Sean Moogan – 1989 Fiat Panda 4x4

This classic off-roader might be small but when it comes to the muddy stuff it’s more than a match for bigger, more expensive machines. There’s bundles of character, too, so it’s easy to see why this owner fell in love with them.

“I’ve wanted one since the age of six when I saw what they could do off-road, and never stopped talking about them. When my brother-in-law, Craig sadly passed away at a young age I realised that life is too short, so it was time to buy my dream car.”

This example was discovered on an internet auction site with just four minutes left before the sale ended, so without even seeing the car Sean was quick to buy it. In his own words it looked a mess, having sat outside for years with hardly any use. It has undergone quite a transformation.

With the help of his brother, Lee and nephew, Jeremy the proud owner carried out a full restoration in just four months, and it would have been quicker still had there not been a wait for the paint sprayer. He goes on to say that one of the biggest challenges was obtaining some of the parts, and it led to importing replacement doors from Slovenia.

But nothing was going to be too much trouble for this project, and the result is both stunning and very rare. It is believed to be the only model of this year and colour that is still on the road, which makes it even more special for fans of these innovative Italian classics.

Sean adds that he has put too much effort into the car to risk any damage, so it doesn’t get driven very much, but it’s certainly one that many enthusiasts would be proud to own.