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Panda 4 × 4: Perfect for raids

PANDA 4X4 SISLEY TEXT: IVÁN TEJIDO AND LE / PHOTOS: ÓSCAR MARTÍN MERINO AND BEYIS PHOTOS

Follow them on @classicmotors_club, @oscar_martin_merino y @beyis_fotos

Blessed by a huge success of sales, the Fiat Panda completed four decades of life a few months ago. A history in which, like models like the Mini or the 600, it has had many unexpected versions. And it is that, behind this efficient and compact spartan aspect, hides a car easily adaptable to competition. Something that neither the factory nor the fans lost sight of. Always eager to be able to access a vehicle equipped with nerve by modifying some affordable unit.

Beyond an infinity of adaptations made by individuals, within the official range the 4 4 × 1983 version is perhaps the most interesting when it comes to seeing how the Fiat Panda adapted to unforeseen possibilities. Endowed with a more than efficient behavior, today it is one of the most interesting options if one is thinking of participating in raids. Designed to take the classics to the limit of their resistance on tracks, we only advise you to go to one of them if you trust the reliability of your car. Something that with the Fiat Panda 4 × 4 seems to be well tied down, since its robust and simple mechanics augurs well for its passengers.

In fact, it is not uncommon to see a Panda in these long-distance events, where teams have to face marathon stages full of dirt tracks and muddy roads. An experience that the unit that we are discussing today on the pages of The Escudería.

PANDA 4X4: PERFECT FOR RAIDS

Throughout its four decades, more than 7 million units of the Fiat Panda have been manufactured. This great little car has evolved with three different generations, each packed with improvements in performance, technology and safety. In January 8, Fiat presented the first generation of the Panda as a replacement for the 126 and 127. Initially, it had three-door, cabrio and commercial -Van- bodies, all of them designed by Giugiaro. In addition, in 1983 the 4 × 4 version was released.

The unit we want to talk to you about is the second generation Fiat Panda 4 × 4 Sisley, which arrived on the Spanish market in 1990. A model with clear differences compared to the first versions. And it is that, as soon as we open the driver's door, we get a more pleasant atmosphere than in the 1980s. In the foreground, its inclinometer stands out, which indicates that it is a competitor of the small TT. The dashboard is not bad at all, with a clock on the right and the Sisley emblem on the inside of it. Of course, we miss a revolution counter, as well as a partial kilometer marker.

The gray-toned seats -both front and rear- are inscribed with the logo chosen to define the Sisley: a figure in a canoe, an anagram that is also repeated in the center of the steering wheel, on the hub covers, on the body side guards and to stand out in the seat belts, very showy, by bearing the denomination "Sisley 4 × 4", these belts being optional for the rear seats. We must also highlight the material used in the seats, as they induce us to the purest style «cowboy»Because of the imitation leather with those jagged edges that make one think that we are lodged in dense leather.

Apart from all these details we found out right away that it is an all-wheel drive, since the little sign by means of drawings tells us to pull a lever in the shape of a tap key, which is located next to the gear lever. Raising the lever enters the 4 × 4 drive; a simple and effective system that lacks sophistication.

In addition, the external appearance also changes, being a very attractive version; at first glance you realize that all its elements make a big difference with the rest of the versions. It is equipped with special tires: a Pirelli Winter. It also sports side protection bands, a half roof rack, tires, hood air intake, metallic paint, headlight washers and the pertinent badges such as the man in a canoe and "4 × 4 Sisley". We can also see the logo of the panda 4 × 4 and the two shields of de Puch and Steyr, firms that designed the all-wheel drive of the model.

Regarding the mechanical section, it has the 50CV Fire engine and 999cc, powered by a single-body Weber 32 tlf 8/250 carburettor -which worked very well in the Agnelli- company.

UPGRADING A 4X4 SISLEY

At 31 years old, we thought about giving this Fiat Panda 4 × 4 a second life. For this we renew its appearance with a bull bar -also called mataburros-, which came out as an accessory in the British market offered by the accessory manufacturer and distributor Africa Market. We have also incorporated some long-range headlamps. Regarding the suspension, we installed the Semmen Shock kit.

With this we replace the front shock absorbers with a threaded body and an inverted stem; So we have achieved a custom elevation -because they are adjustable you can raise or lower the spring to your liking-, putting large diameter shock absorbers at the rear, capable of absorbing any unevenness in the terrain. This kit is composed of adjustable cups thanks to which we can correct the fall and the advance of our direction.

We also have a stabilizer bar - coming from the Lancia Y10 - thereby further improving the response to roll in curves. We culminate all this with a turret bar to reinforce the chassis before these new changes that we have installed in our Fiat Panda. In addition, we have improved the braking with Hell metal hoses, M-Tec discs -perforated and grated- and EBC pads. Finally, we have reinforced the skid plate and made a tank cover.

RAIDS: THE PERFECT PLACE FOR MODEL LOVERS

Many times, one tends to think that the love of motor racing is a solitary activity. But in reality that is far from the truth. And is that to enjoy the most radical driving intensely requires a certain logistics in which not a few factors intervene. The first of them would be a team with which to jointly prepare the car. The second is a route organization capable of anticipating all kinds of problems, offering drivers marked paths and attention between stage and stage so that they only have to focus on enjoying the steering wheel and the mechanics.

If all this catches your attention and you are also a fan of Fiat or Seat Panda, we recommend that you find out about the Panda raid or other similar tests. One of the most interesting events in the panorama of long routes for classics in our country, with the appeal of being a single model competition able to unite all fans to it. Navigating deserts and all kinds of obstacles, teams capable of preparing a Panda will be able to unleash their abilities here. We look forward to seeing our protagonist today at the next Panda Raid!

What do you think?

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Written by The Escudería

LA ESCUDERÍA is the main website in Spanish dedicated to Classic Cars. We give all kinds of machinery to move by itself: From cars to tractors, from motorcycles to buses and trucks preferably powered by fossil fuels...

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