3575 Fisher Rd
Columbus, OH 43228
Cruisin Classics is proud and excited to share with you the newest addition to our showroom – a 1965 Fiat Jolly Giardiniera by Ghia. In 1957 Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli commissioned the Italian coachbuilder Ghia to modify a new Fiat 500 into a topless and doorless beach car that he could transport around the Mediterranean on his yacht for use while at ports. The idea caught on quickly and this simplistic but chic beach car became a hit among the wealthy and elite, with owners like Aristotle Onasis, Yul Brenner, Mae West, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Lyndon Johnson. Between 1958 and 1966 Ghia produced between 600-700 (estimates vary slightly) Jolly conversions and they are highly sought after. Other European coachbuilders went on to make many similar Jolly-style cars (and some still do), but it is the Ghia Jolly's that light up collectors eyes. Nearly all Jollys were made from Fiat 500's and 600's but a select few (less than 100 estimated) were based on the extended-platform Fiat Giardiniera station wagon version of the 500. These wagons featured a rear engine positioned under the boot floor, affording a generous luggage area lacking in their smaller counterparts. This Giardiniera Jolly is one the very few of its kind still in existence today, and quite possibly the nicest one too!
This Jolly comes to us complete with some history from its most recent caretaker. He bought the car 30 years ago from Dick Clifton Motors in Circleville Ohio. At that time this white car was outfitted with pink steel wheels, pink floormats, and a pink surrey top. He says that Clifton Motors bought the car from an owner in California who had decked it out in pink accents for use in a golf tournament by none other than Jackie Onasis (whose favorite color was pink)! Not a fan of the pink, he returned the car to all-white and used it sparingly over the ensuing three decades. Two years ago the Jolly began an extensive nut & bolt rotisserie restoration that was just completed recently. We even have photos of the car stripped down to bare rust-free steel on the rotisserie. This restoration is a master-class in attention to miniscule details and the resulting car is a true concours-level specimen!
The body of this Jolly is laser-straight, rust-free, and coated in show-quality white paint. The paint is PPG Deltron single stage and over $10K was spent on paint and materials alone – it looks simply fantastic! To accent the slick white paint, all chrome elements on the car were removed then refinished by John's Custom Chrome in Grafton Ohio. The result is a gleaming white car that shines like a diamond in the light! Up front, the hood wears a bright spine with a Fiat keyhole cover at the leading edge and beneath is a bright chrome grille with a red Fiat badge. Flanking the grille are round European headlamps (with bulbs, not sealed beam) in bright bezels as well as brightly ringed turn signal indicators. Under the grille is a European license plate holder and a new bumper with a mirror-finish. Both front fenders sport small round turn signal indicators and like-new colorful Ghia badges. The windshield is framed with bright trim and features a set of working wiper arms. One of the visual hallmarks of a Jolly is a removable fringed surrey top designed to keep passengers shaded from the hot Mediterranean sun. The top on this Jolly is crisp, white, and brand new with equally fresh white armature. Unlike some Giardiniera Jolly's we've seen, the top on this car covers the entire passenger compartment including the rear storage area above the engine. Bright trim and chrome bars line the edges of the passenger cabin, with additional pieces like rocker trim adding to the visual pop. Both rear quarters feature horizontal chrome air vents that feed cool air to the engine in the rear. These vents would have been placed vertically on the rear pillars of the Giardiniera before its transformation into a Jolly. Around back you'll find vertical taillights with bright surrounds, a chrome license plate light assembly, a European license plate holder, another perfect bumper, a chrome tip on the exhaust, and a black “Jolly” script decal. The wheels and tires are a perfect complement to this little car, with 12” body-color steel wheels outfitted with beauty rings and “Fiat” moon-caps all wrapped in a set of Pirelli white wall tires. The restorer even went to the trouble to insure that when the “Fiat” on the cap is horizontal on a wheel, the valve stem will be at the 6 o-clock position. It's this level of attention to detail that makes this car so stupendous! Speaking of meticulous detail, take a look underneath the car – the immaculately clean undercarriage is painted white as nicely as the top and the suspension components are all black and have been rebuilt with new parts including all new bushings. It literally looks like a brand new car underneath!
To get to the engine of this Jolly, simply un-snap the vinyl cover on the floor of the rear storage area and unlatch two clasps to lift the engine compartment cover. Under the cover door is an air-cooled 499cc OHV inline 2 cylinder engine with a single-barrel carburetor. The engine is arranged horizontally to facilitate a low and tight fit, allowing for the additional cargo space above. Just like the rest of the car, the engine and its compartment are in impeccable condition with no demerits to be found. The engine is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Stopping power is provided by 4-wheel drum brakes. Steering is manual, but since the Jolly barely weighs more than a thousand pounds it's remarkably easy to steer.
