1970 FIAT 500 'Jolly Evocation'

This 500 Jolly isn’t, in fact, one of those original 400 cars made by Ghia between ’57 and ’66; it’s instead, a very faithful recreation; right from its ‘Surrey’ top to its handmade Rattan interior. The base machine is a 1970-built 500 F with ‘Transformable’ bodywork – that’s the convertible to you and me. Early Jollys required front-end modification, which somewhat ruined the 500’s famously cute front end. Some revised bug-eyed headlights were placed proud of the Fiat’s curvy nose, though as Ghia made a few more, it worked out how to keep the 500’s snout, as is the case with this replica.

This Jolly was created in Italy by classic Alfa specialist Affari Sbullonati. A small business run by David and Fabio in the South of Rome. The firm has dozens of 500 restorations to its name though majors on customising each and every build, tailoring the car to its owner’s specification. Check out their handiwork here (www-affarisbullonati-com).

This tribute to arguably the most iconic of little Fiats apparently hasn’t turned a wheel since its bodywork and mechanicals were comprehensively rebuilt earlier this year. The vendor reports that, ‘the bodywork has been sandblasted back to sheet metal with any damage repaired before paint. Every mechanical component has been completely overhauled and the car has covered 0kms since’.

The work carried out on this 500 certainly appears to be extensive. Its convertible base obviously benefitted from having additional strengthening in place already, so the loss of the roof isn’t a big deal. The added roof structure from that Surrey top does put back a little of the lost rigidity, though we doubt you’ll notice on your amble to the beach.

The recreation work is good, though an enthusiast of an original Jolly will spot some minor deviations. After all, it would have been near impossible to recreate the work of a coachbuilder as skilled as Ghia. The main giveaway that this isn’t a legit Jolly is the path of the rear deck hoop. It’s flush-fitting on the original, following the slight curve toward the centre top of the engine lid. The genuine article also finished that same bar at an angle going into the B post, which is in turn shaped to continue the line as part of the door aperture. By contrast, this replica’s bar is straight around the rear, placed on a pair of tabs. It’s also black rather than chrome (as are the rest of the protective bars) and recesses just behind the cut out for the door, rather than forming its rearmost edge.

As mentioned however, this and some other minor giveaways, will really only be picked up by Fiat 500 nerds. To everyone else, the bodywork finish appears excellent with a bright and highly-reflective sheen. That shade of yellow is perfect for standing out along any coastal route from the Amalfi to Margate. Ropework ‘doors’ and that fetching handmade interior mix with chrome hubcaps and whitewall tyres to evoke a lost era of glamour to great effect.

Simplicity and style were always the main attractions of the Fiat 500 and it’s no different in this instance. You get a steering wheel, speedo, ashtray and cubby for your sunglasses. All the average millionaire on the Amalfi needs. The lack of roof means it’s all the more important for the inside of this evocation to stand up to scrutiny, which we’re pleased to say that it does.

The seats were crafted by hand in Italy and the choice of Rattan, a hardwearing outdoor seat material, means that they’re ideal for bathing-suit clad passengers to drip dry on, without the owner worrying about any stains. Elegant, matching chrome and rope ‘doors’ add to the VIP experience, though we wouldn’t fancy testing their ability to resist a side impact!

As mentioned already, the vendor reports that the whole shell of this 500 was sandblasted prior to paint. Though we weren’t able to get underneath to have a look, the vendor reports that they are not aware of any previous damage. They also confirmed that any corrosion previously present has been treated, with further panels containing more serious rot being replaced with new.

The vendor also reports that the original Fiat 500 F documents are included in the sale. Though with the amount of work that’s been carried out on this evocation, its past history is largely irrelevant. The documentation pertaining to the conversion will also be supplied to the successful bidder.

Due to their rarity, and the amount of custom work carried out by Ghia, it should probably come as little surprise that original 500 Jollys regularly sell for near six-figure sums. They represent a window into an era when Italy was at the forefront of global fashion and cool culture. Anyone who was anyone was seen on the Amalfi coast in the late 1950s and 1960s in one of these cute custom Fiats.

Even if you have pockets deep enough to afford a genuine Jolly, chances are that one won’t be up for sale anytime soon. In addition, suppose one was and you won it, would you really want to use your investment as Agnelli intended? That’s why this replica makes a lot more sense. It’s fresh from restoration, has no known faults, looks fantastic and the vendor can even arrange international transportation for you (for an additional fee). With an estimate of €18,000 to €25,000 we’re not sure what more you could ask for…

Inspection is always encouraged and this particular car is located in Frascati, Italy; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.