THE LIDO JOURNAL · 6 November 2026
Fiat 500 Jolly: the history of an Italian automotive icon
From the Ghia Jolly to a contemporary interpretation: the history and coachbuilding spirit behind LIDO.
A small car with a different purpose
Some cars are remembered for how fast they travelled. The Fiat 500 Jolly suggests another measure: how a journey feels. Its open sides, intimate scale and relaxed character turn a short drive into part of the day, rather than simply the distance between two places. That is the idea at the heart of its lasting appeal.
The Ghia chapter
In the late 1950s, Carrozzeria Ghia created the Jolly on the Fiat 500 platform. The familiar small car became an open leisure vehicle, with a sun canopy and distinctive tubular body details. It belonged to a different setting from the everyday city car: the seaside, private estates and life around yachts. Fiat’s own historical account associates the Jolly with the summer of 1958.
Why the idea still feels relevant
The attraction is easy to understand without a catalogue of famous owners. You sit close to the landscape. The car feels approachable. A simple silhouette can carry a strong sense of place, whether it is parked outside a house or waiting at the end of a short coastal journey. For LIDO, this is the interesting part of the story: a small car can change the atmosphere of an arrival.
An original bodyshell, a contemporary interpretation
LIDO starts with an original Fiat 500 bodyshell. In Turin, Officine Gentile restores, reinforces and transforms that foundation into an open car. The project takes the coachbuilding principle into the present: start with an existing vehicle and give it a different purpose through a considered transformation. LIDO is an independent Officine Gentile creation inspired by the Jolly tradition, rather than a car originally built by Ghia.
The next chapter is personal
The original car provides a starting point; the finished LIDO expresses the choices made around it. Body colour, woven seating, canopy and exterior finishes create a dialogue between the vehicle and the person who will use it. Electric drive adds another dimension to the contemporary interpretation. The destination matters too: a private home, a hospitality project or time spent ashore may lead to different conversations with the atelier.
Begin with your own idea
The history gives the Jolly its context. Your choices give a LIDO its character. Explore the combinations in the configurator, then speak to the atelier about the final specification and intended destination. A favourite colour or a particular place is enough to begin.