When you think of a skinny panda, you probably also think, “That don’t look right.” Instinct says to feed it. This thought process applies to all pandas, even those of the automotive variety. Case in point: a “flat” Fiat Panda making the viral video rounds. The vehicle is confounding and, well, it just don’t look right.
But we look at it, anyway! The creation of Italian mechanic Andrea Marazzi, a 1993 Panda has been reimagined into a 19.6-inch-wide version of itself. Although absolutely impractical, the “Panda stretta” (tight Panda) can be driven and is likely the world’s slimmest operational vehicle. Yanko Design, an online publication with a focus on international product design, offers further insight:
“Marazzi, who works at his family’s scrapyard and mechanical workshop in Bagnolo Cremasco, spent over a year building the vehicle as a tribute to the original Fiat Panda. Nearly every original part of the 1993 car has been reused in the process—doors, lights, roof, and wheels—but the body has been split vertically and rebuilt to shrink the vehicle’s width down to a comically slim profile.”
Marazzi took an already subcompact unit and still managed to find bloat to cut. That is ruthless CEO-level chopping right there. Not only did he modify the physical proportions of the Fiat, but he also revamped its powertrain and drive configuration.
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In a video posted to his Instagram account, Marazzi explains that the slimmed-down Fiat is rear-wheel drive, but power is sent just to one wheel. The other wheel handles the braking. Also, the engine is not an engine at all, but a fully electric motor. Typically, Fiat Pandas are front-wheel drive and powered by a gas engine. According to Yanko Design:
“Powering this narrow Panda is a small electric motor borrowed from an e-scooter, paired with a 24V battery that gives the car a modest top speed of about 15 kilometers per hour and a driving range of approximately 25 kilometers.”
That being said, although completely functional, Mazarri’s single-seat Panda is not meant for any legitimate daily use. The design pub explains further:
“It’s not built for real-world commuting, nor is it legally road-registered. But it functions exactly as a basic car should: offering forward and reverse drive, braking, turning, and a working headlight and turn signals. While Marazzi originally created it as a showpiece, the vehicle is fully operational and was recently driven in public at an enthusiast gathering in Pandino, Italy.”
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Established in 2017, Panda a Pandino is dedicated to all things Fiat Panda, and what better place for Marazzi to debut his inspired celebration? Coincidentally, according to the organizers, this year’s event drew a record crowd of 1,063 vehicles. That is a lot of Pandas. And rolling up via flatbed, the skinny Fiat didn’t go unnoticed. You can check out the vehicle walkaround below:
Regarding the popularity of Marazzi’s Panda, Yanko Design says:
“Surrounded by thousands of conventionally sized Pandas, Marazzi’s single-seater stood out immediately. Videos and images from the event quickly went viral online, leaving viewers fascinated by its proportions and mobility.
Many were amused by how the Panda looks almost flattened, as if it had been squeezed into a 2D shape while retaining its ability to move. Others praised the engineering behind it, describing it as a brilliant blend of creativity, nostalgia, and humor.”
Now, I don’t speak Italian. However, when international design e-zine Design Boom shared a video on its social channels, the English-speaking commenters and meme-ers likely offered up the same reactions as Italians:
“That’s a slice of a car.” – @zachthistle
“It hurts my eyes.” – @rmstitanic.design
“Both arms tan equally.” – @ingevanderham
“When you want to buy a car but only have money for half of it.” – @murilofrigeri
“I wanna tip it over so bad.” – @biglandooo
“This [is] the car you draw when you’re in 3rd grade.” – @rocco.elliot_music
“This kind of car, you don’t need car insurance, you need life insurance.” – @the5thsun
Hopefully, also taking notice? Guinness World Records. Yanko Design reports that Marazzi submitted a claim for the title of slimmest functioning vehicle ever made. I couldn’t find such a record via GWR’s online search tool. Though I did find Smallest Roadworthy Car and Narrowest J-Turn, of all things. Maybe Marazzi can also try for Smallest Roadworthy Car to Perform a J-Turn?
But, hey, no matter how you look at it, what Marazzi has built is a heck of an engineering challenge. And would make great home decor as wall art, while the lowest drivable car, coincidentally also a Panda, can double as an area rug.
