The Jolly caught fire this evening. The brass carb fuel nipple broke and gas sprayed on the engine. I smelled gas and then boom.... the fire exploded. Fortunately someone was close by with an extinguisher so it may not be a total loss.

Yikes. Glad you caught it before it got too far. Did the nipple pull out of the carb body or actually break? I had one pull out, but thankfully while I was working on it, not running. Some rough sandpaper and JB Weld put it back for good.

An unfortunate reminder to always carry an extinguisher with you, particularly in an air-cooled car.

TeleSpeed said:

The Jolly caught fire this evening. The brass carb fuel nipple broke and gas sprayed on the engine. I smelled gas and then boom.... the fire exploded. Fortunately someone was close by with an extinguisher so it may not be a total loss.

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That's terrible.....I would be inconsolable. I hope it can be repaired and as soon as possible. [emoji20]

JumpJet, I believe the nipple slipped out of the carb body.

fiat500, We've had the car for nearly 30 years, and when the rear wicker seat went up in flames my wife cried. The good news is that the car is restorable. Although finding someone who can reweave the seat in the same quality as original might be difficult.

If anyone has a recommendation for someone who can redo the wicker to a high standard, please let me know.

My biggest fear in all my old car collection. I hope the damage is not that extensive.

I realise that you are in the US, but i can probably find you a UK address for a 'wicker seat repairer'---my friend has just finished restoring HIS Jolly---complete with wicker seats.

Looks horrendous. Cars can be repaired. most importantly no one hurt.

That’s really sad. Glad everyone is ok and that she’ll be able to be restored. Best of luck.

Anyone have a suggestion for a mounting location for a fire extinguisher that won’t compromise leg room? I’m going to order up an extinguisher and mount today.

Telespeed (sorry I don't know your name)---I have sent you a private message regarding the "re-wickering" of your rear seat. In the message I have given you my friends name and e-mail address. If you don't get the message,comeback to me at:[email protected] and I will give you the details again. I have spoken to him, so he knows that you might contact him.

LiteRye said:

That’s really sad. Glad everyone is ok and that she’ll be able to be restored. Best of luck.

Anyone have a suggestion for a mounting location for a fire extinguisher that won’t compromise leg room? I’m going to order up an extinguisher and mount today.

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I’m planning to mount mine in front of the shifter in a nice, billet quick-release mount (ala the seat rail mounted ones on Porsches). It’s easily accessible and doesn’t interfere unless you have a console. Either that or a seat rail mount in front of the passenger rails.

Thank you Hobbler for the message with the recommendation of someone to re-wicker the seats. It is very much appreciated.

Must be a write off.. will take it for scrap

Mr Fiat has someone in the US that does Wickering (but prob expensive)... I think shipping to/from the UK/US will make it very expensive....

Any one that specialises in Lloyd Loom furniture restoration would be able to do them

Tom.. is your Friends Jolly a real Ghia one? as there s no record of another Ghia Jolly in the UK...

there was one supposedly on it's way that was owned an American actress (Mary Pickford)

My friends 'jolly' is a Simca Montecarlo. Of the 10 that were built, only 3 remain, one of them in a very parlous condition. Simca were set by Agnelli to build Fiat cars under licence---the 1st director of the Company being an italian scrap-metal dealer, friend of Agnelli who supplied him with scrap cars for re-cycling!

The Whitakers said:

My biggest fear in all my old car collection.

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I tell everyone of my friends/customers to put one or 2 fire extinguishers in their classic cars. Its an absolute must.

When i began putting a few miles on my friends 500 one of the first things i threw in was an extinguisher, i have stockpiled tones of them. the tradition of italian car fires dont stop at just Ferrari’s. Even my classic benzes all have them too. The old ones, even though ive put all fresh fuel lines, can have mishaps as they were experimenting with high pressure efi’s back then. Never can be too careful.

Hopefully you can get her back to restored shape, and a painless experience with the insurance.

I recently saw a vanagon with an under hood suppression system. Basically a low melt point tube filled with fire retardant. I can’t remember the name of it but seemed like a good first line of defense especially since it would notice the fire long before you could see it, grab your extinguisher, open the bonnet and start spraying.