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Panda (Classic) Godiva -- the blue 750L (L is for "Low mileage")

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PIPPIN -- the blue 750L (L is for "Low mileage")

Well, having not "driven stick" for many, many years, picking up Pippin (the Panda formerly known as Godiva...) was one heckuvanadventure...! :eek:

It was fun, though! And I got him/her up to an indicated 70 mph, at one stage; but s/he cruises rather nicely between 60 and 65 mph. (It's a good job s/he doesn't have a rev counter...!) S/he also drove really well in heavy traffic in town... (it's the Shakespeare Birthday Weekend, here; and really sunny...). :D

Here s/he is, parked outside Black Cat Motors, in Stratford-upon-Avon: waiting to be MOT'd, serviced, and given a thorough once-over. (And I make no apologies for promoting them as a garage: they deliver sterling service -- which includes taking their customers all the way to pick up their new cars...! A big thank-you to John, the owner, therefore, for whizzing me up the A46 in his swish 4.2 Audi A8, earlier...! And for commenting that "It doesn't look like a twenty-three-year-old car, does it?") (y)











Thanks to everyone for their help and support -- especially to purple haze for bringing him/her to my attention...! :worship:

Watch this space...! :wave:

PS: Not a bad way to celebrate my 1,500th post to the Forum, eh...?! :cool:


2 August 2014
How Pippin looks now -- after a light fettling from VmanC... :slayer:

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Reactions: Palio, Most Easterly Pandas, james2609 and 6 others
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Pippin's 'new' parcel shelf

purple haze said:
A parcel shelf will turn up.....
Click to expand...

And it did...! :D

Although it was sad to see the poor, dead Panda that it came from.... :cry:

Anyhoo: first, a warning. The following post contains photos from the deepest depths of Panda ephemera; and may be harmful to those of a less nerdy persuasion.... :eek:

The shelf that Pippin came with was badly warped and cracked... -- here, in the middle...



...and here, where the metal reinforcing bar ended (at the bit immediately behind the back seat...):



...which is why I was looking for a replacement.



It's not difficult to tell which is in better condition, is it...? :p

However, if you look closely enough, you'll discern slight differences in shape and detail -- although the overall dimensions are exactly the same. (y)

One of the key differences is the lack of square-profile metal reinforcing bars along the front and back; as well as these strange 'hollows' -- all of which are absent from the replacement.... :confused:





Interestingly -- to me, anyhoo... -- is the fact that the 'new' one not only has a date stamp on it of 1986 (whereas the original is from Pippin's year of birth, 1990); but also a maker's name:



The original is devoid of any hint that it was a FIAT item. :confused:

The original also features a lot more reinforcement -- not only with the bars, but with the way it's moulded. However, this has obviously not worked, as -- as stated above -- the shelf has cracked and warped very badly (as well as faded...). :(

Here's the edge of the 'old' (original 1990) one...



...and here's the same detail on the 'new' (replacement 1986) one:



I do therefore wonder if the 1986 one is the same as a Mk1 shelf; but the 1990 one was revised for use in the 750L...? :confused:

Anyway, as I said, it fits perfectly; and lies perfectly flat! (It only looks like it sags, here, because the back seat needs new foam....) (y)



Nice gearstick, there, isn't it...? :D

And, yes, I know that the boot is too full. But I had emergency kit for MITcar in there; as well as overflow from the Punto boot -- emptied so I could, if necessary, collect doors for VmanC; and a 750 interior for Most Easterly Pandas.... :eek:

I still don't know, though, why the 750 shelf comes with slots for strings or rubber 'cords' to lift it, when the back door is opened... -- as I've never seen them in situ. (Answers on a postcard, please....) :confused:
 
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Re: Pippin's 'new' parcel shelf

homeward said:
I still don't know, though, why the 750 shelf comes with slots for strings or rubber 'cords' to lift it, when the back door is opened... -- as I've never seen them in situ. (Answers on a postcard, please....) :confused:
Click to expand...

They were available, we brought some back in 2000, don't know where they've gone though and never fitted in the tailgate properly.

Come to think of it, I think they might have been for the mk1, I vaguely remember commenting about how they looked like they'd fit the tailgate of Charlie when purple haze brought him. I think his parcel shelf looked the same. Palio should be able to confirm.
 
