They swarm around the Motor Circuit in a riot of Italian colours and styles – of course, the Fiat Cinquecento, 60 years old this year. But among the 120 500s crowding the 2017 Revival one is notable for its absence. It’s simply too rare and valuable…
SEP 09th 2017
This unique Fiat 500 at Revival wasn't in the parade...
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That would be the Fiat Jolly, the frilly-topped open beach car – originally the Jolly de Plage – made by Ghia in response to Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli’s request for a runabout to use when not on his yacht. These days Jollys can sell for six-figure sums.
There is one at Revival 2017, though, and appropriately it’s called La Dolce Vita. It is a replica and it’s being shown at Goodwood for the first time. And you can drive home in it at a fraction the price of a real one.
The 1962 mint green Fiat is on show at the Over the Road stand of West London classic car dealers DB Classics who have been importing them for a while and report sales of “two or three a month”.
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La Dolce Vita Jolly replicas are made in Italy from original Fiat 500s. Sacrilege? “Fortunately they made millions of them so there’s no shortage of old ones in Italy,” says DB Classics.
You have to say the Italian conversion is top-notch. The car on show, a Giardinera estate version (regular ones also available), is a peach with its wicker seats, coconut matting and frilly sun shade. Surely the essence of a Mediterranean summer? Funnily enough, though, DB Classics says most sales are going to Scandinavian countries…
And the price? Still a sweltering £40,000…
Photography by James Lynch
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