1963 Facel Vega Facel II

Facel Vega was successful because it excelled in all categories; it was the Paragon of exclusivity, luxury, and quality. Capable of cruising effortlessly at 100 miles per hour, it was smooth, silent, and comfortable. It had understated elegance and attractive styling, with a price tag that was far and above most other vehicles on the road. When buying a Facel II, one had to forgo logic, and 'think with the heart and not the head.'

The French firm of Facel produced approximately 2,900 automobiles during its relatively short existence, and each was hand built, very expensive, luxurious, fast, and stylish. The company was founded in 1939 by Jean Daninos, with the name 'FACEL' representing Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure-et-Loir. Initially, they specialized in the construction of aircraft components and metal furniture.

After World War II, FACEL produced car bodies for Panhard, Simca and Ford France. At the 1954 Paris Salon, Facel became an automobile manufacturer in its own right, with the introduction of the Vega. The market was primed for the Vega, as Government legislation had hastened the demise of most of France's few surviving luxury car manufacturers after WWII. With little competition and a desire to revive what had once been a great French motoring tradition, Jean Daninos created a luxurious Grande Routière, the Vega, named after the brightest star in the Lyra constellation.

The Facel Vega used a tubular-steel chassis, a double wishbone suspension at the front, a live axle at the rear, and elegant two-door hardtop bodies. Since a French company was not producing adequate engines at the time to satisfy Daninos's objective, a DeSoto 276 cubic-inch Hemi unit was installed. Due to the punitive Tax horsepower system in France, most examples (77 percent) were exported.

The Vega was given a larger 331 cubic-inch (5.4 liter) Chrysler Hemi engine in 1956, along with modifications to many other mechanical components and an updated transmission. That was the same year the company introduced a four-door model dubbed the Excellence. It had a pillarless design with rear-hinged suicide-style doors at the rear and no center pillar.

In 1959, an even larger 354 cubic-inch (5.8 liter) V8 was installed, soon followed by a 383 cubic-inch 6.28 liter) Chrysler Typhoon engine. The final iteration of the V8 luxury coupes arrived in 1962 with the Facel Vega II.

The Facel Vega Facel II

During a brief production lifespan, lasting from 1962 to 1964, approximately 180 examples of the Facel II were built, including 26 with right hand drive configuration. Introduced in 1961 at the Paris Motor Show, the Facel II was powered by a Chrysler overhead valve (OHV) 383 cubic-inch (6.3 liter) Typhoon engine (single Carter AFB carburetor) developing 355 horsepower at 4,800 RPM and paired with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission. When fitted with the French Pont-a-Mousson four-speed manual gearbox, the engine produced approximately 390 horsepower.

Examples built near the close of production received the Chrysler RB 'Wedge' engine displacing 413 cubic inches (6.7 liters).

The Facel II was a grand tourer that was advertised by the company as 'Le Coupé 4-places le plus rapide du Monde' ('The Fastest 4-seater Coupé in the World').

Resting on a 104.7-inch wheelbase platform with an overall length of 187 inches, a width of 69.3 inches, and standing 50.4 inches tall, the Facel II had a 'dry' weight of nearly two tons. Nevertheless, its potent engines allowed it to reach top speeds of over 135 mph, and with the 6.3-liter and four-speed gearbox, it could exceed 150 mph. It could out-accelerate most other two-seat GTs, including the Aston Martin DB4 and the Mercedes-Benz 300SL 'gullwing.' Stopping power was via Dunlop disc brakes, and the Armstrong Selecta-Ride shock absorbers could be adjusted from the dash while driving (right-hand drive British models). The list of standard amenities included electric windows, electric radio aerial, and Hydrosteer power steering. The metal wrap-around dash was painted to look like wood, and most of the knobs and switches were airplane inspired.

1964 was the final year for the Facel Company as it was forced into receivership mostly due to warranty claims against its 'in-house' engines powering the Facellia, a smaller model introduced in 1960. It had styling similar to the Facel HK500 and was offered as a 4-seat coupe, 2+2 coupe, and cabriolet. It was intended to be a mass-produced all-French sports car, but the issues with the engine quickly brought the company's ambitions to a halt. Jean Daninos resigned in August 1961, and the closed its factory in October 1964.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe
Chassis number: HK2 B100

The Facel-Vega company produced cars from the 1950s until the mid-1960s. Their cars were designed to cater to a niche market and satisfy the demands for a high-speed, grand touring car in elegant designs. By 1962, the company was in financial trouble. Their last-ditch effort was to introduce its ultimate car, the Facel II.

