An "Everyday Companion" as an Extension of Design
Sato (@fixedtony141), a designer, uses a 1983 Fiat Panda for his daily commute and errands.
For him, having graduated from art school and now working at a design firm, choosing the tools he spends his days with is "part of his sensibility."
When he first laid eyes on this small Italian car, it wasn't the specs that drew him in, but the "honesty of its form."
An angular body with round headlights and a simple, honest texture that feels like it’s made of thin sheets of steel.
He was naturally moved by its purity of design and its somewhat friendly atmosphere.
It has now become his daily set of wheels for commuting and shopping.
The heartbeat of the engine, audible every time he takes a slight curve, feels as if it’s asking him, "Are you doing well today?" and it never fails to make him smile.
It's not about "choosing it because it's convenient," but "wanting to be with it because I love it."
That is exactly what the Panda is to Sato.
Italian Wisdom and Aesthetics Lurking in Simplicity
Sato’s car is an early-model carburetor Fiat Panda.
Its driving style, echoing with a dry, popping sound, has an aura as if it has captured the very atmosphere of the 80s.
The front face, devoid of chrome, is somewhat austere yet simultaneously charming.
And the simple, plaid-like fabric seats evoke a sense of good old Italian design.
At first glance, this car might look simple, but it is actually packed with ingenuity.
For instance, the seat covers can be easily removed and washed, and the rear seat can be fixed at an angle to instantly convert into a child seat!
The richness of the ideas—born from a commitment to "how to make life more comfortable" within a limited budget—can be seen everywhere.
Even though it was built as a "tool for living" to be loved by many, it doesn't look dated even nearly 40 years later.
That is because "human-centric design" lives within its form.
Resonating with such a small philosophy, Sato says that every time he grips the steering wheel, he feels the "comfortable simplicity" that this era of Panda possesses.
Favorite Sounds and Quiet Drives: Sato's Daily Life
On his days off, he usually heads out for a drive with a few of his favorite records in tow.
The scenery flowing by with music, the scent of the wind that drifts in when he opens the windows.
It is in moments like these that he often feels, "I'm glad I chose this car."
Sato is drawn to "things that don't change over time," such as vintage records, furniture, and daily necessities.
The "atmosphere of that era" that flows through the Panda is also an extension of those values.
The scenery, which could be anywhere, feels just a little bit like a scene from a movie when he is with this car.
You rarely see a first-generation Panda on the streets anymore.
However, Sato says, "That’s exactly why I want to drive it naturally in my daily life."
Caring for it and finding ways to make it work while living life with the car.
That way of being might just be the most "design-conscious" approach in this day and age.
CCG'S Good Point
