Post by oldschool on May 27, 2008 8:54:36 GMT
The Panda
It was in February 1980 when Fiat presented its new ’utility’ car named the Panda, which was designed by no one less than Giugiaro. The concept was based on basically three points: It had to be an affordable car. It had to be economical to run and it had to be practical.
Initially it was offered with two engines variants. The Panda 30 was equipped with a two cylinder air-cooled 652cc engine that derived from the one in the 126. The Panda 45 had the engine that was also in the 127. It was the four cylinder 903cc that was a water cooled .
The Panda was placed to be between the 126 and 127 and featured in the Fiat fashion innovative items. Till date there is hardly another car to be found that featured a 7-position adjustable rear seat. All seat covers are removable and washable as the door trims and dashboard cover. None of the glass is curved.
September 1982 saw the addition of the Panda 34 using a 843cc water cooled unit that originated in the 850.
Later in 1982 at the Paris Motorshow the Panda 45 Super was launched featuring as an option now a five speed gearbox alongside some trim and styling changes. The metal slot grilles were replaced with the then new plastic corporate grill being the first production car to use the new five diagonal silver bars.
In February 1983 the 30 Super was another addition to the range. In June the Panda 4x4 was launched Steyr-Puch developed the four wheel drive for the 965cc engine with 48bhp making it the first small transversed-engined production car to have 4x4 drive train. The engine derived form the Autobianchi powered the munually selectable system. The gearbox was an extreme short ratio one for off road use allowing under normal driving conditions to drive off in second gear.
In July 1984 Panda number 1,000,000 was rolling of the production line. By the end of 1985 another 400,000 had been built.
Other than minor revisions in November 1984, which was the renaming of the range L, CL and S and some detail modifications no changes were made before 1986.
January 1986 saw the arrival of the 769cc FIRE engine replacing the dated 652cc engine as well as the 999cc FIRE engine with 45bhp in the front wheel drive version and 50bhp in the 4x4 version replacing 903cc unit. At the same time the rear leaf springs were replaced by the new independent rear rigid axle (also known as the Omega axle) with a central pivot point and coil springs. Only in the 4x4 the leaf spring arrangement was used.
Other improvements included the strengthening of the structure and interior upgrades. The range was now known as 750L, 750CL, 750S, 1000S and 4x4.
A detuned Uno 1301cc Diesel engine with a power output of 37bhp was offered with a five speed gearbox in the basic trim level L in April 1986. In the same month the van version was offered with the black plastic extension at the rear and blanked off rear windows.
In 1987 another 769 engine saw the arrival in the Young. It used the 903 block. The OHV engine had the same power output as the 768 FIRE, The 999 FIR was upgraded to single point fuel injection and catalytic converters were fitted. The 4x4 was released as the limited edition Sisley model.
Between the end of 1985 and August 1988 600,000 Pandas were built bringing the total to 2,000,000.
In 1989 the 903cc engine saw a re-introduction for export and limited editions,
The environmental age affected the Panda in 1990 with the introduction of the Panda Elettra. The rear seats had to make space for the batteries leaving just 2 seats in the front. The 18bhp DC motor driven through the normal clutch and gearbox. The significantly increased weight of 1150kg necessitazed a stiffer suspension and uprated brakes. Further development led to a slight drop in weight and a power output of 23.8bhp in 1992.
In 1991 a major facelift with a new front grille and a revision of the range was introduced. The Selecta was a new arrival with the electronic CVT available in both version, the 999cc FIRE as well as the new 1108cc FIRE. The latter one was fitted with electronic fuel injection and three way catalytic converter producing 51bhp. The newly introduced X trim featured a five speed gearbox as standard.
The wide range comprised the 750 Young (769cc OHV ), 750 (769cc FIRE), 750 CLX (769 FIRE) 900 Dance (903cc), 1000 Shopping, LX, CL Selecta and S (999cc FIRE with and without SPI and catalytic converter). 1100 CL Selecta 1109cc FIRE SPI and catalytic converter) and the 4x4 Trekking (999cc FIRE with and without catalytic converter) and the Elettra.
1992 saw the introduction of the 899cc with injection and catalytic converter known as the Café special edition. At the same time the 999cc in the 4x4 was replaced by the 1108cc FIRE.
Due to legal emission requirements in 1994 the 769cc engine was discontinued and the 903cc engine was reduced to 899cc. All models were fitted with SPI and catalytic converter. Also the 999cc Selecta was discontinued and the 4x4 Sisley was replaced by the Country Club.
In 1995 the 1108 unit gained another 4bhp taking it up to 54bhp.
In 2001 all engines were replaced by the new 1108cc MPI FIRE engine. The Panda was equipped by this time with ABS and car Stereo.
In February 2003 the production of the Panda was discontinued only to be restarted due to demand and finally ceased on the 5th of September 2003, which was the day when the new Panda was launched.
