9th Oct, 2024 13:00

Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire

 
Lot 150
 

1972 FIAT 500 Jolly Conversion

Sold for £12,375

(including buyers premium)


Lot details

Registration No: HWD 978L
Chassis No: 3083717
MOT: September 2025

  • Subject to a comprehensive overhaul between 2017 to 2019
  • On offer from a significant private collection
  • Offered with a fresh MOT and service in preparation for sale

The Fiat Jolly was the brainchild of playboy industrialist Gianni Agnelli. According to legend, he wanted a car that would serve as a land tender but also fit on the back of his 82ft ketch, the Agneta, as he cruised the Mediterranean Sea, and the first public sighting came on Ghia's stand at the 1957 Turin Motor Show. Notably expensive considering its lack of luxury, it cost around double that of a standard 500 and was bought by the rich and famous (Aristotle Onassis, Yul Brynner, President Tito, Grace Kelly, Mae West, Lyndon B Johnson) as yacht tenders, golf carts and estate runabouts.

Italy’s innumerable beachfront cities and resorts quickly resulted in a brisk trade in 'beach buggy' conversions of regular cars by the many specialist coachbuilders throughout Italy at the time. The specialist synonymous with these conversions was Carrozzeria Ghia, who gained notoriety for their Jolly conversions on Fiat’s 500, 600, Multipla and Giardiniera platforms.

First registered on 4th August 1972, little is known about the early history of ‘HWD 978L’; however, it is known to have been subjected to a comprehensive overhaul by the previous owner between 2017 and 2019 which involved the enlistment of several Fiat specialists’ services. The vendor, who has accumulated a significant private collection and is unsurprisingly known for his fabulous sense of humour, purchased the Jolly in 2019 and has used it sparingly around his local area of Suffolk whilst living the life of the international jet-set as unforgivably as possible. As a car for ‘high days and dry days’ in the truest sense, the little Fiat had only covered very few miles since the restoration before dehumidified storage. The vendor rates its condition as 'excellent’ all around, noting that the twin-cylinder power unit is yet to be fully 'run-in'. Now offered to market due to a major thinning down of the vendor’s collection, the cute little Fiat is offered with a UK V5C and is said to be ready for any beach-side adventure.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430

 

Auction: Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire, 9th Oct, 2024

An auction of classic, collector and performance motorcars to be held at the iconic and visually stunning Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Venue Details 

To take part in the live online bidding please click 'Register to Bid | Sign In' at the top of the page  Register to Bid

Alternatively, bidding can take place through our partner's site SALEROOM.COM

Viewing

Tues 8th October from 12pm
Wed 9th October from 9am

View all lots in this sale

All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.

You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:

               

Do you have an item to sell?

If so, contact one of our friendly specialists for your free valuation by completing the form below and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.

If you prefer to speak to humans, don't hesitate to call our office on +44 (0)1925 210035

Contact Us Today!

 

Images

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.


Quality and quantity represented at mammoth classic motorcycle auction
Quadrophenia album scooter with links to Pete Townsend and Liam Gallagher up for auction
H&H Classics last Cambridgeshire auction in 2024 sees ‘star’ results
Ducati delight as six superb examples from one collection go under the hammer
German engineering and style showcased at classic car auction
Norton’s first F1R ever produced up for auction
Best of British heads impressive collection of 160 classics for auction
Exciting new premises are close to hand for H&H Classics
X-press yourself…Jaguar purchased by Madonna could be yours to cherish
Oldest known surviving Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations (AVO) car heads to auction
James Bond’s Vanquish available to ‘Drive Another Day’
Chalky’s actual Lambretta which featured in Quadrophenia heads for auction
Automobilia auction raises more than £194,000 with all 329 lots sold
Entire catalogue offered without reserve in one-off automobilia auction
Impressive results at latest H&H Classics auction
Dozens of ‘no-reserve’ classics head to auction
Recently restored Audi Quattro press car heads to auction
Classic motorcycle auction highlights buoyant market
Rare barn find stars in classic motorcycle auction
Highly original Jaguar SS100 flies away at Duxford sale
Modified classics add a twist to H&H’s next motorcycle sale
Century of motoring history represented at H&H auction
World’s biggest production pick-up truck roars to auction
Mercedes-Benz 500SL delivered new to Sir Stirling Moss heads to auction
Cars from the 1910s to the 2010s head to auction for Buxton sale
H&H’s motorcycle sales off to a flying start in 2024 with market-leading 88 percent sales rate
Goon, Goon, Gone: Unique Peter Sellers 1960 Bentley heads to auction
Eclectic 150-plus classic car auction helps round out H&H’s milestone 30th year celebrations
One of the UK’s best driving Aston Martin DB5s heads to auction
Mid-century sports car icons race to Buxton auction
Former front cover ‘star’ heads to auction
Classic British motorcycles shine as 230 lots head to the National Motorcycle Museum auction
Racing legend Patsy Burt's Jaguar XK120 speeds to Buxton auction
22-strong single owner classic motorcycle collection heads to auction
Norton's racing heritage set to ignite the auction stage
Rare Frazer-Nash BMW with rich racing history to be auctioned
“The Rolls-Royce” of the motorcycle world, heads to      auction
Martini inspired Porsche 911 ‘RSR’ Tribute to head under the hammer
Rare ‘Car on Two Wheels’ heads to auction for the first time in 30 years
More than 100 classics sold in H&H’s 30th anniversary sale
Stunning classics worth more than £9 million offered in 30th anniversary auction
Rare Aston Martin DB1 heads to anniversary auction from long-term ownership
Rare Bentleys to star in 30th celebration auction
H&H Classics 30th Anniversary Auction
H&H unveils details of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Classic car owners handed ULEZ lifeline
H&H Classics auction Hurricane X-75 Prototype to National Motorcycle Museum
Vintage and modern classics lead the way at latest H&H sale