Full history known from new
1960 FIAT 500 N Jolly

• Delivered new in France
• Ex-L'Oréal family
• Rare, certified authenticity
• Matching coachwork, engine and chassis numbers
• Restoration file and presentation book available

An object of pure luxury, created for the jet set, the Fiat 500 Jolly occupied a market segment all its own: beach cars. This type of automobile, created by Ghia at Fiat's request with the 600 in 1958, found its best self in the Nuova 500. Although it seems close to the standard version, in reality it was a real coachbuilder's car, the fruit of Gianni Agnelli's imagination, and handbuilt in the Carrozzeria Ghia atelier in Turin. Elegantly converted into a cabriolet with neither doors nor roof, it was decked out with a canework interior, and adorned with a fine, canvas roof, with much more in common with a parasol than real protection from bad weather. A luxury object, the Jolly was sold for a king's ransom and reserved to the jet set. While Agnelli parked his on his yacht, the Agneta, others, like the US president Lyndon B Johnson, used theirs as golf carts. Famous Jolly owners included Princess Grace of Monaco, Elvis Presley, Aristotle Onassis, John Wayne. In total, between 500 and 650 models were produced by the Italian coachbuilder.

As for this model, it was delivered new in 1961 to Mrs Sophie Camplez Dalle, then wife of François Dalle, managing director of Groupe L'Oréal. Domiciled in Cannes, the 500 Jolly was used sparingly by its owners of the time, before being repainted blue between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Kept by Mrs Camplez Dalle until 1995, it later entered the collection of a fan of the marque, who exhibited it with the Fiat Fan Club France at various events, including Le Mans Classic and the Italian Festival at Montlhéry. The current owner acquired the car in 2023. The Jolly, still in very good condition, having been driven a total of just 30,000 kilometres around the South of France, was in a rare condition, without the slightest trace of rust. As such, with the exception of its change of colour, the Jolly needed only a preservation restoration, rather than a total reconstruction. The exterior coachwork was thus stripped and the original Ghia ivory colour found under the blue paintwork was recreated using a spectrophotometer. The specific fittings and screws were renovated rather than replaced, the canework seats were completely refurbished to be identical to their original state, while the mechanical parts were more thoroughly overhauled, including a full refurbishment of the engine with rebalancing of all moving parts. The engine compartments and matte black boot did not require restoration and remain in their original state, down to the coachwork numbers 2164 stencilled on the floors or engraved on the chrome fittings. Just as exceptional is the roof system with its original tubes, which have not even been restored.
Today in rare authentic condition, with all its original features and complete with its original set of accessories in their fabric case, this Fiat 500 Jolly Ghia has its matching numbers and will be sold with substantial documentation.
It comes with its French registration document, including the letters "CABR" for "cabriolet", copies of its previous registration documents, a statement from the Registro Fiat Italiano, a statement from the Fiat Fan Club France, a file and photo book of its restoration, as well as its original Uso e Manutenzione booklet.
It is probably one of the most authentic and best-preserved of the estimated 100 or so surviving models around the world, testament to the 1950s and 1960s and the much-celebrated Italian Dolce Vita!