is in perfect shape...not even a spot of rust. The car was never winter driven or exposed to road salt.

I am a newbie in the Panda world but not to Fiat's. I currently have a 1947 Fiat 500a, 1952 Fiat 500c, 1967 Fiat 1100 wagon, 1968 Fiat 600, 1973 Fiat 128, 1977 Fiat 124, and 3 Fiat Barchetta's.

Thanks
Andrew

VmanC · Feb 5, 2010

Cutting the roof off a mint Panda

, I can only assume you are capable of producing a fine end result.

Good luck with this Yul, I shall be following it with great interest.

yul · Feb 6, 2010

Hi, below are two pictures. The Blue Panda is the donor car and what she will look like in 4-6 weeks. Keep you posted.

yul

nitro_warrior · Feb 6, 2010

I'm sure you're planning on it, but build the sills before you cut the roof off. Otherwise it could be hard to keep it aligned and straight.

lewey · Feb 6, 2010

This seems like a very ambitious and great project. The Panda Strip is one of the coolest concepts ever. Good luck I say!

Most Easterly Pandas · Feb 7, 2010

nitro_warrior said:
I'm sure you're planning on it, but build the sills before you cut the roof off. Otherwise it could be hard to keep it aligned and straight.

Are you on about chasis sills and keeping the car frame aligned and straight?

I remember when the roof was cut off of dad's Selecta, when we got it back, just how unstable the frame was without the roof. The rear pannels flopped in and out, quite nitrally

Jon.

Blurredman · Feb 7, 2010

What do your American chums think of the car?

nitro_warrior · Feb 7, 2010

Most Easterly Pandas said:
Are you on about chasis sills and keeping the car frame aligned and straight?

I remember when the roof was cut off of dad's Selecta, when we got it back, just how unstable the frame was without the roof. The rear pannels flopped in and out, quite nitrally

Jon.

Yes, you can see the chopped one has really high sills to step over to get in the car. Because it's a monoque chassis the roof is vital for strength. If you don't add any structure across the door gap before cutting the roof the car will fold in half.

default_user · Feb 7, 2010

This is a very interesting project and one that a specialist body shop would be able to implement quite easily I would have thought.

As for the strengthening of the chassis I would think that the easiest way to do this would be to cut the bottoms off the existing doors to the desired height and weld them into the openings. This would also retain the side profile but that wouldn't really matter if it's to be trimmed with plastic panels, as the concept car seems to be.

Anyway, awaiting the end result with interest.

yul · Feb 18, 2010

Well the build has started today. The car interior was stripped, the undercarriage was strengthened and the chopping has started. More pics to follow.

VmanC · Feb 19, 2010

Ah, good stuff! There's no going back now.

yul · Feb 19, 2010

No going back now. More picture updates from today.

Most Easterly Pandas · Feb 19, 2010

Looking good

yul · Feb 19, 2010

Everytime I start a project or restoration the car gets a name. Until today the Panda project had no name.......but now it does. My son has come up with BAD PANDA.

yul

Harllequin · Feb 19, 2010

That looks like it would make a fun little pickup.

keep the pics rolling in

VmanC · Feb 20, 2010

I've always thought Pandas would suit a roof chop of a couple of inches. Plus the flat glass all round would make it relatively simple compared to most cars.
When my spares car has finally been picked clean and I'm ready to dump the shell, I'd like to chop it's roof, only roughly, to see if the look is worth copying on a good example.

yul · Feb 20, 2010

After cutting off the roof off today I would have to say YES. The little Panda takes on a whole new look with the roof off. Can't wait till next week....the windshield is next. Once it is folded flat down the car is going to look amazing. The front seats and dashboard fabric when out today to be recovered. Have to make the final choice for the fabric on Monday. I have to say I have done alot with Fiat's over the years but this little Panda has been the most fun. I have 2 Fiat 500A wonder what they would look like as a cabrio?

yul

Chas Uno · Feb 20, 2010

yul said:
I have 2 Fiat 500A wonder what they would look like as a cabrio?

Probably a little bit like these pictured below?

I think the Gamine is based on the 500A

VmanC · Feb 20, 2010

I have 2 Fiat 500A wonder what they would look like as a cabrio?

I wouldn't put all your eggs in one basket Andrew, just do the one.

yul · Feb 20, 2010

Hi VmanC, you are probably right.

I have had alot or requests from other Fiat owners in quebec to build another Panda Strip for them once I am finished......but I think I will just build the one for me.

I have alot of other project I should finish after this project.

yul

General Panda strip project

Currently reading: General Panda strip project

The Panda whisperer

Attachments

Established member

All go, no show

Speed Reader of the Year!

Member

Established member

Road Rat Pilot!

Attachments

The Panda whisperer

Attachments

Speed Reader of the Year!

Attachments

Member

The Panda whisperer

Attachments

Attachments

The Panda whisperer

Similar threads

Currently reading:
General Panda strip project