Oldmotorman
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- Feb 12, 2016
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I have been asked to give some details of the work done to my Sisley 4x4 - this is the story so far (it was written for a less knowledgeable audience than this forum so apologies if some of it seems a bit obvious):
I bought a Fiat Panda Classic Sisley 4x4 a couple of years ago when we were threatened with a very harsh winter. The promised snow never materialised (I should have bought a boat!), but I kept the car as a handy runabout. It was in reasonable condition but a bit too rusty for me. A visit to the Restoration Show at NEC provided the inspiration as there were some upgraded Pandas on the Fiat Club stand.
We stripped the car back to a bare shell, shot blasted it, then spent a long time welding up the many holes and gaps exposed by the blasting. In the meantime we cleaned up the driveshaft, axles etc and painted them. The shell was then sprayed in a BMW Mini colour “Jungle Green” which suits it quite well. The plastic side panels and arch covers were ditched and all badges left off.
I bought a Fiat Punto 1.2 16valve with no MOT and that provided a donor engine and front discs. The engine slots in fairly easily, only requiring modifications to the heater airbox to fit, and rewiring to allow for the ECU and remote throttle pedal. The Punto engine is claimed to be 80bhp as opposed to the 50bhp of the Panda engine, but with no cat and better breathing I think we will be about 90bhp. The car weighs in at around 750kg so circa 120bhp per ton makes it quite sprightly.
We fitted an uprated clutch to cope with the torquier engine. The original five speed Panda box works fine, first gear is very low and the car starts easily in second or even third gear on the level.
A four branch exhaust manifold mated to a slightly larger bore stainless steel exhaust which we fabricated ourselves gives a fine rorty exhaust note.
Having fitted the larger brake discs the original wheels did not fit, but some suitable 14” wheels were found on the internet and Pirelli snow tyres fitted.
The rear seats were thrown away and a wooden tray made to convert the rear into a suitable dog/cargo carrying platform, and the front seats, door cards and dash roll were re-trimmed in tan leather and the carpets made to measure, that work being done very nicely by Max Tait at Northumbrian Leather. A wooden Mota Lita steering wheel gives a nice finishing touch.
It has cost quite a bit for a 25 year old Fiat Panda, but still less than a comparable new four wheel drive, and we have a unique and attractive car which will last for many years and will not depreciate. About 35-40mpg depending on driving attitude is quite acceptable, and the car has been referred to by one enthusiastic friend as a mini Range Rover. It certainly attracts a lot of attention.
I bought a Fiat Panda Classic Sisley 4x4 a couple of years ago when we were threatened with a very harsh winter. The promised snow never materialised (I should have bought a boat!), but I kept the car as a handy runabout. It was in reasonable condition but a bit too rusty for me. A visit to the Restoration Show at NEC provided the inspiration as there were some upgraded Pandas on the Fiat Club stand.
We stripped the car back to a bare shell, shot blasted it, then spent a long time welding up the many holes and gaps exposed by the blasting. In the meantime we cleaned up the driveshaft, axles etc and painted them. The shell was then sprayed in a BMW Mini colour “Jungle Green” which suits it quite well. The plastic side panels and arch covers were ditched and all badges left off.
I bought a Fiat Punto 1.2 16valve with no MOT and that provided a donor engine and front discs. The engine slots in fairly easily, only requiring modifications to the heater airbox to fit, and rewiring to allow for the ECU and remote throttle pedal. The Punto engine is claimed to be 80bhp as opposed to the 50bhp of the Panda engine, but with no cat and better breathing I think we will be about 90bhp. The car weighs in at around 750kg so circa 120bhp per ton makes it quite sprightly.
We fitted an uprated clutch to cope with the torquier engine. The original five speed Panda box works fine, first gear is very low and the car starts easily in second or even third gear on the level.
A four branch exhaust manifold mated to a slightly larger bore stainless steel exhaust which we fabricated ourselves gives a fine rorty exhaust note.
Having fitted the larger brake discs the original wheels did not fit, but some suitable 14” wheels were found on the internet and Pirelli snow tyres fitted.
The rear seats were thrown away and a wooden tray made to convert the rear into a suitable dog/cargo carrying platform, and the front seats, door cards and dash roll were re-trimmed in tan leather and the carpets made to measure, that work being done very nicely by Max Tait at Northumbrian Leather. A wooden Mota Lita steering wheel gives a nice finishing touch.
It has cost quite a bit for a 25 year old Fiat Panda, but still less than a comparable new four wheel drive, and we have a unique and attractive car which will last for many years and will not depreciate. About 35-40mpg depending on driving attitude is quite acceptable, and the car has been referred to by one enthusiastic friend as a mini Range Rover. It certainly attracts a lot of attention.
