Hi everyone, i managed to get the panda 45 yesterday, and i love it (apart from the sloppy gears). It drove all the way from Reading, most of the time it did 60mph, and the engine is sweet . The previous owner had fitted strange rear arch covers which i have now taken off, and an aerial was fitted to the back bumper .

Here is a list of the problems... the drivers seat has a rip/tear in it and the padding has been taken out by the previous owner (i have a very bad back now ), the front and rear bumpers have been coated in what looks like hammerite, both doors need replacing very soon, the rear hatch lock doesnt work, the back box is not correct and rattles badly when stopped, the rear wash/wipe doesnt work, and finding second gear is quite hard to do (swearing at it doesnt help either ).

Now the good things... the 26000 miles on the clock look to be genuine, the push button windscreen washer works :slayer: , the radio picks up a crackly french station and a quiet english station only , the car is fitted with the original towbar with electrics , and everything not listed in the problems parts, actually works

Brilliant Chris!!!!
Now - let's see the 'Finished' photos!

Looks nice Chris.

That looks lovely, you're very lucky to have it!

Aww it's cool. Should look really nice when you've sorted it out.

Well done

The rear arch covers were an original Fiat option (must be quite rare as they look naff so I can not believe may were sold :devil: ).

It should NOT have a rear wash/wipe fitted in a 1981 45, a tailgate off a 83 car or 45S me thinks. (Is there any wiring to it?).

The 81 4 speed gearbox sounds mint to me, they always required a prayer when changing, its an aquired art


Beevers still list front bumpers for the MK1 (you need the light grey for yours) and some other Mk1 panels

cheers Damon

I notice, looking at your pics, that it has a non-orignal petrol cap.


What it does have (and should have) is the 81 45 only dash. Notice the red max speed in gear marks on the speedo. As soon as the 5 speed was introduced they were droped so the same speedo could be used across the Panda range.

I really like that!

Nice one

Jim

Thanks for the help panda-sport , I thought the wheel arch covers were fabricated (badly) . I have taken them off and also taken off the metal strips that were on the doors and kept them. According to the brochure that came with the car, the rear wash/wipe was an option and seeing as the dash has a switch for the rear wiper it looks like it came with the car when new (might be wrong though). Also the petrol cap has 'Fiat' stamped in one of the grooves, so that might be original too?.

christopher watson said:

Also the petrol cap has 'Fiat' stamped in one of the grooves, so that might be original too?.

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It looks the wrong style for the original but was probably a Fiat replacement. The originals were badly designed so that when they got wet it was imposible to screw them off due to lack of grip. It does look like the one that was on my 83 45S however.

Fancy hammeriteing the bumpers!!!

Chris, looks lovely mate - I am sure you will soon knock this into it's lovely original condition. I do love that mark one grill.

I feel inspired to fully wash and wax my Panda now!

Will you opt for Seat doors or look for original fiat ones?

We need to look after these gems! Well done Chris.

Russ

Pandarus said:

Will you opt for Seat doors or look for original fiat ones?

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I will have to go with Marbella doors as i doubt there are any mark1 doors left in this country (apart from the ones that are full price at the dealers).

did the people in the 1980's have really long arms? any other reason they fit the stereo the furthest away possible? (i presume they couldnt be bothered to move it for the RHD model?)

looks tidy for its age!!

beau_4076 said:

did the people in the 1980's have really long arms? any other reason they fit the stereo the furthest away possible? (i presume they couldnt be bothered to move it for the RHD model?)

looks tidy for its age!!

Click to expand...

They came with the radio housing loose. It was designed to be a snug fit between the steering column and the drivers side of the car (on the lhd model). It has a cut out to the right to miss the column housing, no use on a rhd car Owners were left to thier own devices when fitting a radio.

Its also not deep or big to take a standard din radio and the slots for cassettes only fits them if you chuck the cases away

All part of the Panda fun

Beau, i think it is supposed to be beside the driver, as the car brochure show it like that

edit - i knew panda-sport would get there first

chris , the car looks great .pleased to read you got home ok. i think your 'bad points' list is pretty short
its brilliant to be part of a forum thats so informative as well as friendly , pand-sport (damon) i'm enjoying being taught 'the panda ways' - didn't realise learning could be so much fun
gina XXX

Christopher, when you get the chance can you post up a picture of the engine bay so I can play spot the original bits cheers Damon (what a sad man I am)

I have just won this exhaust on ebay...:woot:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4648381421

as the one that is on the car looks far too big, and doesnt fit in the centre properly...

edited for Damon

forgot these pictures too, of when i picked the panda up

that looks very alike the seat marbella engine, the one in the JEANS special edition one

(which i sold for £5 lol)