Top graphic images: Moto Tv Woods Farm/I RECUPERI DEL SABATO/Jennifer Makau via YouTube screen capture
They need to get together with the folks who made this one (also Italian IIRC):
https://www.theautopian.com/this-impossibly-low-fiat-panda-looks-like-a-videogame-glitch-in-real-life/
DRY CLEANER: May I help you?
JERRY: Yeah. I picked up this shirt here yesterday. It’s completely shrunk. There’s absolutely no way I can wear it.
DRY CLEANER: When did you bring it in?
JERRY: What’s the difference? Look at it! Do you see the size of this shirt?!
DRY CLEANER: You got a receipt?
JERRY: I can’t find the receipt.
DRY CLEANER: You should get the receipt.
JERRY: Look, forget about the receipt, all right? Even if I had the receipt- look at it! It’s a hand puppet. What am I gonna do with this?!
DRY CLEANER: Yes, but how do I know we did the shirt?
JERRY: What do you think this is a little scam I have? I take this tiny shirt all over the city conning dry cleaners out of money?! In fact, forget the money. I don’t even
want the money. I just once, I would like to hear a dry cleaner admit that something was their fault. That’s what I want. I want an admission of guilt.
DRY CLEANER: Maybe you asked for it to be washed?
JERRY: No.. dry-cleaned.
DRY CLEANER: Let me explain to you something. Okay? With certain types of fabrics, different chemicals can react, causing..
JERRY: (Interrupting) You shrunk it! You know you shrunk it! Just tell me that you shrunk it!
DRY CLEANER: I shrunk it.
No way, and you call it a car?
Mike Wazowski approved.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Mike_Wazowski.png
And Leela
Sweet! Thought I’d never get a four car garage!
I love how the width of the headlight and turn signals was the limiting factor on the width.
Dude made it into a Ft Pa!
So that picture of it parked between 2 vans would be a … Pandwich?
Along the same lines, not as extreme but as disorienting, was the narrow cut down Citroën DS from several years back. I think I saw it in person. It was reported on on the Old Site.
Funny how Marazzi’s *elbows* stick out both windows.
Reminded of how Floyd Clymer (yes, of Clymer repair manual fame) reviewed the 1953 Hillman Minx Californian:
https://osanos50.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/pm-jan-53-pag-112.jpg
And for those interested here’s a link to Clymer’s review in the January 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics:
https://books.google.com/books?id=zdwDAAAAMBAJ&dq=true&pg=PA112#v=onepage&q=true&f=false
Frequent maintenance was expected in those days! And check out the “house car” on page 117!!
Lots of maintenance was expected in those days. And check out the “five-passenger housecar” on page 117!
I need to know why the tail lights do not match…
One reverse light and one rear fog light. Pretty common in Europe. The layout’s switched around for UK/Ireland – the fog light’s always on the driver’s side.
In many (if not all) countries in Europe, cars are required to have at least one rear fog light, which has to be red. Coincidentally, cars are also required to have at least one reverse light, which we all know is white. So what a lot of manufacturers do as a cost-saving measure is to have one reverse light switched out for a rear fog light, which is what’s going on here.
Very interesting, thanks! I knew about the fog light requirement, but for some reason had never seen (or maybe seen, but it never registered) that the fog could be swapped in for a reverse light. TIL!
When the are far apart you never really see the difference. Now, you can.
Man I hate everything about looking at that, makes my skin crawl. Cool engineering though.
For the man who has half of everything!
Ian Malcolm’s car. Maybe.
The Turanga Leela car
Dude built the car with blackjack and hookers.
You know what? Forget the car.
Mike Wazowski!
It matches his haircut, a little bit narrower than needed for coverage.
The coldest of Cold War era faces.
I’m impressed by the plastic work on those bumpers, you can’t even see the seam!
“ slimmest functioning vehicle ever made”
This would have to be a unicycle, no? Or a tiny motorcycle?
He’d have to go for “slimmest functioning four wheel car” or something.
Slimmest functioning, fully-enclosed vehicle.
I want to see a video of it turning.
I was thinking about that too. I think maybe the two wheels are on a “bogie,” ala an airplane’s front landing gear.
My first thought was steering. I think JJ might be onto something. Wheels fixed to a vertical shaft between the wheels mounted to a turning plate under the hood. Doesn’t have to be fancy for a car that barely moves, and one you wouldn’t want to turn quickly anyway.
When stationary, you could use a sit ‘n spin style of mechanism to pivot the car to a new direction.
That’s the skinny on the Skinny.