1961 Fiat Jolly 500

This 1961 Fiat Jolly 500 sold for $29,700 at RM’s Amelia Island sale, held March 12, 2005.
Twenty-five years ago almost no one in the U.S. knew what a Fiat Jolly was, yet in recent years these goofy machines have become a staple at high-end collector car auctions, whether crossing the block or ferrying their owners about the venue. The reason for this rise in popularity is easy to see, as Jollys are undeniably adorable, have great usefulness in low-speed environments, and act as an amusing complement to a collection of six-figure Italian cars.
They’re also a nice way to spend the change left over from your million-dollar line of credit after you’ve already bought what you really came for at an auction.
The Jolly is a variant on Fiat’s Nuova 500, which was introduced in 1955 as the replacement for the legendary 500 Topolino. The performance of the Nuova’s 13-hp, air-cooled two-cylinder engine compared quite favorably with the Topolino four-cylinder’s 17 horses. Nevertheless, by the mid-’50s the Italian public was demanding more from even the most basic transportation, and sales were slow.
Fiat responded with a more potent 15-hp motor that had a higher compression ratio and a modified camshaft and carburetor. Further
development pushed horsepower to 17.5 in 1960, while “Sport” versions of the 500 made all of 21.5 hp.
The Spiaggina (Italian for “little beach”) was introduced in 1957 and became more popularly known as the Jolly. A favorite of the Riviera crowd, it was indeed perfect to store on an upper deck of a yacht, and its open bodywork, wicker seats and optional surrey top made for cool and comfortable cruising.
The Jolly 500 was listed as a catalog model here in the U.S. from 1959-61, but no one knows how many were actually delivered stateside. Today, the best use for a Jolly is parked at your beachfront cottage or as an alternative to the customized golf carts that proliferate in the gated communities of the Sunbelt. (Miniature electric Hummer, anyone?)
The Fiat’s top speed of 59 mph is merely academic, as by that time its fringed top would certainly begin to act as a parasail. Despite the catalog’s suggestion that this Jolly 500 would be at home in the hilly terrain of the Monterey Peninsula, I would not want to try driving it over the Laureles Grade.
For that task, you might want to seek out the higher performance
(remember, everything is relative) Jolly that was built on the four-cylinder Fiat 600 platform. That model might also be more useful if your friends are somewhat fuller figured, or if you actually intend to pilot your Jolly on the road and you live anywhere other than Kansas or Nebraska.
If you’re shopping for Jollys, buying one that’s already restored is the only way to go, as the expense of restoring these cars can be surprisingly high relative to their overall value. This holds true even if you get the old ladies at the local community center basket-weaving class to refurbish your seats for free.
Beware that the quality and level of detail of restorations vary wildly. Some are done quite well, right down to refinishing the inevitably sun-faded dashboard instrument. (It’s a singular unit.) Other cars tend to be quickly tarted-up for auction success, preying upon the hope that bidding on a Jolly will be an impulsive act committed from the bidder’s bar, as it often is. It’s not likely that you’ll find any examples restored to “Pebble Beach” standards, but the judges at most Fiat meets aren’t quite as picky as those in, say, the Ferrari club. Remember, this is the same marque that encompasses X1/9 owners
Rust can obviously be an issue with Jollys. While none have covered too many miles, most, if not all, have spent the majority of their lives in close proximity to saltwater. As such, it’s important to look underneath the shiny paint and check out the undercarriage and suspension mounting points. It would not do to have your engine fall out while motoring over to luncheon at the golf club.
Compared to a car that actually has some practical, road-going use, Jolly 500 prices are downright silly. Since a Jolly sold at the Christie’s Pebble Beach sale in 1999 for a still unrepeatable $39k, these cute little runabouts have been trading hands at auction in the low- to mid-$20k range.
While the $29k paid here was a bit more than that, I don’t think the price is indicative of anything other than a couple of bidders with money to burn really wanting this fun and unusual toy. No harm done.
(Historical and descriptive information courtesy of the auction
company).