1959 Fiat 600 Jolly

The Fiat 600 was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1955 and, over the following 14 years, more than 2.5 million examples were produced. On a whim, designer Dante Giacosa of Carrozzeria Ghia penned a quirky little sidekick to the 600, called the “Jolly,” or “Joker” in Italian. Fewer than 200 Jollys were built between 1958 and 1969, and their rarity was reflected in their sticker price – almost double the standard Fiat 600. Many Jolly enthusiasts believe that fewer than 100 survive today.

This Jolly was built in 1959 and shipped to Miami-Dade County in Florida, where it was registered until 1964. The little Jolly was recently discovered in a Chattanooga, Tennessee, barn, showing some 5,000 km on its odometer, complete with Italian license plates. It had remained with one family for approximately 39 years and was last road registered in 1974.

The current owner purchased the well-preserved, low-mileage 600 Jolly in May 2013, placing it with a California-based specialist in Italian microcars who completed its restoration to factory specifications, choosing the optional pastel salmon exterior color. The Jolly serves today as a delightful reminder of a time when coach-builders, catering to well-heeled clientele, built a few highly stylish, whimsical cars intended for pure enjoyment in the world’s most beautiful and exclusive locales.