Facel Vega Facel II

Infobox Automobile
name = Facel Vega Facel II


manufacturer = Facel Vega S.A. Paris
parent_company =
aka =
production = 1962-1964
approx. 180 produced [26 r.h.d]
assembly =
predecessor = Facel Vega HK 500
successor =
class = Grand Tourer
body_style = 2-door 4-seater coupe
layout = FR layout
platform =
engine = Chrysler V8
transmission =
wheelbase = convert|2660|mm|in|1|abbr=on
length =
width =
height =
weight = convert|1880|kg|lb|abbr=on
fuel_capacity =
electric_range =
related =
designer = Jean Daninos
sp =

The Facel Vega 'Facel II' was a French Grand Touring car produced between the years 1962 and 1964.

By 1962, the Paris-based Facel Vega company was facing bankruptcy and the Facel II (pronounced '2') was to be that company's last chance of creating a successful luxury GT car in the French tradition.

The Facel ll was highly exclusive and expensive. [73,500 Fr francs in 1962 - over $12,000 US & £5,500 in Britain: more expensive than an Aston Martin DB4, approx. 3 times the price of an E-type Jaguar. A substantial London house could then be bought for what a Facel ll then cost.] Its handsome design led to famous owners, including Pablo Picasso [For whose car a US car dealer was asking $400,000 in 1991: there has been dispute over whether it was ever in fact owned by Picasso] , Lionel Bart, John Bloom, Lord Brabourne, Joan Collins, Tony Curtis, Stanley Donen, Charlie Drake, Joan Fontaine, Ava Gardner (she bought 3), Herbert von Karajan, Danny Kaye, Louis Malle, The President of Mexico, Princess Grace of Monaco, Hassan ll King of Morocco, Baroness Sally Oppenheim-Barnes, Anthony Quinn, Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra, Ringo Starr, Francois Truffaut, Sir Mortimer Wheeler, The Shah of Persia and Sihanouk King-Father of Cambodia. Race drivers Sir Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant and Rob Walker had Facels and Albert Camus was killed when his publisher's Facel hit a tree in the South of France.

The Facel ll was powered by an American convert|6.3|L|cuin|sing=on Chrysler 'Typhoon' engine which produced Convert|355|hp|kW|0|abbr=on in automatic gearbox form and Convert|390|hp|kW|0|abbr=on in manual. The Facel company advertised it as, "Le Coupe 4-places le plus rapide du Monde". ['The fastest 4-seater coupe in the world'.] Using Chrysler's 3-speed Torqueflite automatic gearbox, the 6.3 litre Facel ll could reach over 135 mph (225 km/h). With a French Pont a' Mousson 4-speed manual gearbox the full-4-seater 6.3 litre Facel ll could attain over 150 mph (247 km/h) and out-accelerate its 2-seater rivals, the Aston Martin DB4, Ferrari 250 GT and Mercedes-Benz 300SL to convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on and all except the Ferrari to 100 mph (160km/h). ['Facel Vega' by Jean Daninos: Editions E.P.A Paris 1981 p.130] Dunlop disc brakes were fitted on all four wheels and power steering, leather seats and electric windows and radio aerial were standard. [The later 'manuals' [Including that belonging to Ringo Starr: Autocar 6 June 1981 p 36.] were fitted with the even more powerful convert|6.7|L|cuin|sing=on Chrysler 'Hemi' engine]

Like its predecessor, the Facel Vega HK500, the Facel ll was heavy compared to its 2-seater rivals weighing convert|1880|kg|lb (37 cwt) 'dry' and came close to two tons with four passengers and a full petrol tank. There was some question about its ride and rear suspension [See 'Autocar' & 'Motor' road tests as below] - it used suspension virtually unchanged from the previous HK500 - but certainly none about its speed or glamour.

England's 'Autocar' said of it, "To step down into a Facel ll and go motoring must be the ambition of many who can never fulfil it. Such an experience is reserved for the few who can afford to buy one and for their friends and acquaintences". [ 'Autocar' Road Test 3 August 1962 p175] For 'Motor'," "There are faster sports cars, although very few, and there are more refined and luxurious saloons, but it is difficult to think of a more remarkable combination of these rather conflicting qualities ..... its unique combination of qualities left the most vivid impression on everyone who drove it. In particular one remembers the smoothness and silence, the effortless gate of a car which does convert|100|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on at only 3,650 rpm. and the acceleration which leaves other fast cars far behind on every straight. One can enjoy the latest refinements of American brute force with European standards of control in an environment of British luxury and French elegance". ['Motor' Road Test 36/62 p 81]

In 1964 the Facel company went into receivership [largely due to warranty claims against Facel Vega's smaller Facellia with its in-house engine problems] . Facel ll production was discontinued with only 180 ['Facel Vega' by Jean Daninos: Editions E.P.A Paris 1981 p.132 but other sources suggest, possibly more accurately, that 182-184 Facel lls were completed] Facel lls ever built.

Jean Daninos, its creator and manufacturer, said of the Facel ll, "The HK 500 was the most interesting car we ever made but the Facel ll was by far the best. It was totally "elegant"' ['Autocar' 6 July 1981 p 36]

The Facel ll is now amongst the rarest and most sought-after of all 1960s Grand Tourers.

References