Core77
Hagerty Media covered a tiny car I've not seen before, at least in this modded state. The Fiat Jolly, which was based on a Fiat 500/600 circa 60 years ago, was modified by Ghia to look like this:
1959 Fiat Jolly Bonhams
1959 Fiat Jolly Bonhams
1959 Fiat Jolly Bonhams
1959 Fiat Jolly Bonhams
1959 Fiat Jolly Bonhams
1959 Fiat Jolly Bonhams
With wicker seats, the open-air design and the giveaway parasol, you can tell this car's been modified for a sunny beach clime. (After a swim, it's better to climb into a seat made of wicker rather than leather.) As Hagerty reports, the clientele was pretty specific:
"The target audience for the Jolly was wealthy seaside dwellers, who would use the car for short errands or take it with them on a yacht to use for transportation while in port."
1968 Fiat Jolly RM Sotheby's
1968 Fiat Jolly RM Sotheby's
1968 Fiat Jolly RM Sotheby's
1968 Fiat Jolly RM Sotheby's
1968 Fiat Jolly RM Sotheby's
This being a car for the 1% of the 1950s and '60s, few were made (650), and very few survived the salty marine environment. Which is probably why these silly little vehicles fetch over $150k at auctions!
I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.
Webinar
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.
A Quirky Little Car for the 1%, in the 1960s
I saw one of these at a Audrian Museum in Newport RI. The seats were only temporarily attached to the car. They were designed to be taken out of the car and brought to the beach!
I was wrong this is a mini moke from BMC
seems like Patrick McGoohan should be getting driven to see number 2 in one of those
They made this model modded up until 1970.
Jerry Seinfeld featured one of these in a Comedians in Cars segment.