It was in February 1980 when Fiat presented its new ’utility’ car named the Panda, which was designed by no one less than Giugiaro. The concept was based on basically three points: It had to be an affordable car. It had to be economical to run and it had to be practical.
Initially it was offered with two engines variants. The Panda 30 was equipped with a two cylinder air-cooled 652cc engine that derived from the one in the 126. The Panda 45 had the engine that was also in the 127. It was the four cylinder 903cc that was a water cooled .
The Panda was placed to be between the 126 and 127 and featured in the Fiat fashion innovative items. Till date there is hardly another car to be found that featured a 7-position adjustable rear seat. All seat covers are removable and washable as the door trims and dashboard cover. None of the glass is curved.
September 1982 saw the addition of the Panda 34 using a 843cc water cooled unit that originated in the 850.
Later in 1982 at the Paris Motorshow the Panda 45 Super was launched featuring as an option now a five speed gearbox alongside some trim and styling changes. The metal slot grilles were replaced with the then new plastic corporate grill being the first production car to use the new five diagonal silver bars.
In February 1983 the 30 Super was another addition to the range. In June the Panda 4x4 was launched Steyr-Puch developed the four wheel drive for the 965cc engine with 48bhp making it the first small transversed-engined production car to have 4x4 drive train. The engine derived form the Autobianchi powered the munually selectable system. The gearbox was an extreme short ratio one for off road use allowing under normal driving conditions to drive off in second gear.
In July 1984 Panda number 1,000,000 was rolling of the production line. By the end of 1985 another 400,000 had been built.
Other than minor revisions in November 1984, which was the renaming of the range L, CL and S and some detail modifications no changes were made before 1986.
January 1986 saw the arrival of the 769cc FIRE engine replacing the dated 652cc engine as well as the 999cc FIRE engine with 45bhp in the front wheel drive version and 50bhp in the 4x4 version replacing 903cc unit. At the same time the rear leaf springs were replaced by the new independent rear rigid axle (also known as the Omega axle) with a central pivot point and coil springs. Only in the 4x4 the leaf spring arrangement was used.
Other improvements included the strengthening of the structure and interior upgrades. The range was now known as 750L, 750CL, 750S, 1000S and 4x4.
A detuned Uno 1301cc Diesel engine with a power output of 37bhp was offered with a five speed gearbox in the basic trim level L in April 1986. In the same month the van version was offered with the black plastic extension at the rear and blanked off rear windows.
In 1987 another 769 engine saw the arrival in the Young. It used the 903 block. The OHV engine had the same power output as the 768 FIRE, The 999 FIR was upgraded to single point fuel injection and catalytic converters were fitted. The 4x4 was released as the limited edition Sisley model.
Between the end of 1985 and August 1988 600,000 Pandas were built bringing the total to 2,000,000.
In 1989 the 903cc engine saw a re-introduction for export and limited editions,
The environmental age affected the Panda in 1990 with the introduction of the Panda Elettra. The rear seats had to make space for the batteries leaving just 2 seats in the front. The 18bhp DC motor driven through the normal clutch and gearbox. The significantly increased weight of 1150kg necessitazed a stiffer suspension and uprated brakes. Further development led to a slight drop in weight and a power output of 23.8bhp in 1992.
In 1991 a major facelift with a new front grille and a revision of the range was introduced. The Selecta was a new arrival with the electronic CVT available in both version, the 999cc FIRE as well as the new 1108cc FIRE. The latter one was fitted with electronic fuel injection and three way catalytic converter producing 51bhp. The newly introduced X trim featured a five speed gearbox as standard.
The wide range comprised the 750 Young (769cc OHV ), 750 (769cc FIRE), 750 CLX (769 FIRE) 900 Dance (903cc), 1000 Shopping, LX, CL Selecta and S (999cc FIRE with and without SPI and catalytic converter). 1100 CL Selecta 1109cc FIRE SPI and catalytic converter) and the 4x4 Trekking (999cc FIRE with and without catalytic converter) and the Elettra.
1992 saw the introduction of the 899cc with injection and catalytic converter known as the Café special edition. At the same time the 999cc in the 4x4 was replaced by the 1108cc FIRE.
Due to legal emission requirements in 1994 the 769cc engine was discontinued and the 903cc engine was reduced to 899cc. All models were fitted with SPI and catalytic converter. Also the 999cc Selecta was discontinued and the 4x4 Sisley was replaced by the Country Club.
In 1995 the 1108 unit gained another 4bhp taking it up to 54bhp.
In 2001 all engines were replaced by the new 1108cc MPI FIRE engine. The Panda was equipped by this time with ABS and car Stereo.
In February 2003 the production of the Panda was discontinued only to be restarted due to demand and finally ceased on the 5th of September 2003, which was the day when the new Panda was launched.