Given a Choice of Great Classic Cars at Arizona Auction, I Choose Instead to be Jolly

Filed in archive Italian Cars , Romantic Notions on December 28, 2009

Okay, so I'm a little weird. My family is aware of that and so are most of my friends, but they put up with me, regardless. For example, take the upcoming 2010 RM auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. As always, RM will offer the crême de la crême of Arizona auctions: custom-bodied Rolls-Royces, unique racing Shelby Cobras and even a rare Chrysler Thunderbolt concept are among the dozens of desireable classics that will drive or get pushed up the ramp to the auctioneer's podium, ready to be purchased by the rich and famous... along with a few less-wealthy bidders who get carried away with desire and later have to explain their folly to wives and accountants.

In my restless imagination I am one of the former group. Money is no object. (Actually, it never has been or I wouldn't be writing this from a 1-bedroom condo on Vancouver Island.) I can afford to buy almost any car that appears before my eager eyes. And yet... I choose a tiny Fiat Jolly, the car seen in this image. Why on earth would I want a car that is open to the elements, except for that surrey-like top intended to provide shade from an Italian or Californian sun? Why would I accept a mere 27 horsepower, air-cooled, two-cylinder 650 cc engine, even if it does have a Weber carburetor? Why, though it was restored to perfection by Ghia, the original builder?

Why? Because I can relate to the lowliest, the simplest, the most humble of automobiles. And because the Fiat Jolly would be much more fun to drive than any of the million dollar classics. Otherwise Fiat wouldn't have called it "Jolly." Indeed, the last time I attended the Arizona auction week, in 2007, I fell in love with a VW Beetle with matching trailer, and an exquisite Morris Minor convertible just like the one I owned when my "ex" and I first met. In truth the $40-50,000 the seller hopes to raise for the Jolly may be miniscule by RM standards but it's still far beyond my budget (if I actually had one). So I can't afford much but, hey... weird comes cheap.