Some cars seem to carry a whole season with them.
The Fiat 500 Jolly is one of them. You only have to see it to think of sun-warmed quays, striped parasols and a Mediterranean glittering between the houses. The small body and the unusual seats make the car look almost like part of the beach club's furniture.
Behind the playful expression is a story about Italian design and how a simple small car got a whole new life.
From people's car to exclusive beach car
Fiat presented the Nuova 500 on 4 July 1957. The following year came the Jolly, a special version built by Carrozzeria Ghia, the Italian coachbuilder in Turin.
According to Fiat's own history, the 500 Jolly was made between 1958 and 1965, with the Giardiniera also used as the base for some versions. The car was sold in Europe, the United States and South Africa.
The transformation was extensive. Ghia gave the car open sides, a simple roof as a sunshade and the wicker seats that have become such an important part of its identity. The ordinary small car's mechanics came along into a far more holiday-minded setting.
Less body, higher price
One of the most entertaining details of the story is the price. Even though the Jolly had no ordinary doors and no full roof, according to Fiat it cost roughly twice as much as the standard version.
The buyer paid for the coachbuilder's work and the car's particular purpose. The Jolly belonged in a world where there were already other vehicles for longer journeys and rainy days.
That is also what makes it so fascinating. It is consistently designed around a fairly narrow need: to make short trips in the sun part of the holiday experience.
Seats that set the tone
The wicker seats give the cabin an expression that brings terraces and outdoor cafés to mind. Together with the sun top and the open sides, they create an unusual blend of car and summer furniture.
The contrast of materials is a big part of the charm. Painted metal, shiny details, textile and wicker give the little car more personality than its size suggests.
There is also a clear idea about design here: an object can change character completely through a few well-chosen materials and proportions. You recognise the Fiat 500, but the experience is a different one.