Someone Just Spent Almost $ 50,000 On This Fiat 500 Jolly
This 1970 Fiat 500 was converted to look like a Jolly model from the same period. It’s not super fast or super luxurious. In fact, it is basically the opposite of these two attributes. Nonetheless, someone just spent enough on this one that they could have bought a brand new Fiat and had $ 14,000 left.
That’s right, with each option box checked, a brand new Fiat 500x costs $ 36,000. Interestingly enough, this premium trim is called the Yacht Club. Why is this interesting? Well, that’s because the Fiat 500 Jolly was specially designed for boating when it was originally put into service.
Wealthy boat owners wanted a light vehicle that they could keep on the ship and then use when they docked in a harbor. The Fiat 500 Jolly was the ideal solution. It features open doors, wicker chairs, and in this case, a full restoration. This included disassembling every part of the car.
Once everything was set apart, the automaker went to the trouble of rebuilding everything with new and improved parts or refurbishing existing components like the engine. These small cruise ships on the beach are always very popular. In fact, since 2013, they have been selling steadily for that price or more.
Why did it only bring in $ 48,000? We suspect this has more to do with the fact that this is not an original Jolly and only an aftermarket conversion. Still, that’s a big dent on the Fiat 500’s normal price.
Look for a regular 500 and you’ll find plenty of options under $ 10,000. Even the finest examples will cost no more than $ 25,000 in museum-like conditions.
We don’t know if the seller got anything from their bodyless restoration and conversion of this little car, but we do know one thing. This little car proves that there is a market for just about everything these days.