10/22/2026
In 1985, this Fiat Panda drove into the Sahara as a factory entry in the Paris-Dakar. It made it to southern Algeria. Honestly, respect.
Car No. 280 is a Fiat Auto France works car, driven by Hervé de Labriffe and Claude Devoyon, and it's back in its original 1985 Benetton green. It still runs its original engine (1,301 cc from the Fiat 127 Sport, producing about 100 hp). Lancia 037 shocks out back, plexiglass windows, full cage, red buckets, and the period CB radio still bolted under the dash.
Oh, and the team's other Panda had Plastic Bertrand riding along. Yes, the "Ça plane pour moi" guy.
The restoration was light because the special parts survived. The hardest thing to find was the right tires. They turned up in Brazil.
The car is in Italy and is being offered privately, not at auction. Price on request. US buyers, it clears the 25-year import rule easily.
Full story, photos and the complete build list on the blog:
https://www.cultcarsforsale.com/post/fiat-panda-4x4-paris-dakar-for-sale-280