Lack of parking got you down? Single? This small wonder might fit right up your alley. In fact the radically narrowed 1993 Fiat Panda fits the tightest of European alleys. Italian custom builder Andrea Marazzi took a year to craft this unique Panda, seemingly in answer to a question never asked. A rudimentary all-electric powertrain replaces the original propulsion system, and the comical proportions have people doing a double-take wherever it goes. Thanks to MossAndFog for pictures and details and to reader Gary for suggesting we feature this proportionally preposterous Panda.
A mostly-stock interior graces the slender Fiat. Check out that tiny steering wheel. Narrower cars present less resistance to the wind, so imagine the reduced drag on this custom creation. Check out a host of YouTube videos documenting the Panda’s construction and functionality.
Rear visibility may suffer with the tiny teardrop-shaped rear hatch glass, but luckily you can thrust your head out the window for a quick check. This shot makes us wonder if a driver could operate the Panda with both windows rolled up. You might fit a Pomeranian or two in the back, but your new friend will have to ride on the roof.
An electric scooter motor provides enough motivation for short trips. Clearly this crazy beast is more parlor trick than automobile, but credit the builder for including a drivetrain for added effect.
Flanked by a mostly stock and tricked out normal-width Pandas, the narrowed version looks almost identical… uh, no. While “Cow tipping” has entertained rural hooligans for centuries, “Panda Tipping” seems like a dangerous possibility with this custom’s unstable center of gravity. Practicality ranks high among reasons to purchase a Panda, rendering this one’s impracticality particularly ironic and silly, which is surely the point. Have you seen a compact car narrower than this diet-sized Fiat?
Looks about as tippy as a Barn Finds author on payday. I suppose this answers my questions, yes, apparently Europeans are just as capable of kooky creations. I think my Visible V8 drive motor is bigger,,,
🥴 Cheers 🍻 Howard lol 😄
If only it was a left-hand drive, I’d buy it in a second!
Shades of Stan Mott’s Cyclops!
Ha, what the?! Nice find and write-up, Gary and Todd! I should have done that in Photoshop by now, dang.
Well, you could always try doing a convertible or El Camino version!
Maybe a convertible version?
Clearly not made for the American market, if you catch my drift.
I may resemble that remark…lol
clever and subtle way of saying we have a Wendy’s, McDonalds, and Burger King on about every corner in America and were not afraid to use the drive-thru!
“Hey Pisano,hold my Chianti & watch this!”
This is really cool. The front view Kind of reminds me of this little guy from Sponge Bob Squarepants. They did a good job on this creation, a lot of work went i to this.
If you open the image you can see the whole thing. But I think you all get the picture
Plankton!
I posted something. But its not showing up. This is a neat creation. Hopefully it uploads.
I’m sorry, nevermind. It made it. Lets just keep posting stuff to get the number of comments up to show interest lol.
Cool, this is all over on FB.
Complete the process and finish crushing it.
No thanks.. it’s unbalanced and as a Ralph Nader once said unsafe at any speed or parked.
Good luck selling …
Keep your elbows inside the vehicle while in motion. 😅
Take this car out on I-4 and you could lane-split all the way from Orlando to Tampa, like the motorcyclists do!
Wouldn’t survive the Texas Panhandle, the wind would be blowing it over every day. Looks cool though 👍
Training wheels might help, :)
After watching Jeremy Clarkson continuously tumble that three wheeled car, in spite of the fact that he was doing it on purpose for the most part, I wouldn’t go near that thing!
Finally I get to use “LS swap!”
Came to the comments to say that!
I am speechless, other than this thing takes “lane splitting” to a totally different level!
Going the other way, I recall a Road &Track feature many years ago where they widened a VW Rabbit and shoehorned a 928 drivetrain into it. Seems more plausible than the car featured here!
best
bt
R&T didn’t do it, but they did run an article covering it:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/classic-cars/news/a24826/super-rabbit/
Photos here since the ones above are missing:
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/modest-vw-golf-a-porsche-928-disguise
I remember that! It was the cover article if I remember correctly. Lots of work went into that one… for example, splicing in glass for the front and rear lights, etc.
Good memory, Bill, from another one like you, you know, the people no one likes to see arrive… you know, like, no one likes to see Bills come?.. wait for it…
Bad Dad joke warning!!!
I was thinking about it…..
If someone actually used this thing in a bank robery as a get away car……
And they actually got away…..
You could litterally say that they….. NARROWLY ESCAPED!!!!!!
( Insert Rim Shot here).
Hardy har har!
Just needs kick stands on each side.
So that’s the car Trader Joe’s parking lots were designed for…
What’s the square foot price?
A flat tire would be disastrous.
It’s both the car AND the casket, all-in-one.
Wonder how much trouble it would be to upright that thing when it turns over while standing still . .
Uh, is this left or right hand drive?
Yes.
Yesterday we asked about altering bumpers on a Maverick…
Apparently in Europe, a few dozen bottles of wine work as well as a few cases of beer in the US.
Unbelievable. Drive it only around town on breeze-free days. But it would get fun LOOKS. What are they ASKING for this… “thing”? Just when you think you’ve seen it “all”, something of THIS sort shows-up…
Perfect for the shopaholic. Carpooling? There’s another vehicle I saw that opened from the front can’t recall the name.
BMW. Oh, yeah, BMW Isetta.
Thank you Todd for picking up this story. I still can’t believe it’s for real.
The last thing I would want to do is have my arm sticking out when this rolls over.
I didn’t know so many B/F readers were comedians, great comments!
How many Clowns can fit in it ?!?!?!
OOO Needs training wheels all the way around to be safe
Only need training wheels. I’d be afraid to take a corner or a road that isn’t flat.
First question-WHY?
Second question-WHY?
Why?
yes…why?
stupid
What this almost a car really needs is retractable training wheels!!!
On an old familiar note to anybody old enough to remember the original Candid Camera TV show where they split a car in half and had it turn left AND right at an intersection.
“When you least expect it, you’re elected, it’s your lucky day, smile, you’re on Candid Camera”
Bali Blue 504, you can’t drive with the windows down. There is no room for your your elbows that is what keeps it from falling completely over! So elbowoafs are included in the price. (standard equipment) So if the steering rack is only a foot long. Is it still a rack? OR. Is it like a bumper car where the front wheels pivot on the steering shaft? This car would not last 10 minutes on a Nevada road in a 5MPH crosswind!
No where to put my fries and burger!
That’s one way to go on a diet.
Weird, but this car reminds me of the scene in movie Betelgeuse where the newly deceased are in the waiting room. One of them comes flying out and asks, “How do I look?” “Fine”, they say. He says, “That’s funny, I’m feeling a little flat”. (With truck tire marks across middle).
clicked on this post just for the witty comments that would ensue after. Not disappointed!