So I found this picture of what is (after a quick google) a 1984 Dacia Duster 4x4 from 1984.

Trouble Is I cant find anything more out about it, and many parts look panda-Esque to me! In fact it looks more like a mk1 4x4 which has been heavily modified. Here are a list of the bits I am certain are panda:

Bullbars(identical to Howies @Palio)
Front bumper (mk1)
Windscreen
Top of doors, but everything below bottom of window is modified.
What I can see of the interior.
Headlights

Any thoughts anyone? Can anyone shed any light on this???

Is it just me that the pic isn't working for?

Eklipze3k said:

Is it just me that the pic isn't working for?

Click to expand...

works for me

Probably the policies in place at work blocking it. Googled it anyway and now I want one

Have you seen these?

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_perf1.php

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_details1.php

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_details1.php

Most Dacia's back then were Renault based. I remember these as cheap 4x4s.


Always presumed they were based on the rare Renault 4 Sinpar 4x4, much loved by the French Electricity board.


http://www.motorstown.com/images/renault-r4-sinpar-07.jpg


Awful to drive but handsome, like the Lada Niva.

onemanmade said:

So I found this picture of what is (after a quick google) a 1984 Dacia Duster 4x4 from 1984.

Trouble Is I cant find anything more out about it, and many parts look panda-Esque to me! In fact it looks more like a mk1 4x4 which has been heavily modified. Here are a list of the bits I am certain are panda:

Bullbars(identical to Howies @Palio)
Front bumper (mk1)
Windscreen
Top of doors, but everything below bottom of window is modified.
What I can see of the interior.
Headlights

Any thoughts anyone? Can anyone shed any light on this???

Click to expand...

It was a Dacia Duster over here originally - I remember picking up brochures at the British Motor Show at Earls Court in the early '80's. Elsewhere it was the Dacia Aro10 I believe - you'll find more pics searching for that.

At the time they were adapting (rebadging) Renaults, but I don't think the Duster was Renault based? The bullbar looks exactly like Howie's, and other pics look like the other Panda bullbar types! I'd guess either Dacia had a cheap deal with Fiat, or just copied them - there's certainly hint of Panda about it, but I don't recall anything official mentioned at the time.

Back then it was a Dace-ea but we now have to pronounce it Dat-cha apparently. Still no one ever managed to pronounce Say-at (Seat) correctly in the '80's and you were looked at very oddly if you didn't call it a Seet!!

I remeber seeing a couple round the scottish borders and Northumberland in the early 90s. Often came with Weller wheels fitted by the importer as did a lot of Eastern European stuff then.

scout said:

Have you seen these?

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_perf1.php

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_details1.php

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_details1.php

Click to expand...

I'm just getting their example BMW pages....

Aren't they Talon's wheels?

Same make, but different wheel bolts pattern, more like cit Ax/R4.

homeward said:

I'm just getting their example BMW pages....

Click to expand...

Sorry, the pages I posted were for the Dacia, just a google search for 'Dacia Duster 1984' found them.

Our local garage used to be a Dacia dealership back in the day, these used to be all over the forecourt!

AndyPanda4x4 said:

Our local garage used to be a Dacia dealership back in the day, these used to be all over the forecourt!

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Ask them if they have any bullbars left in the back

That series of Duster was based on Renault running gear using the engine from a R12 bored out to 1397cc. Some offered a Renault diesel a 1600 if I recall. Quite effective but utterly ghastly on the road while it lasted. Those things corroded so rapidly they could be heard rusting on a quiet, damp evening !

Similar shape to an early Panda, but they were a lot larger. Cheap, basic, but unlike the Russian equivalent, not rugged.

According to How Many Left there are 2 left on the road with a couple more SORN. Apparently thats been the status quo since about 2006.

Here's the ad from our local garage, as published in the paper from 1990 that I found at work...

AndyPanda4x4 said:

Here's the ad from our local garage, as published in the paper from 1990 that I found at work...

Click to expand...

Dream deal, Anti corrosion protection and RAC membership Really had faith in their product didn't they

AndyPanda4x4 said:

Here's the ad from our local garage, as published in the paper from 1990 that I found at work...

Click to expand...

That's a coincidence eh!