If you haven't been following the automotive trend towards smaller displacement "crossover" all-wheel drive vehicles that look tough, then you'd be forgiven. Often just appearance packages, these cars charge a premium for little if any increase in performance. But the trend for these mini do-it-alls started way back in the 1980s. Toyota, Honda, Subaru and Volkswagen all got in on the budget-car-meets-off-roader trend, producing 4-wheel drive versions of their economy hatchbacks. Fiat was not to be outdone, though, producing an unlikely combination that may have also been the smallest of all; the Fiat Panda 4x4. Jacked up and looking ready to flip at the slightest hint of a turn, these Pandas were even dressed up a bit in 1987 with the "Sisley Limited Edition" model, shown here today:

Year: 1988
Model: Panda 4x4
Engine: 1.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 75,600 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1988 Fiat Panda 4x4

MAMA MIA!! J

FIAT PANDA – 4X4

USA COMPLIANT

FIRST REGISTERED IN ITALY 09/12/1988.

2 OWNERS FROM NEW. A MERE 77,600 MILES COVERED IN 26 YEARS.

ASTONISHING CONDITION – RELIABLE, SIMPLE MOTORING....

FULL WORKING CONDITION WITH NO KNOWN FAULTS....TURN THE KEY AND GO, GO , GO!

DOT, NHASTA, EPA, CBP COMPLIANT.

Welcome ALL Fiat Fans and welcome to all those who choose “to do things differently”

CHECK OUT THESE GREAT LINK OF THE PANDA AT WORK AND PLAY

We are a Company specialising in the restoration, customization and importation of Land Rovers across the USA and Canada.....we spend a good deal of time in Southern Italy sourcing appropriate Defenders and are always drawn to other interesting Italian vehicles...we love the 4x4 Pandas for their simplicity, and over the past few months have invested in a number of these vehicles....we have no doubt that the machines we have selected to purchase are the very best available import compliant Panda’s in the whole of Italy.

So....This is an auction for the world famous (and never before available Fiat Panda 4x4 in the USA).

The Panda 4x4 Sisley offered for auction here is probably the most accomplished and certainly the best selling utility 4x4 small car of all time. The Sisley model is the “top of the range” offering.

While the original Panda never gained the kind of cult following that similar cars such as the 2CV and VW Beetle enjoy, it nonetheless engendered strong feelings of attachment among many owners for its robustness, affordability, simplicity and flexibility.

This beautiful machine was never homologated for sale in the USA, however under USA federal law, the Mk 1 Panda is allowed entry under the “25 year” rule as a vehicle of historic interest.

The first generation Fiat Panda was introduced in 1980, and was produced until 1986, when it underwent several changes. From 1986 until 2003, it was produced with only a few changes. They are now sometimes referred to as the "old Panda".

The second generation, launched in 2003, is sometimes referred to as the "New Panda" or "Nuova Panda" (in Italian), and was the European Car of the Year in 2004.

In over 31 years Fiat has sold over 10.5 million Pandas globally, with more than 6.5 million being the first series Panda. The version of Panda that interests most comers is the 4x4 version as it offers utility and practicality and an interesting antidote to larger SUV vehicles.

If you have never seen these incredible small cars in action than we recommend you get goog-ling and take a look – you will be astonished at their ability and agility!

All of our Fiat Pandas come directly from Southern Italy. They are Left Hand Drive and all have many less the 80,000 miles from new, each unique machine has a history and a story to tell.

They are selected for their original condition, structural and mechanical integrity and careful ownership. Italians love their Pandas and our “top spec” models are often owned from new by the same family – simply being passed from Mother to Daughter or Father to Son.

The cars are bought to England where they are given full and intrusive service and inspection. Thereafter they are detailed and offered for sale to our discerning USA clients.

All cars are issued with a UK title document and UK certificate making DOT registration easy and foolproof.

We have a range of Pandas in many different colors. With different accessory options available.

This wonderful small car is powered by a 1.0 litre fuel injected (Fire) motor and has fully engagable four wheel drive. The perfect car for the beach, the forest, the street.....offering go anywhere ability at 50 miles to the gallon.

Maintenance no problem – Parts accessibility – easy!

Shipping available from us in the UK to any USA port with customs clearance and onwards delivery taken care of by our freight forwarders – no problem.

Shipping costs approximately $3000 per vehicle. You should allow an additional c. $2500 for duty and import fees.

Introduced in 1980, the Panda (Type 141) was designed as a modern day "peasant car": a cheap, basic, no-frills utility vehicle,that would be easy to use and maintain. It can be seen as a later approach to the same niche which the Citroën 2CV and Renault 4 were designed to serve.

