Misunderstood
Almost three years ago, I sold my Fiat Panda 4×4, built in 1988. Mechanically, it was still in top condition, with its indestructible FIRE engine, but visually, it looked like a 30-year-old Fiat with more than 150,000 kilometres on the clock: very used. However, an acquaintance (with an impressive collection) was still willing to pay me significantly more than the car was worth at the time. He had heard that these four-wheel drive Pandas were hip – and anyway, he had a house in St. Moritz, where a Panda like that simply belonged. With a heavy heart, but for a few unexpected dollars, I parted with my long-standing winter car. And I knew where I could get another one if I needed one; I had already bought the one I had just sold for two warm meals in the Ligurian hinterland.
Recently I saw ‘my’ Panda again. I didn’t recognise it: two-tone paintwork, raised and relatively fat tyres, the interior better than new (because there were never leather individual seats for the Panda), chrome steel roof rails and exhaust, a whole battery of rally headlights that probably weigh more than the original vehicle. My acquaintance had invested at least 30,000 euros in this vehicle, but he didn’t want to tell me the exact figure. But I could see exactly because I still knew: 57 kilometres had been added to the odometer in the past three years, so the Fiat had definitely never been to St. Moritz. He wanted to, the new owner told me, but his wife asked him after a few kilometres to turn around and go home, because the Cayenne GTS was much more comfortable. And yes, since then he hadn’t driven the pimped-out Panda. But it was really, really great, he would never give it away again, not for all the money in the world.
That is probably the fate of practically all Fiat Panda 4x4s currently being sold in Central Europe for sometimes absurd sums. And when I then read things in the advertisements like ‘first paint’ and the correspondingly insane price tag, then it is quite clear: there will be another Panda that will never see snow or a forest road again, probably not even a wet lane. Of course, everyone is free to do with their cars as they please, you can also preserve, pimp, tune, collect, and park Pandas in air-conditioned garages. And I understand every dealer who can make a quick buck with a Fiat like this because there is still a hype around it, and because in certain circles it seems to be de rigueur to have an Italian midget like this. But it’s still a shame: there has rarely been a more classless car than the ‘great box’ – and now it too is degenerating into a toy for bored fat cats. But even they should definitely drive the Fiat in more detail before they upgrade it to a lifestyle object. Then maybe they’ll realise that it’s tiny, uncomfortable, loud and slow, and that’s not what the well-heeled expect from their cars. And the third wife doesn’t like it anyway, it might remind her of her past.
Oh yes: now a Panda 4×4 has even made it to the renowned auction house RM Sotheby’s. Well, it is the one that once belonged to Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli, and it has just come fresh from restoration. Between 20,000 and 40,000 euros are expected.
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