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Panda (Classic) Roofus

Introduction

OK so my new arrival has now been christened Roofus by the family so I thought he'd better get his own Members motors thread since I've done some stuff today.
So, for the sake of the new thread here's the story so far......
Once upon a time, at a show long ago (well, last year) a mysterious Panda showed up and joined our special line up by the toilets. So obviously I decided to do hot dogs in front of it:cool:

It was owned by a nice couple who had originally owned it new, then bought it back a year or so before this pic was taken when they spotted it looking sorry for itself on ebay, and spent a lot of time and money putting it straight. Looked good then and a year or so later I saw it again at another Thoresby show and by now they were considering selling it again. I had a look around it then and was impressed by the condition but I really wasn't looking for another car then.
Fas t forward another few months and it still wasn't sold, and I was looking:D

that was only going to end one way...


So: as I got it Really good nick: Shiny shiny exterior:cool:

Brand new wider steel wheels and tyres which I love!

Brand new twin sunnies just fitted:

Sadly slightly tired colour edition switchgear


Interior mostly good except for a chunk out of the bottom of the steering column shroud, rather weedy stereo and tatty gear gaiter and knob due to use of a big lock on them


So since I am not a big fan of the grey interior plastics anyway a better condition set of black stuff went in:

And clear indicators went on:

And that was it for the first week or so.

Next issue found was rust related, just a wee one to get me started:

So cut away the crusty bits to give me a neater hole to fill:


Look away now if you're squeamish.. repair section fabricated from an old Panda door I had around:


Cranked up the welder (I know but it's my first welded repair:eek:) As you can see I had the welder behind the door so I was reaching underneath to knock the power on. Blasted quite a few holes before I realised I'd flipped it onto a higher power setting at the same time, Doh! Think I managed to get enough metal to metal anyway.

Quick skim of filler and a coat of my own custom mix Hammerite:


That's it so far. Alternating daily driver duties with Grumbleweed at the moment anyway so at least he's getting used. Never actually used the sunroof in anger yet though.
Nice one!!!


Always feels bit more 'fresh' with full ticket.


btw. any chance you got spare rear coil upper metal ring as I need it for my MOT time.

Thanks, no spare rings I'm afraid, got a pair in the garage waiting to go on Grumbleweed but he's been without for years and they've never picked it up at the MOT.
 
Well, at least I've done something with my week off. Got the rear interior arch trims fitted, and swapped the rear trims for the replacement set I've got, just the drivers door and dash roll to do.
 
Thin foam backing on the plastic trims, couple of sheets of Dynamat type stuff on the inside of the rear wings and a layer of underlay under the rubber matting. Not the most comprehensive but it does make a difference.
 
Thought I had a major engine catastrophe on there, until I worked out one of the nuts I put on fitting the new cat to the manifold had worked loose....and when I say loose I mean gone. Didn't help any.
 
Successful evening, finally fitted the full size door trim to the drivers door, and with a sheet of sound deadening inside the door it now closes with a something more like a clunk than a clang.
..litle things.
 
Roofus' big weekend in Scotland..
Morning of departure, time to fit that caliper then;)

Overnighting Saturday night:

"the only Panda in the village" - In the lineup for Scottish Italian Car Day 2016 - respect to the Fiat Scotland crew for organisation and BBQ as ever:

And from the show one for the Y10 boys:

And some rim porn. If I could have come home from the show with anything....
 
If you are purchasing a used car first done a REVS Check. REVS Checker offers this service. You just need to enter 17 digit VIN number.
 
Won't know until closer to the time. Moving on 6th August and at the moment I'm still job hunting for after that so don't know what the car/money/time off work (if any) situation is likely to be. Really hope so as I'll be just near Scunthorpe so not that far away at all.
 
Hi good luck with the move !! hope you can make to Thorsby it would be nice to meet again, regards ken.
 
TBH if I had been any good at forward planning I would't have let my Punto 60 go for next to nothing a few years ago. Lovely engine that one had..
Yes, it's the 1.4 16v though.
 
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