12/06/10. A couple of week ago a mate from Dublin contacted me to tell me he'd taken in a French 1999 Panda from a lady and he just wanted to move it on. The complete exhaust had fallen off it but apart from that the car was fine. So as I needed parts for the Sisley and the MK1 I told him I'd buy it and off I went this morning to lift it. I knew very little else about the car but expected the worst. What a surprise I got, there's hardly a mark on the body at all. Kevin drove it onto the trailer, I tied it down, some money passed hands and off I set back home, with a big smile.

2 hours later and we were home with no drama's.

Off he drove and time for a good checkover and a few photo's. Drivers side very straight and no rust! 

Passengers side, very straight, and no rust!

Maybe there's rust underneath or at the sills, there always is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,No!

There'll definately be some rust or at least a bubble or scab,,,,,,,,,,No, nothing!      I can't find any rust anywere. Even the doors are like new.

Moving to the interior, apart from the steering wheel being on the wrong side, the drivers seat is the only part that is showing any signs of wear. The car even has electric windows and central locking, that works! And a blue chipped key same as later model Fiats which seems a little odd in a Panda.

So to sum up, apart from a missing exhaust there is virtually nothing wrong with the car which puts me n a real pickle as I was for using the doors and boot for the sisley, the windscreen for the MK1 and even possibly doing the car up to look like an Italian Caribinieri Police car. I don't know what to do now     

07/07. Had a bit of luck today. David from the Fiat Forum just happened to have a cat for a Panda that was in good order. He also had a brand new lock set for sale. So I will take the lock set out of the Sisley and fit it to Jolly and then fit the new lock set to the Sisley. So thanks to David coming up with the Cat I am going to put Jolly back on the road and use him for running errands.