1959 Fiat Jolly 500 Convertible Enzo Ferrari Inspired Collectible

Description

Designed with resort towns in mind, the Fiat Jolly was built by Ghia in limited numbers as a response to a request by Fiat chairman, Gianni Agnelli. He wanted a small, lightweight car which he could transport on his boat for use in port towns and cities. With a chopped roof and wicker seats, it was rather remarkable that the Jolly cost almost double the price of a new 500. As a result, these cars were mainly popular with the jet set; a short list of Jolly owners included Aristottle Onassis, Yul Brenner, John Wayne, Grace Kelly and Mae West. Even US President Lyndon Johnson owned one. While they are purely a car with one purpose in mind, they have become quite collectible in recent times and always draw a crowd at auctions.

Few cars have been produced that equal the “cuteness” appeal as that of the Jolly. Introduced in 1957, the Fiat Jolly, with coachwork by Ghia, had no real practical use, except for that of pure enjoyment. Many wealthy playboys, such as Fiat chief, Gianni Agnelli, would load these cars on their yachts and use them as beach cars when they went on vacation. Weighing in at a mere 1050 lbs, the Jolly could actually accomplish speeds of 59mph, while achieving gas mileage of 52mpg, thus becoming an ideal shore dingy.The Fiat Jolly 500 offered here, is a fine example of a rare rust-free car that has benefited from a thorough and comprehensive restoration. Many of these steel-bodied cars experienced considerable damage due to the salty ocean climate where a considerable number of them resided. Mrs. Barbara Cummins of New Canaan, Connecticut purchased this example on May 18, 1959 directly from the coachbuilder Ghia. She used this car to navigate through her private estate and golf course, during which time she logged just 7,000 miles. This Fiat Jolly 500 has been beautifully restored and is in top mechanical shape. It is complete with the striped fringe canvas top, authentic wicker seat, the original owner's manual, service schedule and sales material. It is a pleasure to offer one of the finest Fiat Jolly 500s in the world today, as it should be a part of any great collection.

16.5hp, 479 cc air cooled two-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, four-wheel leaf springs and four-wheel drum brakes.

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