There was a happy family reunion at the NEC Classic Car Show when our editor was brought back together with the Fiat Panda he ran as a long-termer.
It’s been 21 years since Al Suttie (pictured) last saw the Panda, which he ran for a year while working at What Car?
The baby Fiat has been rejuvenated by enthusiast Chris Westwood, who saved the car from going to scrap and replaced several damaged body panels to bring the car back from the brink.
Chris has also collected all of the What Car? magazines where the car appeared, as well as a trove of period press photos and press pack material to add to the car’s provenance.
Al and Chris first corresponded on Facebook and this year’s NEC Classic Car Show was the perfect opportunity to meet in person as the Panda was part of a line-up of every generation of the Fiat model on display as part of the Fiat Motor Club’s stand.
Chris said: ‘It would have been a real shame to see the car scrapped and I was lucky enough to find body panels in the correct colour – the chances of that were very remote.’
A delighted Al added: ‘It’s brilliant to see the Panda back on the road and ready for many more miles and adventures. I loved it as a long-termer and it always got plenty of attention thanks to its vivid colour.’
Image courtesy of Chris Westwood
