1987 FIAT Panda Bianca

First registered in April 1987, this Fiat Panda Bianca has Fiat’s 999cc FIRE engine (fully integrated robotised engine), which delivers 50 bhp, and a 4-speed manual gearbox. Whilst still considered a first-generation car, it is an example of what is known as a Mk2 - coming after the revision in 1986 that changed the styling a little and upgraded many mechanical parts.

The Bianca name - as with everything in Italian sounding more exotic - just means “white” and was given to a special edition of the 1000CL available in any colour as long as it was white. The all-white editions also extended to the contemporary Uno, Strada and Regata models.

This car was subject to a full rebuild starting around 10 years ago for the last but one keepers. They were serial owners and fanatical Fiat Panda enthusiasts who sourced new old stock Fiat parts to be used throughout. They were clearly invested in this particular car as it was their wedding car a few years afterwards. For more on this restoration, see the History Highlights section.

After the rebuild it was stored for several years and was then the subject of a magazine article, prior to being sold at auction in December 2020 where it was acquired by the last owner. It has been used very little since and reluctantly had to be sold due to the new owner emigrating.

The condition of this car is incredible. We never describe a car as perfect, there’s no such thing, but this is as close as it gets - particularly on a small everyday car such as a Fiat Panda.

As well as the immaculate Fiat standard white paint job, the bodywork is in exceptional condition, with no dents, marks or damage that we could see. The panel gaps and shut lines are probably better than the Mirafiori factory turned out at the height of production.

The car effectively has two Webasto-style sunroofs one behind the other, which fold back and seal closed as they should. There are also tinted wind deflectors fitted to the side doors. The windows are all etched with the car’s registration number, suggesting originality, and the C-pillars each sport a “Bianca” script decal.

The car features an original white grille and white wheel trims - all amazingly unmarked and a testament to the thoroughness of the new-old-stock parts search prior to the restoration.

The Panda sits on 13-inch steel wheels, which have just a few marks around the rims but are dressed with the previously mentioned unmarked trims. All are fitted with matching Uniroyal RainExpert tyres, dating from 2010 but in good order and barely used.

Like the outside, the simplistic interior has been meticulously restored. A grey check fabric trims the seats, doors, rear side panels and dashboard. Elsewhere the trim is a black vinyl plastic. Other surfaces not covered are where the white-painted bodywork is on show.

The front seat covers are perhaps a little loose-fitting, especially on the driver’s seat, and there is light staining across the rear seat base but these are all the original covers which can no longer be sourced in a new condition.

Up front, the instrument panel and trim looks amazingly fresh with no fading or cracking and has what we understand to be the original radio-cassette player fitted centrally with Fiat-branded speakers mounted at either end of the dash.

The dark grey carpets look clean and undamaged and there are Fiat rubber overmats in the footwells for additional protection. Up above, the clean grey headlining is punctuated by the two new sunroof panels.

Under the bonnet, the engine bay isn’t a large one, but then neither is the engine itself but it doesn’t look cramped. There’s even enough room to house the immaculate spare wheel with its unused Uniroyal tyre and a jack and wheel brace, cleverly secured by mouldings in the washer bottle. Needless to say, everything up front is in an incredibly clean and straight condition as well as being in good working order.

The undersides of the car were thoroughly undersealed during the restoration and the coating is fully intact and doing its job. Aside from a little road dirt and protective spray the underseal appears clean, free of corrosion and, as far as we can tell, undamaged.

The hatchback lid retains its original parcel shelf and rubber floor mat, over which is a section of carpet. Underneath, the boot floor is spotless. The car comes with a bag of spare bits and pieces and a genuine Fiat indoor cover.

This Panda Bianca has a current MOT valid until April 2024, which it passed without a single advisory, just as it did on its previous test in 2020. The test before that was in 2013, which we understand to be before the restoration began in earnest.

The couple who had this car restored were absolutely nuts about Fiat Pandas and had owned several, although this one was very special to them as they’d taken great care to find one with a rot-free body shell to be restored by Fiat Panda specialist Vernon Hibberd of Limited Editions Unlimited in Hampshire.

They also spent a good deal of time collecting new old stock parts in readiness for the rebuild and we understand that as a result, over 95% of the parts that were fitted to the car are genuine Fiat items and include:

• Factory engine shipped from Italy
• Rear axle
• Steering rack
• Full braking system
• All suspension components
• Radiator and fan
• All five wheels, tyres and trims
• Drive shafts
• Wheel hubs and bearings
• Front and rear bumpers
• Sunroof frames and coverings
• Screen wash bottle and pump
• Tool kit and jack

As well as the body shell - which was stripped down and repainted inside and out - and the glass, other parts retained from the original car include the gearbox, which was fully reconditioned and fitted with new linkages, and the seat coverings which were simply renovated with a new backing material and cleaned where possible to preserve them, as new ones couldn’t be found.

The history file includes a number of old MOT reports, a Panda Bianca brochure and the original owner’s book pack including the owner handbook and service manual which has the following stamped entries:

• Mar 1987 - PDI - Cleveland Cars
• May 1987 - 725 miles - Frensham Engineering Surrey
• Oct 1988 - 6,779 - a/a
• Oct 1989 - 7,994 - Rowledge Garage Surrey
• Sep 1990 - 8,882 - a/a
• Jun 1992 - 12,512 - Frensham Engineering Surrey
• May 1993 - 14,795 - Rowledge Garage Surrey
• Sep 1993 - 16,862 - a/a
• Oct 1994 - 17,694 - a/a
• Sep 1995 - unknown - a/a
• Sep 1996 - 19,862 - a/a
• Feb 1998 - 24,137 - Warn’s Garage Surrey
• Jan 2000 - 29,077 - a/a
• Nov 2000 - 42,796 - a/a
• Jul 2002 - 44,111 - a/a

Outside the Festival of the Unexceptional, we can’t think of a Concours that might feature a suitable class for such an everyday car but we imagine it won’t be long before some of the more popular events open their eyes beyond their usual thoroughbred garage queens. When they do, this one would surely be an odds-on contender for some silverware.

We believe that this near unicorn of a Fiat Panda will sell for between £5,000 and £10,000 - appealing to collectors and marque enthusiasts alike. Although it’s a small everyday car, we can’t help thinking that such an immaculate one deserves to go for much more.

Where else can you find a spotless, rot-free, first generation Fiat Panda that’s been rebuilt by a Panda specialist using brand new genuine parts pretty much throughout the car?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.