1961 – FIAT  nouva 500 D Jolly

Garage find! Rare FIAT 500D “Jolly” from Ghia in unrestored original condition with only 31tkm mileage from first owner!

INQUIRY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE

According to a credible tradition, at the end of the 1950s, none other than Giovanni Agnelli, son of a wealthy Italian industrial aristocracy and at that time already vice-president of FIAT, had the idea of carrying a small beach car on his yacht, which made it easier for him to get from his berth to a hotel or bar. The Carrozzeria Ghia was then commissioned to manufacture the car on the basis of the FIAT 500. Soon this car, christened “Jolly”, became a popular must-have among the rich and beautiful along the world’s fashionable coasts.

INQUIRY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE

The “Jolly” had no doors, a shortened windscreen and instead of a tin roof a light canopy with fringes mounted on thin poles. The seating was covered with plastic string at the factory, which is much more practical for the planned use near the water… The light and airy car was very popular in jet-set circles and was then produced by Ghia in a small series: 700 copies of the beach car were made – but based on the FIAT 500, the larger 600 and the Multipla together – which makes real “Jollys” an expensive rarity today.

INQUIRY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE

This vehicle is a rare example of the later “economical version” which was only produced between 1964 and 1966 and is from the first Italian possession. After the death of the owner, the vehicle stood unused for several years but was in a garage and is now in its original unrestored condition. The bodywork is in the best possible condition: all panels of the clearly arranged body are still original and solid and furthermore they have been painted with the first coat of paint! The canopy presents itself with the original fabric, but the covering of the seats has been renewed.

INQUIRY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE

The 31,124 km read on the speedometer correspond to the original mileage that the Jolly covered with the first engine. The small vehicle is therefore “matching numbers”, which collectors particularly appreciate. The car needs some attention as a garage find: a technical inspection, replacement of the fuel and new tyres are recommendable (or necessary), but generally associated with this model with only low costs. A conservation of the original condition is advisable, also because only few of the jollys might still be unrestored and this authenticity is irretrievable.

INQUIRY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE

Numerous replicas of the sympathetic beach car are available on the market – original Ghia vehicles are rarely on offer. According to information from the FIAT archives, this one was delivered to Ghia – like all jollys – after having been manufactured by FIAT at the “Mirafiori” factory in Turin for conversion. After the takeover of Ghia by Ford, all other production documents were lost. It is a very rare opportunity to acquire an original “Jolly”, which should also be an enrichment for established collections.

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