Hi all. Been thinking about a mk1 Panda grille on a mk2 Panda. Part of me says it's something different, you only live once, it could be interesting so I should try it. But the other part of me says that it costs money, will need work to mount, it could look odd on it and then there's the issue with the radiator which I'll mention in a second.

I suppose this thread is asking three things...

1. Would it be interesting to try?
2. Would the blocked part of the grille restrict too much air to the radiator?*
3. Do you have any images of a mk1 grille on a mk2 Panda? (I have attached a couple)

*The radiator on a mk2 Panda goes across the length of the car, but the mk1 Panda has a smaller one like so in the side where the grille would open up:


This is because the grille is like so:


One example of a mk2 with mk1 grille (another is attached below as a thumbnail):


So... thoughts? Cheers all

Found a little bit on info on this old thread from the forum: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/89717-fiat-badge-mk1-panda-grille-3.html

Sounds like someone here had no problems with cooling with it on, but still think it is worth asking

Had no issues with mk1 grille on mk2 4x4 with big 4x4 radiator while offroading.

Bartpanda said:

Had no issues with mk1 grille on mk2 4x4 with big 4x4 radiator while offroading.

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I take it by "big 4x4 radiator", it means it will be bigger than the one on my 2wd Fizz special edition? Though still may have no issues, especially if the guy who had the 1000S on the old thread from 2007 I believe it was had no issues!

Cheers Bart

yes 4x4 has bigger thicker radiator than any 4x2.

Bartpanda said:

yes 4x4 has bigger thicker radiator than any 4x2.

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Would make sense I suppose! Wondering if anyone else has tried it on a 4x2. Thanks again for sharing

I have one to fit on mine, but then mine is a 4x4. I thought it would go better with my army theme!

northernchap said:

I have one to fit on mine, but then mine is a 4x4. I thought it would go better with my army theme!

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Yeah, wondering how big the difference would be with 4x4 to 4x2... hopefully cooling is fine with it on a 2wd also.

Just found this pic of Sprox's one, old FF member. Can't say I saw anything about his overheating but still going to keep the thread open for more thoughts from others...

Honestly I think it would be fine, the engines are a little over cooled anyway IMO, they were designed to work in most hotter climates than ours. I can't remember which side of the radiator (left/right) the fan is mounted, so long as its on the side that isn't blocked it would also be fine in traffic.

Back when I first got my old Panda I wanted to put a mk1 grille in it, I think the mounting is different though, although as others have fitted it I'm sure its not very difficult to get around.

Didge3 said:

Back when I first got my old Panda I wanted to put a mk1 grille in it, I think the mounting is different though, although as others have fitted it I'm sure its not very difficult to get around.

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I hope it does fit easily enough, this is about my skill level:

Didge3 said:

Honestly I think it would be fine, the engines are a little over cooled anyway IMO, they were designed to work in most hotter climates than ours. I can't remember which side of the radiator (left/right) the fan is mounted, so long as its on the side that isn't blocked it would also be fine in traffic.

Back when I first got my old Panda I wanted to put a mk1 grille in it, I think the mounting is different though, although as others have fitted it I'm sure its not very difficult to get around.

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That's alright then, cheers Didge. Guess they were made for Italy! The fan is on the right hand side (if you're looking at the car head on) so I'd of course be putting the vent that side if I do decide to buy

Mountings are different, but can still be used. The top ones can be fitted with a nice little piece of metal like so...


The bottom ones can be cable tied, though that would present a slight problem for me seeing as how I have one of my mounts dented backwards currently, and it's not wanting to pull back. That may be something I have to think about some more, but there will be a way... somehow...

northernchap said:

I hope it does fit easily enough, this is about my skill level (snip)

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I mean, that could work, may just go for that on the bottom

Heh, I'll have to have a think about that one. Either need to have another go at fixing my left bottom grille mount or finding something to keep it further out but still secure. The current grille is easy because I have washers on the screws to keep it ever so slightly raised. It's not as bad as it sounds, I just want it to line up

My grille, there is plastic one on the picture, but the mountings were fabricated for metal mk1 one, I used to have before some f...er in the white van damaged my car one year ago.

Just to confuse matters, mountings seem to be the same on mine?!?!

Bartpanda said:

My grille, there is plastic one on the picture, but the mountings were fabricated for metal mk1 one, I used to have before some f...er in the white van damaged my car one year ago.

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I should be alright with the mounts on the top, just need a bit of metal and some holes drilled really! Are those mountings holding the plastic one the same you used for the metal one then, or are the holes drilled out where the mountings used to be to hold the metal one? I think the main part for me will be trying to fit the bottom, as one of the mountings is still slightly bent back. I'll find a way to get it fit right though!

My car was partly dented in the front right by a previous owner which is why I fixed the bumper and went about fixing the grille, which is what got me thinking about the mk1 grille... think it would be a neat touch, they do look nice

Anyway... by the sounds of it, I'm now in the market for a mk1 grille. I'll be getting one soon, think I know where I'll be getting it and got a mate asking a couple guys about it too, but feel free to throw in the hat if you've got one for sale guys!

Bought a mk1 grille. Once delivered and I sort out 100% what I'm doing with it, you'll see it on my Pandino thread

northernchap said:

Just to confuse matters, mountings seem to be the same on mine?!?!

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Hi, missed your post! Here's my mounts:


On both of ours the middle is the same, but on either side, your mounts are slightly further out with metal coming off from the groove on the car to meet the grille. My car has nothing in the groove and has the grille screwed in next to the groove instead! So what I'll need to do is just make a mount in that groove or make a mount to allow the screw next to it to meet to the mk1 grille holes

Here is a picture from the recent 4x4 meetup showing my car with a Mk1 grille (painted the day before so it was still wet, ) - might inspire/put off someone else so figured I'd share it! Photo by Ula.

northernchap said:

Here is a picture from the recent 4x4 meetup showing my car with a Mk1 grille (painted the day before so it was still wet, ) - might inspire/put off someone else so figured I'd share it! Photo by Ula.

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Looks great. Glad I've bought mine, but still waiting on said parcel company to sort out their end and get back to the seller so we can sort out what's going on with it as it was damaged in the post. Still, once straightened out it'll look great

I was thinking of painting my Mk1 grille in black, hopefully similar to the colour of the bumper so that it all fits in nicely... I do have red paint that I could put on it, but the slight problem there - my car has 23 years worth of age and oxidization in that paint, but the paint I have is what it would have come out as stock, so it may look different if I used red anyway!

That's the decision I need to make after it is all sorted with the parcel company. Black, which I'm leaning towards, or go for red...