1964 Facel Vega Facel II

A Parisian-born engineer of Greek ancestry named Jean Daninos worked for Citroën in body engineering and as the head of special vehicles. Following the Michelin takeover, Mr. Daninos left and founded Métallon, a fabricator of kitchen cabinets and sinks. In 1939, he established Forges et Atéliers de Construction d'Eure-et-Loire, or Facel for short. During World War II, these two firms merged and produced aero engines. When peacetime resumed, Facel-Métallon produced bodies for the Dyna Panhard, Simca, and Ford of France's Cométe. Additionally, they built one-off coachwork of various designs and specifications.

Inspired by the success of coachbuilding, Daninos decided to build a complete car in 1954 using mechanical components sourced from around the industry. Beginning with a tubular chassis frame with box-section cross members designed by Lance Macklin of British racing constructor HWM, a Chrysler Hemi 4.5-liter V-8 engine was installed and paired with either Chrysler's PowerFlite or the French Pont-a-Mousson four-speed manual. The bodywork was Facel's creation, penned by Mr. Daninos and M. Brasseur, formed from lightweight alloy with rust-resistant stainless-steel brightwork. Styling features included a multi-element egg-crate grille complimented by fender lines stretching back across the smooth body sides to a pair of rearward-facing tailfins.

It was called the Vega after the brightest star in the Lyra constellation and was officially introduced at the company's Colombes works on July 29, 1954, followed by the Paris Salon that October. The company would ultimately produce approximately 2,900 luxurious Grand Routiers, and each was renowned for its stylish designs, luxurious accouterments, and blistering performance. Many were owned by royalty, politicians, diplomats, and entertainers. The list includes Ava Gardner, Ringo Starr, Tony Curtis, Danny Kaye, Joan Fontaine, Sir Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant, and Rob Walker.

The first FV model was quickly improved resulting in the FV1, introduced in March of 1955. It received a lengthened wheelbase for increased rear-seat room and a 4.8-liter Chrysler V8 producing 200bhp. The FV2 arrived in September of 1955 and came with a new wraparound windshield, a Chrysler motor delivering 250 horsepower, and (for the first time) Facel's famous faux burr walnut dashboard, which was actually painted steel. A mere six months later, Facel introduced the FV2B, which employed a 5.4-liter Chrysler V8 with 285 horsepower.

Approximately 10 or 11 first-series 'FV' models were built before the updated FV-1, of which as few as 26 and 'as many' as 32 were built. The total FV series of all prototypes and variants was around 352 to 354 examples.

Facel II
The Facel Vega 'Facel II' was built from 1962 to 1964 with approximately 180 examples built, including 26 in right-hand-drive configuration (5 RHD examples had the Pont-a-Mousson manual gearbox and 6.7-liter engine). They replaced the HK500 which had been introduced in 1959 and was essentially an upgraded FVS. The HK500 was initially powered by a 5.8-liter V8 with 335 horsepower, soon updated with a 6.3-liter Chrysler unit with 360 horsepower. 489 examples of the HK500 were built before they were replaced by the Facel II.

Facel introduced its Facel II in 1961 at the Paris Motor Show.

Specification
The Facel II had a 104.7-inch wheelbase, a length of 187 inches, and a width of 69.3 inches. Its suspension remained virtually unchanged from its predecessor, with the front being independent with coil springs while the rear used a live axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. It used a Hydrosteer power steering system and Dunlop disc brakes (adopted as standard equipment in 1960) were placed on all four wheels. The 6.3-liter Chrysler 'Typhoon' engine produced 355 horsepower when paired with a TorqueFlite automatic gearbox, or 390 horsepower with a manual transmission. With the automatic, the 6.3-liter Facel II had a top speed of over 135 mph, while the French Pont-a-Mousson four-speed manual version could achieve speeds in excess of 150 mph. Later models received the more potent 6.7-liter Chrysler RB 'Wedge' engine with 390 horsepower.

The interior was luxurious and well-appointed, with many of the controls inspired by airplane components. Accouterments included electric windows, radio aerial, curvaceous wrap-around dashboard, and leather seats.

The End
The demise of the company began in the early 1960s when it ventured into manufacturing its own engines. The smaller Facellia was a sports car introduced in 1959 at the Paris Motor Show. It was offered as a cabriolet, 4-seat coupe, and 2+2 coupe. Its wheelbase measured 96.5 inches and its styling was very similar to its larger sibling, the HK500. In the United States, the Facellia had a price of approximately $4,000 while the larger version, the Facel II, was around $5,500. The role of the Facel II (and the HK500) was an ultra-exclusive, luxurious, grand tourer, while the Facellia was intended as a mass-produced sports car, similar to the Porsche 356B and Triumph TR3. Since Chrysler did not offer a four-cylinder engine, Facel created its own. The 1.6-liter DOHC unit was designed by former Talbot-Lago chief engineer Carlo Marchetti and aided by English cylinder-head expert, Harry Weslake. The engine was built in France by Paul Cavallier of the Pont-à-Mousson company.

The Pont-à-Mousson Company had metallurgical experience, yet part of the issues with the Facellia's engine was due to excessive flex. Its design incorporated just two bearings supporting each camshaft, instead of the traditional four or five. Many of the engines quickly failed while others suffered from timing issues. Warranty claims resulted in Daninos resigning in August of 1961 and sent the Facel company into receivership by 1964.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2022