VERNON HIBBERD HAMPSHIRE
Vernon Hibberd bought his first Fiat Panda more than 30 years ago. ‘Back then it was for cheap transport,’ says Vernon, ‘but I soon became a big fan!’ Vernon has since owned 50 Pandas: ‘I still have 27 of them! I just love their design. They are really simple and a great pleasure to work on.’
These days it takes something special for Vernon to really fall in love with a car: ‘My personal favourite is the early 4x4. It is closest to the original design but with the additional benefit of four-wheel-drive.’ Vernon discovered this car in poor shape back in 2016: ‘It had spent many years travelling the streets of London before being taken out of use so I snapped it up and was pleased to return to the NEC last year to show it – now fully restored.’
While originality is becoming more important as early Pandas achieve classic status, Vernon wasn’t afraid to modify his 4x4, raising the suspension by 50mm using custom hub carriers, lengthening the track control arms, modifying the tie bar front mounts and adding Škoda front and rear springs: ‘I raised the rear of the car by using spacer blocks between the axle and the leaf springs and changed the dampers to front-wheel-drive items because they’re longer, and used a different drive shaft flange on the gearbox to clear the nearside drive shaft at steeper angles.’ Vernon then fitted a bull bar, light guards and a sump guard, all for body protection: ‘I also improved the car’s driving ability at night by installing spotlights and rear-facing LED lights on the roof rack and fitted custom rock sliders made from diamond patt
