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The 1954 Vega is a French made car with a Chrysler V8 engine. The car was a 2+2 luxurious car that was priced out the range of most people. It commanded an exclusive clientele. The back seats did little but provide more room for luggage. The vehicle was heavy but could still reach a top speed of 115 mph. Various Chrysler engines were used and thus the statistics will vary.
Finned alloy drums were used until 1960 when they were replaced by disc brakes.
In 1958 the car received a face-life and re-engineering and was transformed into the HK500. The Vega II followed soon after bringing with it a 383 cubic inch Chrysler V8. During this time, it was regarded as the world's fastest sedan.
A smaller edition, the Facellia, was introduced in the early 60's featuring a Facel derived twin-cam engine. The combination, coupled with poor reliability, did not work and Facel went out of business.
Facel was founded in 1939 with their primary bread-winner was building bodies for other manufacturers.
Finned alloy drums were used until 1960 when they were replaced by disc brakes.
In 1958 the car received a face-life and re-engineering and was transformed into the HK500. The Vega II followed soon after bringing with it a 383 cubic inch Chrysler V8. During this time, it was regarded as the world's fastest sedan.
A smaller edition, the Facellia, was introduced in the early 60's featuring a Facel derived twin-cam engine. The combination, coupled with poor reliability, did not work and Facel went out of business.
Facel was founded in 1939 with their primary bread-winner was building bodies for other manufacturers.
In the mid-1950's the French metal produced Facel, Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure et Loire, entered the car manufacturing industry. Created by industrialist Jean Daninos, they had achieved success in building complete body-shells for manufacturers such as Simca and Panhard.
In 1954 Facel introduced the Vega, a luxury Grand Tourer with elegant design and powered by an American power-plant. Most of the vehicles were intended for export due to taxation existing in France. Vehicles were taxed based on the amount of horsepower they produced. A Chrysler/DeSoto V8 engine with various displacements was used to power the Facels.
In 1958 the car received a face-life and re-engineering and was transformed into the HK500. The Vega II followed soon after bringing with it a 383 cubic inch Chrysler V8. During this time, it was regarded as the world's fastest sedan.
The 383 cubic-inch Chrysler V8 power plant was capable of producing 360 horsepower. The Facels could race from zero to sixty in 8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 140 mph. Finned alloy drums were used until 1960 when they were replaced by disc brakes.
The HK-500 carried a price tag of $9,795 meaning only the well-to-do were capable of affording one of these masterpieces. From 1958 through 1961, only 458 HK500's were produced ensuring the vehicles exclusivity in modern times.
Brasseur and Danios were responsible for creating the styling of the vehicles body. The chassis was the result of Lance Macklin of HWM. The interior was elaborate, elegant, and trimmed in wood and leather. The instrument panel was exquisite, inspired by Duesenberg airplane instrument panels.
A smaller edition, the Facellia, was introduced in the early 60's featuring a Facel derived twin-cam engine. The combination, coupled with poor reliability, did not work and Facel went out of business.
In 1954 Facel introduced the Vega, a luxury Grand Tourer with elegant design and powered by an American power-plant. Most of the vehicles were intended for export due to taxation existing in France. Vehicles were taxed based on the amount of horsepower they produced. A Chrysler/DeSoto V8 engine with various displacements was used to power the Facels.
In 1958 the car received a face-life and re-engineering and was transformed into the HK500. The Vega II followed soon after bringing with it a 383 cubic inch Chrysler V8. During this time, it was regarded as the world's fastest sedan.
The 383 cubic-inch Chrysler V8 power plant was capable of producing 360 horsepower. The Facels could race from zero to sixty in 8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 140 mph. Finned alloy drums were used until 1960 when they were replaced by disc brakes.
The HK-500 carried a price tag of $9,795 meaning only the well-to-do were capable of affording one of these masterpieces. From 1958 through 1961, only 458 HK500's were produced ensuring the vehicles exclusivity in modern times.
Brasseur and Danios were responsible for creating the styling of the vehicles body. The chassis was the result of Lance Macklin of HWM. The interior was elaborate, elegant, and trimmed in wood and leather. The instrument panel was exquisite, inspired by Duesenberg airplane instrument panels.
A smaller edition, the Facellia, was introduced in the early 60's featuring a Facel derived twin-cam engine. The combination, coupled with poor reliability, did not work and Facel went out of business.
1960 Facel Vega HK 500 |
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| Year | 1960 |
| Make | Facel |
| Model | Vega HK 500 |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Steel unibody |
| Production Years for Series | 1958 - 1961 |
| Body Designer | Jean Daninos |
| Price | $9,795.00 |
| Weight | 4170 lbs | 1891.5 kg |
| Performance | |
| 0-60 mph | 9.7 seconds. |
| 1/4 Mile | 17 seconds. |
| Top Speed | 130 mph | 209.2 km/h Similar top speeds |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | V |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Engine | Chrysler |
| Hydraulic valve lifters | |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 383.00 CU IN. | 6277.4 cc. | 6.3 L. |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Horsepower | 330.00 BHP (242.9 KW) @ 4600.00 RPM |
| Torque | 460.00 Ft-Lbs (623.8 NM) @ 2800.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 12.6 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 52.4 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 |
| Main Bearings | 5 |
| Engine Electronics | 12 volt |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| 2 4-barrel carburetors | |
| Block | Cast-iron |
| Head | Cast-iron |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Transmission Information | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Final Drive | 3.31 |
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Replies: 3 Monday, December 15, 2003 |
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