1959 Fiat 500 Sedan

The Fiat Jolly was born of FIAT boss Gianni Agnelli's desire for open motorized transport from his massive yacht, the Agneta, during port stops along the Mediterranean coast. The finished car was called the 'Jolly de Plage' or Joker of the Beach. The unitary construction and underpinnings were based on the Fiat 500 and 600 models. They had an independent suspension, a four-speed synchronized transmission, and a rear-mounted engine. The 479cc air-cooled twin did not offer much horsepower, but it was more than adequate for the lightweight construction and mostly low-speed use.

Along with yacht/beach use, the Jolly soon found favor as courtesy transportation for patrons of luxury hotels and golf courses. The Catalina Island off the coast of California used a fleet of 32 Jollys to provide taxi service or, as initially intended, for use ashore after one had docked one's yacht on the Italian or French Riviera. The Jolly were only practical as leisure transport and were devoid of doors and were equipped with waterproof wickerwork seats.

This Fiat 500 Jolly was built in the spring of 1959 and is believed to have resided in California for decades. It has been given a recent extensive restoration, addressing both mechanical and cosmetic parts of the car. The work was completed in 2013. It was given a Royal Blue color scheme and the interior wicker seats were redone to the factory correct finish. There is a matching, blue striped top and the car rides on period-looking white-wall tires.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014