Normally you have to open a door to inspect a cars' interior, but with no doors and no windows the interior of a Jolly is on full display at all times. The only barrier to entry is a white leather-wrapped chain that clips on at the front and rear of the open side sections. Up front are two wicker bucket seats that tilt forward to allow access to the wicker bench seat in the rear (which tilts forward as well). The seats are original and are in excellent condition. The entire floor of the car is covered with a group of OEM rubber mats that look brand new and protect the floor from wet beach-going passengers. On the tunnel between the front seats is an emergency brake lever, a choke lever, a starter lever, and a shifter with a beautiful wooden Fiat shift ball. Just ahead of the rear seat on that same tunnel is a lever that allows hot air to flow from the engine through a vent on each side of the tunnel. If you close the vents the air will then travel to the front of the car and blow through the defrost vents. Ahead of the driver is a 2-spoke white steering wheel with working horn that frames a 70mph speedometer on the dash. Also on the speedometer are warning lights for lights, gen, fuel, and oil as well as an odometer showing 11,521 actual miles. In the center of the dash is the ignition keyhole with a switch to the left for dash lights, a switch above for headlamps and to the right a switch for wipers. Above those switches is an incredibly tiny ashtray and a rear-view mirror. Over on the passenger side is a grab handle dressed with some wicker to match the seats. Under the dash to the left of the driver is a solid state AM radio. This radio was inoperative when restoration began, so an exact match was found and installed. Under the dash to the drivers right is a black push-button that pumps the wiper fluid onto the windshield. In the center is a white storage caddy that has a pull-cable mounted under it for the throttle control. Back in the rear storage area is a brand new Livivo wicker picnic basket full of all the necessities for an al fresco lunch. Under the hood up front you'll find a fitted rubber mat, the gas tank, the battery, an OEM jack in a cool burlap bag, and a complete factory toolkit.
If you've been looking for a Jolly, this 1965 Giardiniera is one of the rarest and perhaps best restored ones you'll find! It is truly an amazing little car and it is impossible not to smile ear to ear while driving it! This Jolly would surely be a stand-out piece in any car collection and we have no doubt that it would be a tropy-winner at any car show you took it to. Give our friendly staff a call and don't miss out on what may be the only opportunity you'll have to own one of the few remaining Giardiniera Jollys!
ENGINE
Horizontally-Positioned, Air-Cooled 499cc OHV Inline 2 Cylinder
Single-Barrel Carburetor
TRANSMISSION
4-Speed Manual
Rear Wheel Drive
BRAKES
Manual Drums on all 4 Corners
EXTERIOR
Show-Quality White PPG Deltron Single Stage Paint
Rust-Free Body
All Brightwork Re-Chromed by John's Custom Chrome (Grafton, OH)
Brand New White Surrey Top with White Armature
Entry Chains Wrapped in White Leather
Correct OEM Ghia and Fiat Badging
Matching-Numbers Body
European Headlamps and License Plate Holders
Chrome Exhaust Tip
Side Air Intakes on the Rear Quarters
Working Windshield Wipers
Body-Color Steel Wheels with Beauty Rings and Fiat Moon-Caps
Pirelli White-Wall Tires
White-Painted Undercarriage with Black Suspension Parts
INTERIOR
Wicker Front Buckets and Rear Bench in Excellent Condition (all Seats Tilt Forward)
OEM Black Rubber Floormats
Rear Cargo Area with Stocked Wicker Picnic Basket
Wood Fiat Shift Knob
Pull-Lever Start
Working Heat and Defrost
OEM 2-Spoke Steering Wheel with Horn
OEM 70mph Speedometer
Warning Lights for Lights, Gen, Fuel, and Oil
Odometer Reads 11,521 Actual Miles
Passenger Grab-Handle
Solid State AM Radio
Storage Caddy
OEM Jack and Complete Factory Toolkit
Restoration Photos
If you have any additional questions, please call one of our friendly sales staff. We will be glad to help in any way with questions on financing, shipping the vehicle, or perhaps an interest in our sell-your-car brokerage program. We've been in business since 1996 and have sold cars all over the world and we insist on giving the best personal service in the industry.
The sale is subject to the following conditions and representations. This vehicle is being sold as-is, where-is with no warranty in connection therewith. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and make no warranty in connection therewith. No allowances or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect, or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle and to have satisfied oneself as to the condition and value based upon that judgment solely. The seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.
Thank you from all of us at Cruisin Classics.