Vehicle Description
The Fiat Jolly pictured is housed within our climate-controlled
showroom in Aiken, South Carolina and meticulously maintained by
our team at Car Cave USA. For additional information, photographs,
restoration photos, financing options, videos, or any other
inquiries about our vehicles, please visit our website at
www.carcaveusa.com. Video can be seen on our YouTube channel at
https://youtu.be/8JJYwexYeEc.At the heart of this Jolly (besides
boat loads of fun!) is an upgraded 594 cc air-cooled two-cylinder
engine, similar to those used in the standard Fiat 600 and Fiat 126
models. Located behind the rear axle, the vertical-twin engine is
paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. Despite its small size,
the engine is surprisingly lively, propelling the Jolly with
relative ease along the boardwalk. The Jolly does have both hi/low
headlight beams and wipers. The front frunk features plenty of
storage space with a fuel tank, spare tire, and jack. The rear
compartment hides the engine with the hood hidden under a wicker
picnic basket. The factory engine is matching to the original car
as a 126A 5000.Highlights:Cabriolet with Fringed Canvas TopWicker
Seats4 Speed Synchronized Manual TransmissionRestoredRear Picnic
BasketOne glance at the Fiat Jolly, and its purpose becomes
abundantly clear: it was designed for pure enjoyment. Few cars
evoke the spirit of summer beach fun quite like Fiat's iconic
Jolly. In its heyday, the Italian coachbuilder Ghia transformed the
diminutive Fiat 500 two-door, removing its roof, replacing it with
a fringed canvas top, installing quirky wicker seats, and marketing
it as the Fiat Jolly. This vehicle was intended to be the perfect
beach companion for the world's most notable playboys, princesses,
presidents, and powerbrokers.Ghia created several trends and
memorable designs but the Jolly is the most fun and responsible for
iconic status. As the story goes... apparently Gigi Segre was on
beach holiday and recognized the taxis of the island didn't quite
fit the Capri scene. He knew a small stylish cabriolet would be
better suited for the vibe of beach locales worldwide. So over a
glass of wine he started sketching some ideas which included using
the abundant Fiat Cinquecento platform. Ghia removed the roof and
doors and created 'step over' sills for easy access. They replaced
standard interior trim with wicker for beachgoers, added a fabric
surrey top to shield occupants from the sun, and installed large
chrome grab handles for sandy-shoed passengers.However, only 650
Jollys were ever manufactured. The majority were used near the sea
and have succumbed to rust over time. Fewer than 100 original
Jollys are believed to still exist. When one does appear at
auction, it fetches substantial sums with some selling for more
than $150,000.If you're seeking some Jolly fun of your own, our
Jollys have been painstakingly converted by our Italian restorer.
They take an antique Fiat Cinquecento minicar, strip it down to its
bare components, and meticulously rebuild it to be a high-quality
replica of the original Ghia Jolly. The iconic wicker elements,
which were a defining feature of the original Jolly due to their
durability when exposed to wet bathing suits and occasional rain,
have been faithfully recreated. In the Jolly, the seats are made of
wicker, and even the rear-mounted picnic box follows suit. Staying
true to form, the Jolly you see here is finished in period-correct
Powder Blue. We also have a performance-built (yes, you read that
right) Mint Green Jolly in inventory and a 5 speed transmission.
From a mechanical perspective, it features an upgraded 594cc
two-cylinder engine that produces a roaring 24 horsepower. Its top
speed hovers around 52 mph, and it can achieve 0-60 mph
acceleration, but you might need a downhill slope and a strong
tailwind.This 1975 Jolly was built on a 600 donor platform and is a
fine specimen, featuring a professional restoration and wearing one
of our favorite colors, Powder Blue. The coachwork is in excellent
condition with glossy and attractive paint. The brightwork,
including the bumpers and chrome cockpit rails shine along with
color-coordinated period-correct steel wheels come with dog-dish
hubcaps that give the car the right stance and look on the road.One
of the most endearing features of the Jolly is its distinct wicker
interior. In this car, the wicker work is brand new. A set of
padded matching front seat covers is included with the sale. Seat
belts are optional in the Jolly but will require a waiver from the
buyer to be sold sans safety belts. The original instrument cluster
is minimalist, featuring just a speedometer and a few warning
lights.
