Walking through the Portero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco sometime last year, I came across an escapee, if not from the Zoo, then definitely from across the pond. A Fiat Panda, a special edition 4×4 nonetheless.
It appears this Panda is more of a mascot than an actual escapee – no license plates are in evidence. If allowed to roam free, the Zookeepers of the Urban Jungle (the SFPD) are likely to put a quick end to any galloping about. I would think this Panda stays pretty close to home base, even if there is no bamboo in sight – or maybe it only comes out at night.
This Panda was hugging the back wall pretty close, so hard to get even the whole rear logo in on one shot.
Here’s the Steyr and the Puch, what about the Daimler?
This is really a pretty special Panda. It’s a 4×4, from Fiat by way of Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria. They really knew how to make 4×4‘s, in various different kinds of trucks, and most significantly the tiny but capable Haflinger, along with the slightly larger Pinzgauer. They also had their own long-lasting range of small cars, along with a long relationship with Fiat, all detailed in this fine Curbside Classic article. And of course they built the Jeep Grand Cherokee along with various other Chrysler vehicles as part of a larger contract-manufacturing operation.
But of course, this is FIAT, first and foremost. It’s a first-generation Panda, which was first produced in 1980. The Panda 4×4 was introduced in 1983, with Steyr-Daimler-Puch providing the drivetrain, and powered by a nearly 1 L engine (pre-1986 OHV from the Autobianchi A112, also here, post-1986 the OHC “FIRE” engine) with almost 50 hp, mounted transversely, which was a first for an all-wheel-drive vehicle. Truthfully, from what I can read the “first facelift” in 1986 was characterized primarily by a change to the grille area, which made standard Pandas look much like the 4×4’s grille pre-facelift, so I cannot tell what year this is from. I tend to think this is from 1986 or later, maybe the Panda-spotters out there can narrow it down a bit better. There is a nice CC article detailing the history of the Panda 4×4 here, where the dizzying array of special-edition Pandas of all sorts is laid out. This one is a special-edition of some sort – but which one?
I wish I had been able to get a better shot of the interior, but it was dark and I couldn’t get the flash from just creating glare.
One feature that I don’t quite understand are these interesting rubber strips along the roof, perhaps a kind of minimal roof-frack?
It’s a simple car, from what I understand incredibly rugged, and still a favorite in its native Alpine habitat. These Pandas are highly adaptable, of course – there being no bamboo in the Alps. Perhaps that’s why this Panda has chosen San Francisco – I wonder if some late-night runs to Chinatown are on its schedule? – staying clear of the Zookeepers, of course.
Very cool. When I was in Italy a long time ago I saw these in military spec in olive drab. Makes you wonder how easy it is to get it registered and insured. Finding parts for this would be difficult as well. But what a great find!
I used to live AND work in Potrero Hill…nice find.
I think those rubber strips are the rain gutters, like in a MkII Golf.
And don’t forget the Puch G.
The Panda has flat glass like a Citroën 2CV.
The rubber strips are to support roof-bar attachments, see photo.
I saw a lot of these when I was stationed in Germany. Always thought they were cool and functional looking.
Fiatsler restyled these into a Jeep still currently on sale, apparently these Pandas are quite good so finallythere is a Jeep that could be ok.
Great find. This literally looks like a die cast toy car.
I love how an entry-level car has bodyside rub strips worthy of a bus.
But I guess the mean streets of Florence made it practical.
I also like the ‘hockey stick’ applique that pays homage to the Gremlin.
Or the Italian Olympic hockey team?
Great find. I have vivid memories of the mad postman who drove a yellow 4×4 Panda on his routes up in a little village and surrounding area near Innsbruck in the summer of 1999. Drove like a maniac; you could see the cloud of dust from the little gravel lanes rising behind him. Looked like a maniac too: tall, very skinny, and exaggerated features, including a huge nose. It was straight out of a movie; he played his role so perfectly.
A few weeks ago, a friend living in Central Pennsylvania posted this picture on facebook. There was something about the wheelbarrows she wanted to show, but my attention was drawn to the Panda Sisley, a car I wasn’t at all familiar with. How many of these could there be in the States?
I spent a lot of time in the Pyrenees training for the Giro. The team’s chase cars were all Goat Pandas. I still remember the hum-rattle-hum when they’d approach with water and a nosh. Unlike the bikes (the Olmos of the day being finicky steeds), the Pandas never ended up on the side of the road. I guess “Fix It Again Tony” only applied to the team mechanic, Antonio. Anyway, great cars.
My weird love for small simple cars, besides my weird lover for gigantic complex cars, made a few of these crossing my path. Sweet, simple honest little cars, with a few electrical gremlins, horrible rust issues, but technical indestructible. Always had fun driving them, and till this day, we have a Nuova Panda from 2004 in use as daily driver for my wife. Not quite as simpe anymore, with climate control, electric PS, electric windows, remote unlocking and all other modern things that will break down. But still that lovely simple and indestructible 1.2 fire engine that will keep going. And no rust!
Being unusable seems a bit odd, yet I guess some types keep Bugattis in the basement, which is really no different from here, where it’s Pandas to a certain crowd.
Another of Giugiaro’s little triumphs, and one of my favorites. I have read that they are in fact rather wretched cars, at least in the regular FWD version, but I’ve read the same about several Fiats I very much enjoy driving (500, 127), so I’ll withhold judgment until I get my chance to drive one.
I pass by there on the way to work (or used to, before the shutdown…)
I’ve also seen an orange & white Nissan S-Cargo parked there on occasion. Whoever owns the place has an affection for small non-US cars.