Dolce Vita: 1965 FIAT 500 Jolly
Yesterday we featured a really sweet Mini Cooper. I’m afraid the Italians may have trumped the Brits for cuteness with this FIAT 500 Jolly. And it isn’t your run-of-the-mill Jolly. You know the kind you see everyday down at the yacht club. This is the extended version built on a Giardiniera platform. How did the Jolly come into being? Quite simple actually. FIAT’s Chairman, Gianni Agnelli, a most elegant man who frequently wore his watch over his shirt cuff, required something with flair to drive to his yacht. A yacht tender so to speak. He had a concept in mind and asked Carrozzeria Ghia to make it for him. Well, you can imagine when all the other yacht lovers saw this little wicker-seated, surrey-topped Jolly, they had to have one of their own. FIAT went into production and the Jolly found its way into the hands of royalty, movie stars and plain old rich people. They were sold in the US too and were frequently used at resorts to transport guests around the property. The Jolly featured in this eBay listing is fully certified by Carrozzeria Ghia Club Italia; the homologation certificate and plaque is included. Additionally, in 2011, the Jolly was registered with the Registro Storico Fiat. It is now in California and has been fully restored to a proper standard. Last August in Carmel, Bonhams hammered a standard wheelbase Jolly at $82,000. What will this one bring? Or should I say how much are you willing to pay? See the Jolly on eBay by clicking here.