"Supapanda" - special built from 1978 Cherokee 360 V8 Auto mechanicals and axles, with 1988 Panda 4x4 body sides.
One unique machine. Chassis: Monocoque stainless floor pan with full roll cage and steel tube subframe for front suspension, power unit, steering etc. Built to keep CoG low and overall weight to a minimum. Weighs 1250 kg approx.
Coil suspension all round with dual rate springs. Four wheel disc brakes using Hilux 4 pot calipers and vented discs, all brand new. Special fibreglas bonnet made in a mould from 2 Panda bonnets; many aluminium body panels. Alloy fuel tank with 10 litre well in bottom to allow lengthy running at severe angles. Engine fully rebuilt and deburred internally; welded windage tray in sump, also to maintain oil supply at extreme angles. Stainless custom headers and full stainless system with 63mm pipes.
3-4000 hours work; hundreds of specially designed and fabricated parts, too many to describe here. Built to give sparkling performance off road, not to pose about the streets. NOT road legal. Ideal for conditions favouring low weight and high power; e.g. sand, snow, soft mud and STEEP slopes !
Brand new and now for sale.
Has gone nowhere to wheel it at present due to spending everything on this machine, but have done most over 30 odd years: sand dunes, rugged and steep NZ bush trails, snow slopes, deep water and mud. Volcanic pumice, tall scrub and occasional fast river crossings.
This vehicle is no. 84 in a life of building specials. It represents most of what I've learned about 4x4 design in that time. It's not metres off the ground to impress the impressionable; it's meant to be useful and stable, powerful and durable.
Peter Phillpotts
United Kingdom
