The Classic Fiat 500 Jolly is Making a Comeback

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2015 Bold Ride LLC.

 

Posted by Zach Doell 

                               

                            

 

Rewind the clock about five decades. If you were a well-to-do beach goer, wealthy yacht owner, or happened to frequent resort towns in the late ‘50s or early ‘60s–you will have driven something like what you see at the top of the page. 

 

It’s a Fiat 500 Jolly, a custom-built beach car with no doors, a removable awning top, colorful designs, and most notably, wicker seats. For many years it was the must-have transport of the stylish elite, though eventually this “spiaggina” or “beach-ette” fell out of fashion.

Fast forward to 2015, and it would appear that the Jolly is making another comeback…but on a new generation of Fiat 500.

This is that revival, aptly named the “Jolly” and now built by a company called Jollycar. The firm recently posted this custom Fiat 500 Jolly conversion to eBay, and if you don’t like the color or the fabric, don’t worry. Jollycar says they can build a new-age Fiat Jolly to fit your needs. That includes right- or left-hand-drive, European Union or USA-spec, or even gas, diesel, or electric powered.

Admittedly, the price is a steep one. $89,000. Though there’s certainly some intensive modification involved in production.
The top has been chopped from behind the windshield, extending all the way to its belt line. The rear hatch has been converted into a trunk lid. The doors have been vacated in favor of a fixed step-over sill. And those side hugging seats? Well, now those are wicker or fabric backed.




These modern recreations may not go the way of the original Fiat Jollys. Recently, the 1958 Jolly pictured above sold for $110,000 at RM Auctions’ 2014 Arizona sale. But the modern Jolly still remains a head-turner.

Photo Credit: RM Auctions

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