Vehicle Description
Through his connections with Chrysler, Fiat, Volkswagen, and
others, Luigi "Gigi" Segre built Carrozzeria Ghia into a powerhouse
of the Italian coachbuilding industry. His partnership with Virgil
Exner revitalized Chrysler's staid image in the 1950s and provided
Ghia the financial stability and confidence to add a volume
manufacturing side to their operation. As with its Italian
coachbuilding contemporaries, Ghia produced one-off showpieces and
glamorous custom bodies for exotic sports cars, but they also
produced more humble vehicles using Fiat, Renault, and Volkswagen
chassis. Ghia deserves the credit for creating one of the more
memorable fads in motoring history. While on a beach holiday, Gigi
Segre noticed big, awkward taxis lumbering around the island
streets of Capri and couldn't help but think they were out of
place. He felt something more stylish and delicate would better
suit the relaxed atmosphere on Capri. He sketched out some ideas,
and upon his return to Turin, tasked his team with bringing his
concept to life. Using the ubiquitous Fiat Cinquecento as a basis,
Ghia craftsmen removed the roof and doors and sculpted "step over"
sills for easy ingress. They ditched the standard interior trim for
swimsuit-friendly wicker, added a fabric surrey top to shade
occupants from the hot Mediterranean sun, and big chrome grab
handles should rear-seat passengers have sandy shoes. The name
"Jolly" suited the little Fiat's spirit perfectly. While the cheeky
beach car was a fun exercise, buyers weren't quite sure what to
make of it at first. That all changed when Gianni Agnelli, the
millionaire heir to the Fiat empire, was spotted by paparazzi
driving one along the Italian Riviera. Once the Italian press
published photos of the stylish playboy Agnelli aboard his Jolly,
the public went mad, and demand took off. While the Fiat 500-based
version was most prevalent, Ghia also offered similar treatments to
the larger water-cooled Fiat 600, the Renault 4CV, and even a
one-off Volkswagen Beetle. But as quickly as the beach car fad
appeared, the appeal faded as the Jolly's fair-weather nature
limited its practicality. Or course, that hasn't stopped today's
collectors from coveting these delightful coachbuilt cars, and
examples are often found sharing garage space with much more exotic
machinery. While the Fiat 500/600-based Jolly is the most iconic
and best-known of all the Ghia-produced beach cars, estimates
suggest a total production of just 650 examples, making them a rare
find today. This 1960 500 Jolly is a nice example presented with an
older, amateur-quality restoration, finished in a suitably vivid
pearlescent green livery. The coachwork is in good order and the
paint is glossy and attractive, although the cosmetics do show
signs of wear throughout. Brightwork is similarly good, with
excellent plating on the bumpers and chrome cockpit rails combined
with well-preserved original aluminum alloy trim. The color-keyed
steel wheels wear dog-dish hubcaps and period-style Michelin tires
providing the proper stance on the road. One of the Jolly's most
endearing features is the distinctive wicker interior. On this car,
the wicker work is in fair overall condition, although there are
some areas that require repair, particularly on the driver's seat.
However, a set of custom-made vinyl seat covers accompany the car,
allowing the next keeper the option to enjoy it as-is or restore
the wicker as needed. The white and green vinyl surrey top matches
the seat covers, and the material provides improved moisture
protection over the original canvas in the event of a pop-up rain
shower. The original instrument cluster is an exercise in
minimalism, with just a speedo and a few warning lights. For a more
accurate read on critical engine functions, the restorers added a
trio of Stewart Warner auxiliary dials to monitor fuel level, oil
pressure, and amps, in addition to a modern AM/FM/CD player. At the
heart of the Jolly is the same 497 cc air-cooled two-cylinder
engine that powered the standard Nuova 500 lineup on which the
Jolly is based. Nestled behind the rear axle line, the
vertical-twin mates to a four-speed manual gearbox. Despite the
tiny displacement, the little twin is surprisingly plucky,
propelling the Jolly alongside the boardwalk with relative ease.
This example runs and drives well, and the engine is quite tidy and
reasonably well detailed. It shows signs of recent maintenance, and
it runs and drives, though some additional sorting may be required.
This charming coachbuilt Fiat is suitable for enjoyment as-is with
minimal attention, or for the purist, would serve as the basis for
a very straightforward restoration to correct original
specification. Few automobiles in history exude such pure delight
quite like the Fiat Jolly. It is a truly unique car that excels at
its sole purpose - to be fun. Offers welcome and trades considered
For additional details please view this listing directly on our
website https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6619-1960-fiat-500-jolly/
