Why a Fiat 500 Jolly resto-mod is the perfect small car for summer.

Have you ever feasted your eyes upon a more accurately-named car? First produced in 1958 and with a screaming .5L "straight two" engine that pounds out 35 heart-stopping horses, at a blistering top speed of less than 50mph, getting about 50MPG... allow us to introduce you to the Fiat 500 Jolly.

We see a ton of cars come through our dealership but this one just makes us happy. Very happy. Why wouldn’t it? Just look at those bug eyes, wicker seats and that fabulously beachy striped roof.  We can smell the sunblock and pool toys from here. 

It’s joyous, jubilant, jovial — and many, many other words beginning with ‘J’. Including, as Fiat’s savvy marketing team decided on in the late 1950s, ‘Jolly’.

It's no wonder that the stylish and fun-sized Fiat Jolly models were such big hits. Owners included Grace Kelly, Mae West, and The Magnificent Seven star Yul Brynner. Shipping magnate and father to First Lady, Jackie Onassis Kennedy, Aristotle Onassis had one stowed away on his yacht, and President Lyndon B Johnson would careen about his Texas ranch in his prized Jolly. Head of Fiat, Gianni Agnelli (who allegedly dreamed up the idea to begin with) also added one to his car collection — where it sat alongside Ferraris from Berlinettas to Testarossas.

However, the best story about Fiat’s fun Jolly models can be found on the Los Angeles-adjacent Catalina Island. Off the coast of California, the rocky spot was a popular gambling destination for mid-century Angelenos — and the governing powers of the island commissioned 32 Jolly cars to be used as taxis throughout the 60's.

Thirty-two was a large number; as only 650 Fiat Jolly cars were ever produced — across all four of the models. Thankfully, despite most living by the salt-whipped sea, an impressive number of the iconic cars remain operational to this day.

Unfortunately for us non-yacht-owners, most Fiat Jolly models sell for somewhere around the $150,000 mark. But, there's still hope! A recent upswing in the resto-modding of hardtop Fiat 500s has made all of our happiest beach car dreams come true! Restoration and modification specialists all over Italy are breathing new life into the vintage-fueled return of what was once a fading blaze of beach-side glory. Marvelously retro with a modern flair or two, these beach beauties are ready for action.

Fleming's Ultimate Garage is proud to boast the largest collection of Fiat Jolly resto-mods in the USA.  Built to the highest standard by experienced Italian builders, This rainbow of fun was brought into our local port, delivered to us for a few final touches, and is now waiting to be shipped right to your front door!