CLS said:

First link ended 'cos you boughten them?

Click to expand...

Welen Garden City? I'd rather go to Peterborough.

I made a joke bid on this one...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130944134259&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123


...so I'm off to Norwich instead.

Having said that there's an interesting prospect in Liverpool that may be a viable alternative and a nice drive out (Cat and Fiddle there, Snake Pass back).

Yesterday I went to Skegness to collect a spare wheel holder...



...and ruin the boot of my Fantasia...



...the idea is I can adapt (with a grinder and welder) this...



...relocate the bolts to hold a Fiat wheel...



...and it would look a little like this.



The plan to relocate the spare is so I run a heavier duty battery for all the auxiliary lights and other things the car will need.

The rear bumper will be re-enforced with box section and the tow hitch mounted where the number plate should be. The number plate and idiot lights will be up on the roof rack. The chevron spare wheel cover...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280869382605?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

...will be an old 13 inch clip in wheel trim with a chevron sticker. :idea:

I can have the reflective chevron on the back for when I'm on the road and pop it off for when I need to be more stealth.

Looks good to me, carrier might look a bit big though? I am making one out of 18mm box which hinges on a similar point like yours, above and below the tail light

My idea is to mount it on the rear 3/4 pannel so it acts as a tail light cage as well as spare wheel holder. I'll have to re-enforce the "C" pillar with either welded in mounting plates or box to make it strong enough.

With a couple of Panda to use as templates I can work on the project before the 4x4 arrives (I haven't see it yet but for £350 with twelve months MOT and tax until February I'm not going to argue).

£350, taxed and tested?

Pictures or it's not true

CLS said:

£350, taxed and tested?

Pictures or it's not true

Click to expand...

Once my Alfa is collected Saturday I'll be off to see and pay for the old girl.

AndyPanda4x4 said:

carrier might look a bit big though?

Click to expand...

That's the best thing. Making bits smaller to fit a Panda in a lot easier than making things bigger to fit a Defender.

Liquid Knight said:

My idea is to mount it on the rear 3/4 pannel so it acts as a tail light cage as well

Click to expand...

Ah i know what videos you've been watching on youtube

Well i think it will look ace anway when it's done!!

Liquid Knight said:

Once my Alfa is collected Saturday I'll be off to see and pay for the old girl.

Click to expand...

I'll keep an eye on the "grumpy" thread then

AndyPanda4x4 said:

Ah i know what videos you've been watching on youtube

Well i think it will look ace anway when it's done!!

Click to expand...

I have no idea, by all means post them here.

The Panda is a Swizz Army Knife on wheels so everything I do should have a multipurpose.

The roof rack doubling up as a tent base and gun turret.

The front bumper having mounting points for a winch, drive lamps and possibly a snow plough.

The rear wheel holder acting as a light cage as well is the least it can do.

Hmmmmm.....


...I should remove the 2x4 box section from my eBay watch list.

This is what I'm talking about...

I've been out in my Fantasia again...



...a little more Paris Dakar...



...than Peterborough...

]

...but the exoskeleton can be removed so I can clean up the frame...



...and replace this lower plate with something a little more purposeful.



A nice winch mount plate can go there. The headlight section is a little wide...



...but I can trim it around the inner frame. Cut, plastic weld, fill and paint.



The lower mounts are almost a dead fit for the Panda lower control arm mounts...



...provided they are the same on the 4x4 I can easily make that end fit. The top could be a little trickier.



I'll need to weld some box to the bumper brackets along the top inside of the bumper and drill mounting holes through the lot. That will be more complicated than it sounds. I can't mount the bars further back as I'm going to need to trim the top edge...



...to be able to open the bonnet. Any further back and I'll have to modify the inner frame. If I were to do that the exoskeleton won't fit any more and it will look crap.

What do we think?

Do it or bin it?

It looks like Dame Edna In the 2nd photo

Well... it's certainly different! I would have to see it when you've chopped and changed it but for me it's way too extreme! What i do like though is that you've got a steelie on backwards on that second pic - now that's genious :thumbup:

Two reasons for that. I've taken the front brakes off again and I was thinking of banding two wheels together to make a wheel that looks like an old school reverse rim.

Poor Panda looks like Bane from Batman with that on

On the plus side it makes my mods look positively sensible

And back to Tom Hardy. He is playing Mad Max in the remake/sequel.

Guff I nearly ended up like this...



...so a Bane Panda wouldn't be a stretch.