General NEC Classic Motor Show 2013

[Palio]

Just to let you know there are 4 Panda's present & correct on the stand.

The mk1 Abarth which is very nice! :yum: It's got an Abarth converted engine in it - done by Abarth not a later bodge. About 75bhp I believe - come and see it this weekend........

My old 45CL Casper - repainted apparently but arrived just before we left for the hotel & not yet cleaned!

Freddy's Sisley - looking good, as you'd expect.

A new Panda Cross courtesy of Fiat. Pleased it's not white (I didn't know what colour we'd get). In red, which really grew on me as I cleaned it - red with black Cross bits looks really good & has already got a bit of attention.

 

[the stig/130]

What's a cokcoo?! I don't want to know if it costs £10 in an Eccles alleyway.... :devil:

poor spelling i know! film,

 

[the stig/130]

What's a cokcoo?! I don't want to know if it costs £10 in an Eccles alleyway.... :devil:

need a bottle of HOLT`S bitter as well

 

[portland_bill]

need a bottle of HOLT`S bitter as well

Being from down South, and not a beer drinker, I've never heard of "HOLT'S bitter". Holts is a name I associate with car care chemicals, such as radiator sealant, polishes, etc. Is this the same stuff?
http://www.holtsauto.com/products/group/repair-and-maintenance/cooling-repair-systems#holts-radweld

 

[firstcar-Y10]

A new Panda Cross courtesy of Fiat. Pleased it's not white (I didn't know what colour we'd get). In red, which really grew on me as I cleaned it - red with black Cross bits looks really good & has already got a bit of attention.

This contact of yours at Fiat, Mr Von Richthoven by any chance?

 

[Palio]

Being from down South, and not a beer drinker, I've never heard of "HOLT'S bitter". Holts is a name I associate with car care chemicals, such as radiator sealant, polishes, etc. Is this the same stuff?
http://www.holtsauto.com/products/group/repair-and-maintenance/cooling-repair-systems#holts-radweld

Glad it wasn't only me! I immediately thought of Radweld and cans of spray paint from Halfrauds.

 

[Palio]

This contact of yours at Fiat, Mr Von Richthoven by any chance?

Nein.......

And there is no connection to my SS Abarth or its SS plate

 

[Vin]

I've seen the pics of the Panda Abarth at the NEC on facebook. Sam has a facebook page called 'my classic fiat pandas'. Check it out. Looking at the pics and the creeping into shot Croma, I guess that belongs to Bob.

Sam used to post on here, once upon a time. She used to own the C Reg LHD MK1 45CL that has just recently been sold on the forum. She owned before it went to Istanbul if I remember rightly...

 

[purple haze]

I had pics sent to me of the stand by my daughter who went to the show...looking good.

 

[JamieK]

I had pics sent to me of the stand by my daughter who went to the show...looking good.

If you want to see more pics and a bit of history then look here

https://m.facebook.com/MyClassicFiatPandas?refsrc=http://www.google.co.uk/&_rdr

You don't have to be on facebook either to view it so that's a bonus

 

[FIAT126]

First just to say thanks to Gavin helping us out with the tickets!
It was nice to see the Pandas. They all looked great on the stand. I didn`t realise that Abarth one was Sam`s. We actually own her old blue mk1 now.
Unfortunately we didn`t get to chat to either Gavin, or Vern as they constantly seemed bombarded by questions from people. Next time.

 

[panda panda]

My thanks too go to Gavin for the tickets!

Only had chance for a couple of brief chats with the gang - next time I'll book into the same hotel!

I also have one of Sam's old Panda's - Sky! - looks like he's a keeper now

 

[JamieK]

Has there been a media blackout on photos from this years NEC show or am looking in the wrong place

 

[Palio]

First just to say thanks to Gavin helping us out with the tickets!
It was nice to see the Pandas. They all looked great on the stand. I didn`t realise that Abarth one was Sam`s. We actually own her old blue mk1 now.
Unfortunately we didn`t get to chat to either Gavin, or Vern as they constantly seemed bombarded by questions from people. Next time.

My thanks too go to Gavin for the tickets!

Only had chance for a couple of brief chats with the gang - next time I'll book into the same hotel!

