1967 FIAT 600 Jolly 'Open'

Embellished with an elegant two-tone red and cream livery, the Fiat 600 Jolly we propose is a faithful replica of the original model and conforms in every detail externally, internally and mechanically to the cars bodied by Ghia at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. Handcrafted by a well-known Italian company specialising in the reproduction of Fiat Spiaggina cars, the car rests on the chassis of a Fiat 600 D first registered in Italy in 1967. The mechanical basis with traction on the rear wheels and the engine positioned at the rear overhang is therefore that of the so-called “improved” version of the 600, produced between 1960 and 1969 and characterised by some significant modifications compared to the model born in 1955, including the larger bonnet grille, and the engine itself, which remains the well-known liquid-cooled in-line four-cylinder but benefits from an increase in displacement (from 633 cc to 767 cc) and power (from 21.5 hp to 29 hp). The manual gearbox, with four gears plus reverse, has synchronised second, third and fourth gears. The wheels measure 12 inches. The car has, in fact, run zero kilometres, as it has travelled very little since the restoration, carried out between 2021 and 2022, and has only been driven for testing. In this regard during the test at the competent offices of the Civil Motor Vehicle Authority, the vehicle was homologated as an “open” car and not as a “convertible” car, as the wording on the registration certificate also attests. This means that, by law, the car can circulate freely on the road, without any constraints whatsoever.

As mentioned above, the car underwent a thorough restoration. According to the owner, the whole body of the donor car was not in critical condition overall, however, the exterior body panels were practically all replaced with reproduced components, fully compliant with the originals and already prepared with anti-rust treatments before being painted. The car, “cut” faithfully following the drawings of the Jolly bodied by Ghia, has also been suitably strengthened in the chassis, particularly at the side members, where steel reinforcement beams have been applied to make up for the removal of the door frames, all in compliance with the safety regulations laid down by the Civil Motor Vehicle Authority. Moreover, the floors, all ornamental parts, both bonnets, front wings and chrome parts are new. Since they are in good condition and not compromised by rust, the rear mudguards were not replaced, but restored and remodelled. All the headlights have been renewed and come from original Fiat stock. The rims were sandblasted and repainted in the same creamy white as the bodywork. The two-tone paintwork is in keeping with the car's period of construction, as both colours, red and creamy white, are part of the Fiat colour palette of the time. The red and white striped waterproof canvas roof was custom-made by a specialist craftsman.

The passenger compartment was also fully refurbished, as can be seen from certain details such as the canvas roof support tubes and exposed sheet metal parts. The windscreen was cut and joined like the original; the steering wheel and iron dashboard, painted in the same red and creamy white as the bodywork, were restored. The same applies to all the buttons on the dashboard and the steering wheel. The upholstery and all floor mats, presented in beige with contrasting brown borders and embroidered Fiat logo, were cut and sewn to measure by a craftsman upholsterer. The gearstick is covered with a leather cover, while the gear knob is made of wicker. The radio, which echoes the style of those of the 1960s externally, is equipped with a Bluetooth connection for linking up with a smartphone and the latest music listening devices. The front seats and rear bench are not made of woven wicker, but of a synthetic textile fibre derived from aeronautics that is more resistant and still conforms aesthetically and to the touch to the original material. Another advantage of the material used for the seats is that it absorbs less sunlight, which makes summer travel more comfortable even in very high outside temperatures.

Just like the bodywork and interior, the entire mechanical parts of the car were restored to factory condition. The engine was completely overhauled, with the four pistons replaced and the cylinder liners rebored. The head surface was also ground, removing the necessary material to give the cylinder head surface the correct smoothness for the head gasket to seal perfectly well. A complete overhaul also concerned the engine cooling system, with the replacement of the radiator, all sleeves and coolant, and the gearbox, with the replacement of the most worn gears. The hoses and fuel pump are also new, as well as the timing belt and auxiliary services belt. The petrol tank has been suitably restored by sandblasting and tankerite, a special anti-corrosion treatment. The underbody is in excellent condition with no traces of rust, except for a very slight surface oxidation at some sheets of the lower transverse leaf spring (front suspension).

According to a copy of the supplementary sheet of the registration certificate accompanying the car, the car was first registered on 18 March 1967 in the Automobile Club d'Italia's public vehicle register at the Catania provincial office, after it had been purchased by its first owner, a lady from Catania, Sicily. No other subsequent changes of ownership are known, at least on the basis of the documentation at our disposal. In any case, as the pictures and the description of the work carried out by the current owner attest, the car has been entirely restored to Fiat 600 Jolly specifications.

The original Fiat 600 Jolly currently available on the classic and collectors' car market can be counted on one hand. It is precisely the rarity of the model and its growing demand from enthusiasts that has prompted some specialists to devote themselves full-time to making replicas. The reproduction we propose is without doubt very faithful to the original in all the parts of the workmanship required for the transformation from saloon to Spiaggina. To a total restoration according to design specifications must be added the benefit of state-of-the-art technology for the safety of the vehicle's load-bearing structure. The fact that it is homologated in the vehicle registration book as an open car and not as a convertible, as is usually the case for this type of vehicle, allows it to circulate freely in Italy and Europe. A fundamental aspect, the latter, for those who wish to use the car on public roads without any restrictions.

The estimate for this Fiat 600 Replica Jolly is between € 20,000 and € 30,000.

It is highly recommended to go and view the car in person. The car is located in the province of Bergamo, Italy. To make an appointment, simply click on “Contact the seller”. Don't hesitate to ask further questions or make comments in the comments section below or check out our “FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions”.