1965 Fiat Jolly 500 Jolly

This 1965 Fiat Jolly 500 with coachwork by Ghia, was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions in Amelia Island, Florida. It was estimated to sell between $25,000 - $35,000 and offered without reserve. The car is powered by a 479cc air-cooled two-cylinder engine capable of producing 16.5 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes.

The Jolly was introduced in 1957 and it had very little practical use. It was intended primarily for enjoyment and marketed toward playboys. It became popular with those wealthy individuals who had a yacht and were seeking a small vehicle that could be easily stowed on the vessel.

The car weighed only 1050 pounds and had a top speed of nearly 60 miles per hour. Gas mileage was exceptional, at around 52 mpg. The example shown is finished in Sky Blue and spent much of its early life in Connecticut. It changed hands during the 1970s when its owner lost the car in a tennis match.

The car has been treated to a recent restoration by the Carini Carrozzeria. The wicker seats are original and the engine registers just 11,310 miles since new.

At auction, the car was sold, netting a figure well above the estimated value. It found a new owner for the price of $53,900.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2007