I also have one of Sam's old Panda's - Sky! - looks like he's a keeper now

Has there been a media blackout on photos from this years NEC show or am looking in the wrong place

Thanks for coming to see us everyone. It was an extremely busy weekend and I hardly got off the stand!! Friday for example I was in the NEC at 8am, and sat down for the first time at 6.10pm - this lasted 5 mins until the new deputy editor of Practical Classics came over to talk to me..... I've had 4 really tiring days (and a fair few problems in the background which I'm hoping weren't too obvious to visitors!) - I feel like I've been done over by someone hitting me with a brick!!

As Usual a great weekend!

I don't know where all the photos are, but I know some of the others also struggled to find time away from the maddening crowds. I'll put a few in a separate post Jamie - hang on, I'm uploading them slowly from the phone.....

 

[Palio]

EI'm hoping that others will have some decent photos later, but a few from the weekend are below. The lighting is always awful & I just snapped a few quickly with the phone, but it's all I've got so far.

Many thanks to everyone who came along to see us - I didn't get much time to chat to anyone & didn't sit down all weekend - I had pretty much lost my voice this morning after 3 days of solid talking too.

Special thanks for everyone who helped out on the stand. panda1408 and Jon for helping and bringing 2 stunning cars, VmanC and Panda Mo ditto but 3 cars(!), the stig/130 for not breaking anything, and scout for helping on Sunday. Loads of others too, but not everyone is on this forum.

You'll spot the 3 lovely proper Panda's, and a brand new Cross. The Cross got an unbelievable reaction (Fiat lent it to me at the last minute) and we spent most of the weekend showing people round it - completely lost count but there must be 30-40 serious buyers heading to a dealer for test drives!!

In proper Panda news, the new deputy editor of Practical Classics turns out to be a Fiat fan, and wants to buy a Panda (ideally a 4x4) - don't know what will come of it, but James was on our stand for several hours & visited 3 days running! Also found out that long term PC staffer Neil runs a mk3 Panda as does his Mum, and really likes the old ones too. Watch this space - I'll be speaking to them again, don't you worry! Pity that AndyPanda4x4 hasn't got an offroad weekend in the offing, as I reckon I could get 2 Practical Classics writers there, plus the old deputy editor who's moved on to Honest John (and may have more chance to do Panda stuff now!). :slayer:

Anyway, dodgy photos, I'll shut up & go back to vegging in front of the telly......

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Nice plug for the hive of panda activity that is the www.fiatpandaclub.co.uk website there. Not been updated for...a bit:chin:

 

[Didge3]

It would appear the spoiler sitting in my bedroom at home is very similar to the one I can spy on that Abarth, need to get that fitted one day, just scared to make holes in the tailgate

 

[firstcar-Y10]

It would appear the spoiler sitting in my bedroom at home is very similar to the one I can spy on that Abarth, need to get that fitted one day, just scared to make holes in the tailgate

:yeahthatnly garage, not bedroom.

...that's got the interior in

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Nice plug for the hive of panda activity that is the www.fiatpandaclub.co.uk website there. Not been updated for...a bit:chin:

Just out of interest Gav, is there any more activity offline? Hate to think I'm missing out just 'cause it's not doing anything on the interweb.

 

[Palio]

Nice plug for the hive of panda activity that is the www.fiatpandaclub.co.uk website there. Not been updated for...a bit:chin:

Just out of interest Gav, is there any more activity offline? Hate to think I'm missing out just 'cause it's not doing anything on the interweb.

It was set up when the mk3 was launched, to prevent a split off club grabbing it - that's the historical reason. It's part of the Fiat Motor Club, and isn't doing anything much apart from enabling people to find a Panda contact.

BUT I'm so glad I said to keep it because I found a use for it 3 years ago. Up to that point we'd only been able to have 4 cars at the NEC due to space restrictions. When I took over the Club stand I went sideways (I love defeating red tape), and applied for stands for the FMC and Fiat Panda Club, but said I wanted them together - and it worked!! So there is now room for 3/4 Panda's which wouldn't otherwise be able to go to the NEC.

There is effectively nothing you're missing out on, and if you whisper it, it's also effectively a way of enabling the FF Classic Panda folk to enjoy Panda's up at the NEC. Sneaky eh?!