Currently reading: Fiat 500 Spiaggina by Garage Italia is coachbuilt nod to 1950s oddity

The 60th anniversary of the 500 Jolly Spiaggina spawns two spin-offs – one far more conventional than the other

Fiat is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 500 Jolly Spiaggina with two special-edition 500s: a conventional, subtly tweaked Fiat 500 Spiaggina ’58 edition and a more accurate recreation of the original Jolly Spiaggina, coachbuilt by Italian specialist Garage Italia. 

The more radical of the two ditches the roof and rear seats of the 500 and replaces the rear passenger area with a cork-lined deck area for storing beach gear, with an integrated shower. Unlike the original Jolly Spiaggina, the coachbuilt modern car won’t have a fabric canopy supported by metal poles.

A roll hoop has been left in place for safety and structural integrity, but otherwise it’s roofless from the A-pillars back. The front seats have also been replaced by retro-style bench seating with waterproof leather upholstery, to further carry the beach theme.

The A-pillars themselves can also be shortened, transforming the front windscreen into a vintage-style wind deflector. There’s no limit on production, but as it stands, Garage Italia has produced one original car and will produce further cars to order. Build times have not been specified, but Garage Italia says the wait isn’t long. Prices are also unconfirmed, but a heavy premium over the regular 500 is a dead cert.

The conventional Spiaggina ’58 special edition joins the fleet of Fiat 500 special editions offered previously, with a 1958-unit production run commemorating the car’s date of introduction.

The 500 Spiaggina ’58 is available only as a convertible and with baby blue paintwork and ivory highlights. Retro-style alloy wheels and body-coloured interior trim add to the throwback touches, while chrome badging marks the car out from standard. 

Inside, the seats are finished in two-tone upholstery, with vintage Fiat badging.

The only engine option is Fiat's 68bhp 1.2-litre unit, which emits 122g/km of CO2 and returns official average fuel economy of 54.3mpg. Fiat hasn’t yet revealed how many will make it to the UK, nor how much each will cost. 

The original 500 Jolly Spiaggina was a doorless, roofless 500 built by famed coachbuilder Ghia and sold for double the price of the original 500 - a pricing strategy that likely won’t carry over to the regular special-edition 500. Production finished in 1965.

Read more:

Electric Fiat 500 to launch in 2020; 500 Giardiniera estate confirmed

The best (and worst) Fiat 500 special editions

Original Fiat Nuova Cinquecento driven

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

Mild hybrid power gives Fiat's core model a chance to outlive its famous 1950s forebear

Back to top

Fiat 500 review

Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you’ll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here.

Join the debate

Comments
2
Add a comment…
Tyson Harold 9 July 2018

Thanks

Nice thanks for sharing here.

austin br456 6 July 2018

Some old peoples love old

Some old peoples love old cars just because the engine of old cars are more powerful. Different peoples can manipulate the UKWritings.com review to get the information of all old car models and their features also. Your blog is really provides the best knowledge about cars.