1993 FIAT Panda 1.0 litre 'Fire' Parade Twin Roof

Background

Launched back in 1980 the original Fiat Panda benefitted from a simple, yet beautifully boxy Giugiaro-designed exterior. Full of Italian flare, the original Fiat Panda has now become a cult classic.

The Parade version features an interesting roof section. Instead of a sunroof two large fabric sections have been fitted that can be retracted in a matter of seconds. With these panels open the cabin is totally transformed, now filled with natural light the cabin feels light and airy.

Spring and Summer are just around the corner so why not bag yourself a quirky hatchback that no one else will have?

The Vehicle

What we have here is a beautifully presented Italian icon. Externally this Panda is presented very well with a few minor marks here and there, this great condition also extends into the interior with an interesting cloth interior. With a little over 45,000 miles on the odometer, this Panda should have a lot of life left in it.

Thanks to its peppy little 1.0 litre ‘Fire’ engine, 5-speed manual gearbox, and lightweight nature it makes for an engaging drive that will always leave a smile on your face. Whether you’re just popping to the shop or driving along the coast this is the perfect car for any eventuality.

The current owner acquired the car towards the end of 2022 and has put the car through a recommissioning process. This means that you can hop straight in and get straight down to enjoying your new classic.

When the car sells, the current owner will donate to St Martin in the Fields Homelessness charity.

On the Outside

Presented in a fetching combination of purple paint with black vinyl accents along the lower doors this Panda is always able to turn a few heads. The paint is in very good visual condition on every panel. There are a few car park-derived dings in some panels but nothing that will need bodywork anytime soon.

Italian cars of this age are quite susceptible to a bit of corrosion. However, the body panels on the exterior don’t show any obvious areas of paint bubbling. There is some slight corrosion to the inside of the boot lid; luckily this doesn’t seem to have affected the exterior of the boot lid. It is said that there was some new metal applied to the bottom of the doors but these were re-painted the wrong colour, hence the black vinyl on the lower parts of the doors.

Up top is the main feature of the Parade variant. We are of course talking about the twin fabric sections. There is some slight evidence of their age present but no rips or tears that would let in any water.

When you have opened up this section, they are held in place by the two rubber tongues. These clip into a couple of plastic buckles on the roof meaning that they won’t close on the motorway.

The eagle-eyed amongst you might be wondering about the alloys. These are not the original ones that would have been fitted. However, the turbine-effect Seicento alloys that are now fitted look great. It must be said that a couple of them will need a refurb to bring them back to their former glory.

Another non-standard feature is the 30mm lower springs that it now sits on. This was undertaken by a previous owner to give it more of a purposeful look. It does give it a bit more of a stance and road presence and on the road, and these springs are said to have not affected the ride quality.

Overall, the exterior of this Panda is in very good condition, and it will look very stylish wherever you wish to take it.

On the Inside

Inside, the Panda is an exercise in ‘less is more’ only fitted with the bare necessities at the factory. However, this can sometimes be a bonus, it not only allows you to focus on the stunning scenery, but it has the overriding benefit of having less expensive electronics to break.

Seats are usually a good indicator of the general condition of the interior as they experience the most wear and tear. Luckily, all of the seats fitted to this Panda are in remarkable condition. The interestingly-patterned cloth material has aged very well with only a few minor marks at the tops of the bolsters that may have been caused by a previous owner’s pet (photos of these marks can be found in the gallery).

An interesting feature of these seats is how they fold to allow rear access. In most two-door cars the back will tilt, however, this is not the case in the Panda. The whole seat will rise up, allowing easier access to the rear.

Sitting in the driver’s seat you have a very simple dashboard in front of you. Presented in great condition, all of the dials are easily readable and the other switchgear all works as it should as far as we can tell. The heater was put into use after a very cold photoshoot, and you’ll be happy to hear that it works very well.

The current owner has fitted a new Bluetooth radio with hands-free capability there are also some quality speakers in the rear. You can just imagine the scenes as you cruise along the sunny coast, the roof open, and your music blasting out. Now doesn’t that sound like a great way to spend your days?

Overall, the interior of this Panda is presented in very good condition. Everything from the carpets up to the headliners is in a condition where no work is needed inside the cabin.

Underneath

Getting this Panda out on the road offers you a sense of driving pleasure that no modern supermini can recreate. Turning the key easily brings the little 1.0l ‘Fire’ engine into life. The engine performed very well on the day of the photoshoot, and thanks to some recent servicing and other mechanical work it should continue to do so throughout your ownership too.

Opening the bonnet reveals a very clean engine bay. Yet again, a great sign of how this car has been looked after throughout its life. Sat beside the engine are the spare wheel and also the wheel brace and screwdriver, two items that are usually long gone.

On the day the photographs were taken this car was driven around without fault. It was also required to manoeuvre around a couple of locations, which it did with ease.

Underneath the car appears to be nice and solid. Without a ramp it is difficult to give a certification of this, but a visual inspection didn’t yield any worrying observations - some photos of the underside are included in the gallery below.

Overall, the mechanics of this Panda appear to be in great condition. There have been several new parts fitted during the recommissioning and you can find a list of them in the section that follows.

History Highlights

Over the past 30 years, this little Panda has had 5 owners. The first owner would enjoy this car for 10 years before passing it on to the second owner. From 2005-2019 the car was placed on SORN which would explain the low mileage. The fourth owner owned the car for just over a year and carried out a lot of work.

The current owner acquired the car towards the end of 2022 and has spent a lot of money recommissioning the car so that it is ready for you to enjoy. It has an MoT valid until February 2024. Some of the more recent work carried out to this Panda includes the following:

• Put on 30mm lower springs to give it a more purposeful look
• Full service, with new oil and the water flushed through
• New catalytic converter and lambda sensor fitted
• New cambelt and water pump
• 2 new front calipers and pipework
• 2 new front hubs
• 2 new front and rear ball joints
• New black vinyl was applied to the bottom of the doors

Some of this work is evidenced in the paperwork present with the car. There are some older invoices/documents that go back to the early 2000s. You’ll even find some old-style MoT certificates from as early as 2003 which helps a little bit in verifying the car's mileage. There is also a spare key.

What We Think

Selling with NO RESERVE we think this little Panda is a great little find. Thanks to its recent recommissioning work, twin fabric roof, and small footprint this car is the perfect addition to anyone's collection no matter the size.

If you’re in the market for a quirky spring/summer car to keep for many years to come, then look no further than this Panda. It has every ingredient to make for a fun ownership. We estimate that it will fetch between £4,000-£6,000, but with no reserve it will sell to the highest bidder - but will that be you, that’s the question.

Upon the sale of this car, a donation will be made to the St. Martin in the Fields Homelessness charity. So not only are you acquiring a quirky classic, but you are also helping in the fight against homelessness.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Luton. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Video Review