The Facel II was given a coach-built body, a unique space-frame chassis, disc brakes at all four corners, and a top speed in the neighborhood of 150 mph. These elegant touring cars commanded a rather expensive sticker price of $12,000, making it more expensive than an Aston Martin DB4 and around three times the cost of a Jaguar E-Type.

This example was delivered to Hoffman Motors in New York in the fall of 1962 and was originally painted in black over red and was fully equipped with an automatic transmission, wire wheels, power steering, and Mitchell factory air conditioning.

The current owner of the car acquired it from a long-time Facel-Vega Club member who had taken great care of this Facel II. It wears a restoration that was completed some time ago. Power is from a Chrysler 383 OHV unit that offers 335 horsepower. There is an independent front suspension and live rear axle. It is currently painted in red with a parchment-colored leather interior. There are a set of Borrani wire wheels and stacked quad headlamps.

In 2010, this Facel-Vega was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $200,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for $176,000, including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe

There were faster sports cars, although very few, and there were more refined and luxurious saloons, but it is difficult to think of a more remarkable combination of these conflicting qualities.

This unique combination of qualities leaves the most vivid impression on everyone who drives it. The Facel II presents the driver with smoothness and silence and can cruise effortlessly at 100 miles per hour.

The acceleration can leave other fast cars far behind on every straight. Owners enjoy the latest refinements of American brute force combined with European standards of control in an environment of British luxury and French elegance.

Built by Facel Vega, one of France's most famous manufacturers of high-speed grand tourers in the Jet Age, the Facel II continued the marque's tradition of American performance coupled with French high style. It is said that to purchase this Facel, one had to abandon the head and think with the heart.

In 1959, Jean Daninos identified the need to replace the FV cars with a new, more modern look to compete with the styling that Italian marques Pininfarina, Bertone, and Touring were generating. The new car lost 4 inches in height and became 6 inches longer to present a new look to compete with Aston's DB4 and the larger Grande Touring styles of Lancia and Alfa Romeo. Auto industry writers of the day called the Facel II Facel Vega's finest design and most refined creation to date.

Hardtop Coupe
Chassis number: A121

Facel S.A. was a French steel-forming manufacturer that had produced bodies for Delahaye, Bentley, and the Ford Comète. With this experience, they set a goal of developing limited-production cars of their own. Their vehicles were limited-production, elegant, and well-appointed grand touring cars fitted with finely crafted leather and accented by aviation-inspired instrumentation. They merged French elegance with reliable and powerful American V-8 engines.

In 1962, the company introduced the Facel II. It had panoramic glass, a chiseled hardtop, stacked quad headlamps, and a low profile. It had a handmade tubular chassis, front double-wishbone suspension, and a live rear axle. Each Facel II was a bespoke creation powered by a 6.7-liter overhead valve V8 engine fitted with Twin Carter 4-barrel carburetors and producing nearly 400 horsepower.

This particular example features the Pont-à-Mousson four-speed gearbox and Facel coachwork penned by Facel founder Jean Daninos. It has been given a comprehensive restoration that was commissioned by a previous owner and finished in Cabernet Metallic over a Cream Beige leather interior. The car has power steering, power disc brakes, power windows, dual power radio antennas, and Borrani wire wheels. In 2016 and early 2017, the car received additional work that totaled around $40,000.

This is a rare automobile with only about 22 produced in this configuration.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe
Chassis number: HK2 A178
Engine number: D383 522 2R

This 1963 Facel Vega Facel II was built per order of Max Hoffman for the American market. It was the 79th example produced and received a 383 cubic-inch Chrysler 'Wedge' V8 engine paired with a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. It left the factory with air conditioning and a Tudor Grey exterior with matching Tudor Grey leather upholstery. Standard equipment included a limited-slip differential, power steering, Dunlop disc brakes, a single four-barrel Carter AFB carburetor, power windows, clear glass, and HMV radio with an automatic antenna. The optional equipment included wire wheels and the aforementioned air conditioning system.

During restoration, the car was refinished in its current medium blue exterior over red leather. As is often the case, a few minor concessions to drivability were made, including the installation of a modern alternator. The original engine is not in the bay; rather, a 383 Hemi V8 has been installed.

This Facel Vega was previously in the ownership of Lee Munder of Palm Beach, Florida, before entering the care of its current owner in June 2011. It has been on static display since that time.

by Dan Vaughan

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 vehicle's exclusivity in modern times.

Brasseur and Danios were responsible for creating the styling of the vehicle's 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 Dan Vaughan