Re: Pippin's 'new' parcel shelf

Most Easterly Pandas said:
They were available, we brought some back in 2000, don't know where they've gone though and never fitted in the tailgate properly.
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I tried the standard Mk2 strings: they fit fine in the little holes in the hatch door; but don't quite slot properly into the shelf. The rubber doo-dads fit the shelf better; but, as you say, have no corresponding slots in the door. :confused:

I think I shall therefore stay string-less. The Mk3 has no strings attached (boom-boom-tish...); but then it has no holes for them, either.... :rolleyes:
 
Re: Pippin's 'new' parcel shelf

homeward said:
I think I shall therefore stay string-less. The Mk3 has no strings attached (boom-boom-tish...); but then it has no holes for them, either.... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

And that's because it's not possible due to the laws of physics, size of the shelf and corresponding shape of the mk3 tailgate :( :p
 
Re: Pippin's 'new' parcel shelf

Most Easterly Pandas said:
And that's because it's not possible due to the laws of physics, size of the shelf and corresponding shape of the mk3 tailgate :( :p
Click to expand...

Have you seen the discussions re the Mk4 Panda shelf; the different sizes it comes in (depending on whether or not you choose the sliding rear bench option); and whether or not it's the same size and design across all versions...? People even started wielding tape measures.... ;)

Makes us lot look normal(ish). :chin:
 
Re: Pippin's 'new' parcel shelf

homeward said:
Have you seen the discussions re the Mk4 Panda shelf; the different sizes it comes in (depending on whether or not you choose the sliding rear bench option); and whether or not it's the same size and design across all versions...? People even started wielding tape measures.... ;)

Makes us lot look normal(ish). :chin:
Click to expand...
hi...glad you got your parcel shelf ok ..... i had a 1991 panda dance and that had the stringy things .
 
Pippin's not had a lot of love, recently: what with me being ill; repulsing Vogons; the arrival of Hal, etc.. However, god bless him, apart from a little initial fuel starvation, he started, yesterday -- after a month stood idle -- at the first turn of the key...! (y)

As a reward, I cleaned all the dead oak leaves out of his scuttle and bonnet vent, and treated him to this...! :)



I do have a second-hand 4x4 one: but that will be going on Hal. Living in the countryside necessitates such things (as well as a set of rear mudflaps and wind deflectors, for the pair of them...)! :eek:
 
joe ward said:
looks like a great car! :D
Click to expand...

Thanks! (You're probably subconsciously biased, because we share a surname...!) (y)

Pippin's a tad rough around the edges... -- but is a very honest 750 (the most honest of all Mk2 Pandas); and with a character all his own.... :)

I shall shed a small tear, the day the homewardette drives him off, uncaccompanied.... :cry:
 
Well Pippin is now at Panda central and we are working our way through the long list of jobs that Stephen emailed to me before Christmas :eek:.

When I say we I actually mean Alan who has been called back in after a long layoff because I'm too busy working on other things.

To ease Alan in we started by changing the gear lever for one that Stephen had supplied, apparently the one fitted was not original, I'm not convinced but the new one does look more in keeping with the basic look of the 750.

Next was the squeaky steering wheel. This was easily cured by the usual fix of removing the steering wheel and greasing the horn contacts. (y)

So, from sitting on the side of the pool dangling his feet in the water Alan went straight to jumping off the 10m diving board into the deep end.......





This is the state of the rear panel under the tailgate rubber and three feet of duct tape, with a close up of the worst bit.

There is also a little rust at the side and top edge........







The only way to tackle this properly is to cut out the inner rear panel, repair the outer panel, then weld in a new inner panel. The rust at the top is not serious and can be sanded off, treated and painted. I'm pretty sure we won't easily find a new inner panel so I've cut one from Dora the donor Sisley, it's surprisingly rust free given the condition of the underside!.........



It's been painted with weld through primer and is now ready to fit. The old panel on Pippin has also been cut out........



To be continued................
 
VmanC said:
Well Pippin is now at Panda central and we are working our way through the long list of jobs that Stephen emailed to me before Christmas :eek:.

When I say we I actually mean Alan who has been called back in after a long layoff because I'm too busy working on other things...
Click to expand...

Thanks, as always, to you both...! :worship:
 
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