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Panda (Classic) My Purple Panda Parade Progress log

Introduction

Well folks, after keeping it under my hat all week (to avoid any embarrassment if the ebay winner actually collected the car) I have bought the purple panda parade from another user on here, neeny. They had sold it on ebay, and to cut a long story short the winner of the auction didn't collect, so the transaction was cancelled, and I offered to buy it in his place (I had actually nearly bid on the car on the original run but I confused myself and thought it was LHD which wouldn't have been any good to me) So I made the trip to fife (and on the way crossed the forth road bridge and saw the forth rail bridge which is a bit of an ambition of mine) and collected it. It took some getting used to driving! My current daily is a Citroen C2 GT, and the two cars are very very different. I have prior experience driving Fiats, as my first 3 cars were a mix of mk1 and mk2a puntos, and the first car I ever drove was my dad's tipo.

Anyway I digress, I drove it home in blizzard conditions and am very impressed with it! The only thing is that it has sat for a while and the brakes are very spongy (not a criticism of the previous owners, they were extremely honest about the car and answered all my questions, they were very kind and nice people and I hope to see them again, perhaps at a show) The Mohair twin sunroofs were slightly damp on the inside (again, not a criticism, it has been extremely wet in Scotland recently, and there is only so much it can take) not leaking or anything, just slightly damp, so I aim to treat this with fabric water repellant. There are some decals and stickers on it which aren't to my personal tastes, so I will remove these, and keep the ones which are to my taste :) The rear sunroof needs a new strap, so I will need to source one of these, or get my fiance to make a new one if I can get a hold of some leather or rubber if I find they are unavailable :)

I am very pleased with my new purchase, and consider myself very lucky to have managed to get it, the buyer on ebay should be kicking himself! And also I am very lucky to have met such kind people as Janine and Stewart, and to have found a forum with such helpful people. Anyway folks lets get down to business...photos! I apologize for the poor quality of some of these photos, it was dark before I took some of these and it is very cold so my hand was shaking. Hopefully you join me on my journey folks :) The panda is currently in my garage being aired out in an attempt to part dry the sunroofs before I bust out the hairdryer tomorrow :)

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Originally Posted by Aston Martin
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Its terrible but my first thought was "That would look great on a roof rack" panda madness indeed!

Cheers gave me a right good laugh
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So, maybe some mad photoshop skillz contest guys? ? titled: "The weirdest thing Scotsman can hug instead of his brand new panda parcel shelf ":D:D:D


....I hope you have the sense of humor;)
 
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This weekend I put a new exhaust on my car, tried again (in vain) to fix my rear passenger lights, (the sidelight is now working as I replaced the earth connection) but the reverse light now works sporadically as does the indicator. So I have ordered another bulb strip to see if this is the problem, I hope it is as this is beginning to really annoy me.

I also went underneath the car and noticed some bits starting to get rusty, mainly around the seams on the underside of the boot, but there are other bits I will be treating. As a safeguard for then after I had wirebrushed the areas I put some good old green hammerite on, and for a bit of fun painted the rear jacking point :ROFLMAO: its barely noticeable from behind so thought it might be fun :) I have got some underseal now so will be going down this course of treatment :) the car is really not too bad underneath for rust though as can be seen from the short video I made!



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The exhaust needs re-adjusting as it is fouling on the underside, thinking of a couple of potential solutions for this, I will be using dragonmans fuel tank strap fix shortly too, and I had a quick go in the work carpark of changing my idle control valve, but I couldnt honestly see it, and the haynes manual I have is about as much good as a chocolate teapot.

So I have lots to do, and a long way to go with this, and this week has been particularly frustrating with my lights problems, but I am feeling positive all in all.
 
This weekend I put a new exhaust on my car, tried again (in vain) to fix my rear passenger lights, (the sidelight is now working as I replaced the earth connection) but the reverse light now works sporadically as does the indicator. So I have ordered another bulb strip to see if this is the problem, I hope it is as this is beginning to really annoy me.

I also went underneath the car and noticed some bits starting to get rusty, mainly around the seams on the underside of the boot, but there are other bits I will be treating. As a safeguard for then after I had wirebrushed the areas I put some good old green hammerite on, and for a bit of fun painted the rear jacking point :ROFLMAO: its barely noticeable from behind so thought it might be fun :) I have got some underseal now so will be going down this course of treatment :) the car is really not too bad underneath for rust though as can be seen from the short video I made!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWCiAIiG_tg

x5mjvV9.jpg

jPtfD8i.jpg

oM89Xsz.jpg


The exhaust needs re-adjusting as it is fouling on the underside, thinking of a couple of potential solutions for this, I will be using dragonmans fuel tank strap fix shortly too, and I had a quick go in the work carpark of changing my idle control valve, but I couldnt honestly see it, and the haynes manual I have is about as much good as a chocolate teapot.

So I have lots to do, and a long way to go with this, and this week has been particularly frustrating with my lights problems, but I am feeling positive all in all.

I have also had problems with the back lights, especially the indicators. My reverse light has never worked but this isn't a requirement for the MOT. My problems were mostly sorted by fitting new back light bulb holders, plus rewiring the numberplate lights as some hero that had previously owned the car had wired them up to the tail lights :rolleyes:
 
I have also had problems with the back lights, especially the indicators. My reverse light has never worked but this isn't a requirement for the MOT. My problems were mostly sorted by fitting new back light bulb holders, plus rewiring the numberplate lights as some hero that had previously owned the car had wired them up to the tail lights :rolleyes:

Im sure I will get to the bottom of it this weekend, just frustrating :(
 
Electrics always are, especially when you know your back indicators don't work and you have cars behind you.

You will get it sorted man, and remember it's all a process of gaining knowledge ;)

Yeah thats what to keep in mind :) it was the first time ive fitted an exhaust too which was a good learning experience but I should have done it better. Guess these things will come with experience though
 
Yeah thats what to keep in mind :) it was the first time ive fitted an exhaust too which was a good learning experience but I should have done it better. Guess these things will come with experience though

Exactly :) plus alot of the time, especially with aftermarket parts they don't often line up exactly :(
 
Nice shines exhaust. Where did you get that from? Victoria needs one ever since I took her one off and put it on the CLX I sold last year :p :eek:

I think I've a used one buried in the shed, but that new one looks :cool: :eek:

Thanks mep! Its an eBay special I'm afraid to say, and it came direct from Poland very quickly! I'm loathe to post up the exact one here, as my middle pipe is now fouling on the underside of the car, but it should be fixable hopefully :) I do love how shiny it is though :)
 
Nice shines exhaust. Where did you get that from? Victoria needs one ever since I took her one off and put it on the CLX I sold last year :p :eek:

I think I've a used one buried in the shed, but that new one looks :cool: :eek:

You should consider getting a stainless system made up Jon. Victoria's presumably staying forever, so it's well worth the additional cost. The Coupe and Palio have had stainless for years & eventually I'll get round to doing the Panda's (Panto's just had one built). (y)
 
You should consider getting a stainless system made up Jon. Victoria's presumably staying forever, so it's well worth the additional cost. The Coupe and Palio have had stainless for years & eventually I'll get round to doing the Panda's (Panto's just had one built). (y)

Yes Victoria is staying for good. I probably will get a stainless system eventually, but will probably be after the complete restoration in a few years time.
 
Fitted my new rear light cluster, it works great in my driveway (the bulbs seen brighter but I am probably imagining that) but because the problem was intermittent the real tale of the tape will be the drive to work tomorrow. I just hope it's sorted because its starting to do my head in properly

Good luck and have faith :thumbup:
 
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