The first Panda was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who went on record at the time of its launch describing the Panda as "the most enchanting work of his life", while Felice Cornacchia, the chief designer on the project described himself as "proud overall of the car's architecture". In Germany, Fiat's largest export market, a less positive reaction came from Peter Glodschey, chief road tester of the influential mass-market Bild newspaper, who compared the Panda with "a shoe box", but it seemed the shoe box was considered more beautiful.[7] In several key markets the Panda's styling would continue to attract mixed reactions as the Uno followed in 1983 and the aggressively boxy look became the house style for Fiats throughout the 1980s.

Mechanically the first Pandas borrowed heavily from the Fiat parts bin. Engines and transmissions came from the Fiat 127 and, in certain territories, the air-cooled 652 cc two-cylinder powerplant from the Fiat 126. The plan for a mechanically simple car was also evident in the rear suspension, which used a dead axle suspended on leaf springs. Later versions of the car added various mechanical improvements but this spirit of robust simplicity was adhered to throughout the life of the model.

Many design features reflect the Panda's utilitarian practicality. Examples include a seven-position adjustable rear seat which could be folded flat to make an improvised bed [1], or folded into a V shape to support awkward loads, or easily and quickly removed altogether to increase the overall load space. The first Pandas also featured removable, washable seat covers, door trims and dashboard cover, and all the glass panels were flat making them cheap to produce, easy to replace and interchangeable between left and right door. Much like its earlier French counterparts the Panda could be specified with a two piece roll forward canvas roof.

The first generation Panda met with great success across Europe, polling 2nd in the 1981 European Car of the Year awards in its first full year of production (pipped to first place by the Ford Escort Mark III) and staying in production in some regions until May 2003.

The Panda 4x4 was launched in June 1983, it was powered by a 965 cc engine with 48 bhp (36 kW) derived from that in the Autobianchi A112. Known simply as the Panda 4x4, this model was the first small, transverse-engined production car to have a 4WD system. The system itself was manually selectable, with an ultra-low first gear. Under normal (on-road) conditions starting was from second, with the fifth gear having the same ratio as fourth in the normal Panda. Austrian company Steyr-Puch supplied the entire drivetrain (clutch, gearbox, power take-off, three-piece propshaft, rear axle including differential and brakes) to the plant at Termini Imerese where it was fitted to the reinforced bodyshell.

In January 1986, the Panda received a substantial overhaul and a series of significant mechanical improvements. Most of these changes resulted in the majority of parts being changed and redesigned, making many of the pre-facelift and post-facelift Panda parts incompatible between models. The 652 cc air-cooled 2-cyl engine was replaced by a 769 cc (34 bhp) water-cooled 4-cyl unit, and the 903/965cc by a 999cc (45 bhp, 50 bhp (37 kW) in the 4x4) unit. Both new engines were from Fiat's new FIRE family of 4-cylinder water-cooled powerplants with a single overhead camshaft. The rear suspension was also upgraded, the rear leaf springs being replaced by a more modern independent suspension system using a rigid rear axle (known as the 'Omega' axle) with a central mounting and coil springs. The 4x4 retained the old leaf sprung set-up, presumably to avoid having to redesign the entire 4WD system. Improvements were also made to the interior and the structure. The body was strengthened and fully galvanised on later models, virtually eliminating the earlier car's strong tendency to rust. The rear panel design was also revamped to include flared arches that mirrored those of the front wings, replacing the un-sculpted style seen on earlier models, and the doors received a slight redesign with the earlier car's quarter light windows being removed and replaced by a full width roll-down window.

The Panda 4x4 Sisley limited edition was released in 1987 this was based on the standard 4x4, but came with metallic paint, inclinometer, white painted wheels, roof rack, headlamp washers, bonnet scoop, "Sisley" badging and trim. Although originally limited to the production of only 500, in 1989 the Sisley model became a permanent model due to its popularity.

From 1996 onwards, the Panda was gradually phased out across Europe, due to tightening emissions regulations. The car remained in production in Italy until May 2003. Its total production run of 23 years makes the Panda one of Europe's longest-lived small cars.

With the end of production, the 4x4 version of the Panda came to be seen as a valuable used car: it was cheap, sturdy and useful in rural areas, while most of the other 4x4 vehicles on the market were expensive SUVs.

So thanks for looking and thanks for reading....we hope you enjoy the pictures. This car is every bit as wonderful in real life!

Happy Bidding folks.

While the Panda will never win any beauty contests, it's none-the-less a neat and unique vehicle that would certainly draw a crowd. Assisting that would be the particularly fetching color combination of this model; the grey paint with white wheels really pops, and the box-stastic shape of the Panda is highlighted by the understated tones in such good condition. I love the canoe-strewn seat covers and it must be said that I think this is the nicest condition Fiat Panda I've ever seen. While hilariously high, there is no doubt that this car would generate a serious amount of attention at any local 'Cars and Coffee' meet. What's perhaps even a bit more hilarious is that they actually worked off road, as witnessed by the video links. Try that in your Subaru Cross-trek! Bidding is quite low and while it would cost a fair amount to get over to these shores, I really think it would be enjoyable to raise a few eyebrows driving this little gem around town.

-Carter