 1963 Facel II |
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1964 Facel Vega Facel II news, pictures, and information | ||
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Facel's auto credits eventually included design and production of a body for the Ford Comete coupe, and a coupe body for a Bentley MK VI. Daninos took the next step and in 1954, Facel produced the Vega, an elegant four-seat coupe propelled by a DeSoto Firedome Hemi V8 and Chrysler two-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission.
The Vega was expensive, its price tag exceeding competing offerings from Talbot-Lago, Delage, and Delahaye. But by 1959 all three of these prestige makes had disappeared, leaving the Facel Vega as France's only true luxury car. A 6.3-liter Chrysler V8 replaced the earlier 4.5-liter engine in 1948, four-wheel disc brakes became standard in 1960, a restyled Series II coupe rolled out in 1961. Engine displacement was expended to 6.8 liters, and output for the Series II rose to 390 horsepower.
At this point in history, Daninos was in dire financial straits, owing to attempted expansion into less expensive sectors of the market with the Facellia coupe. Facel went into receivership in 1962, production ground to a halt in 1964, and the company was liquidated in 1965.
This example was one of the last to leave the factory and is one of just 180 Series II Vegas produced.
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.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2007
For more information and related vehicles, click hereIn 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.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2007
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