1961 Facel Vega HK500 Hardtop Coupe

The Facel Vega HK500 was designed to go head-to-head with the best grand touring cars on the market at the time. Period promotional literature claimed it could outperform the mighty Mercedes-Benz 300SL, the Ferrari 250GT, and the Aston Martin DB4. The elegant, modern coupe design had a wrap-around windshield and forward-canted front fascia. Mounted in the front was a 361 cubic-inch V8 engine that offered a delightful 360 horsepower. This Chrysler powerplant was mated to an automatic Chrysler three-speed TorqueFlight transmission. The claimed top speed was in the neighborhood of 135 miles per hour.

The first owner was purchased new in Switzerland and then spent a few years in Paris before it was bought by an American in San Francisco. The car was refinished in silver blue with a silver top and rockers. The car rode on steel wheels with knock-off style hubcaps and chrome trim rings. The interior is red leather with burled wood trim, all of which is original to the car and showing signs of its age. In the trunk is a vintage tool kit. This was the first of the 55 HK500s built in 1961.

In 2008, this vehicle was offered for sale at the 'Sports & Classics of Monterey' presented by RM Auctions. It had an estimated value of $95,000 - $125,000 and was offered without reserve. The lot was sold for $96,250 which includes the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2009