1965 Fiat Jolly 500

During the 1950s, Fiat introduced Italy's first ever jet aircraft - the G-80 - and in 1953 they introduced their first ever diesel engine. Post-war prosperity saw its workforce grow from 70,000 to 80,000, and production increased from 70,000 cars to well over 330,000 cars. The 'Jolly' was a unique vehicle that had no real practical use, except for the pure enjoyment it provided. Introduced in 1957, it wore coachwork by Ghia and was popular among the wealthy, including Fiat chief, Gianni Agnelli, who would use these cars on their yachts and use them as beach cars when they went on vacation. Agnelli's yacht was called the Agneta and his Jolly could be seen along the stops across the Mediterranean coast. The lightweight and minimalistic features made them ideal shore dingys, weighing a mere 1,050 lbs, could achieve 52 mpg, and had top speeds of nearly 60 mph.

They were popular means of courtesy transportation for patrons of luxury hotels and golf courses. The Catalina Island off the coast of California employed a fleet of 32 Jollys for taxi service while on vacation.

The Jolly began as a Fiat 500 before it was customized by Ghia. The 479cc rear-mounted, air-cooled overhead valve two-cylinder engine was rated at 16.5 horsepower at 4,000 RPM and paired with a three-speed manual gearbox. The independent suspension used transverse leaf springs at the front and single wishbones and coil springs at the rear. Hydraulic drum brakes provided the stopping power for the 72.4-inch wheelbase vehicle.

There were cut-down sides and exposed chrome external tubing providing the support for the fabric roof. The inside had waterproof wicker seats and a two-spoke steering wheel with a single gauge pod on the dash

Befitting their existence as fashion accessories for the wealthy, the Jolly was priced at over twice that of the standard Fiat.

Among the list of Jolly owners in the day are jet setters such as Aristotle Onassis, Yul Brynner, John Wayne, Grace Kelly, Henry Ford II, and even President Lyndon Johnson.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022