1987 Fiat Panda

Fiat Panda (Saloon/estate), 1980-1995

The Fiat Panda was in production from 1980 until 1995. Styled by Giugiaro, it is a front-engine, front wheel drive city car range seating four adults.

The Panda began as a Fiat 126 replacement study masterminded by the then CEO of Fiat, Carlo de Benedetti. He stated it should weigh and cost no more than the outgoing model, and be designed to the same egalitarian brief as cars like the Citroen 2CV and Renault R4. The Panda was the result - despite the fact Benedetti had left Fiat by the time the prototype was ready it was acknowledged that this was a car that could sell. In the first two months after its launch in February 1980, Fiat received 70,000 orders.

Launched using engines derived from the 126 and 127 ranges, eventually Fiat would develop and fit the Fully Integrated Robotised Engine, or FIRE unit. This alng with a minor facelift drastically modernised the Panda, and it remained one of Fiats best assets until it was discontinued in the UK in 1995. In its native Italy it would survive into the 21st century. The Fiat Panda of 2003 was a direct replacement, though most markets had accepted the Cinquecento as a successor model.

In 1980, its rivals would have included the Austin Mini, Renault R4 and Citroen 2CV - it was a back to basics supermini and would have cost far less than the Renault 5 or Ford Fiesta in showrooms. On price, cars like the FSO 125p - itself a former Fiat - would have been close, but they were older and larger designs and are in no way comparable. By the 1990s one might almost consider the Ford Ka to be a rival - Certainly the Vauxhall Corsa and Rover Metro were considered viable alternatives, as was the Citroen AX. Much was shared under the skin with the stylish Lancia Y10, though this was a more prestigious model targeted at a different sector of the small car market. Today, enthusiasts of one would consider the other, but in period the price differential was too large.

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