Facel Vega Facel II - Once the Fastest 4-seater Coupe in the World


HK2A100, Quai de Seine, Paris (Press Photo)

HK2A100, Quai de Seine, Paris (Press Photo)

HK2A158, Charlie Drake car in London '60, © Wilde

HK2A158, Charlie Drake car in London '60, © Wilde

HK2B107, Le Mans Classic 2008, © Wilde

HK2B107, Le Mans Classic 2008, © Wilde

HK2B141, Artcurial 14/02/2010, © Wilde

HK2B141, Artcurial 14/02/2010, © Wilde

HK2B160, Ringo Starr car

HK2B160, Ringo Starr car

HK2B165, "Wilde" car, © Wilde

HK2B165, "Wilde" car, © Wilde

 

Introduced during the Paris Motor Show in september 1961 the Facel Vega Facel II (type HK2) was based on the HK500 chassis with a totally new bodywork. The Facel Vega company advertised the Facel ll as "Le Coupe 4 places le plus rapide du Monde" (“The Fastest 4-seater Coupe in the World”).

   >> MediaCenter Gallery: Facel Vega

It was powered by a 6.3L (383 cu.in.) Chrysler V8 engine which produced 355 hp in automatic-gearbox form and 390 hp in manual. With a French Pont-à-Mousson 4-speed manual gearbox the full-four-seater 6.3L Facel ll could attain over 150 mph (247 km/h). Please note that the later manuals were fitted with the even more powerful 6.7L (413 cu.in.) Chrysler "RB" wedge engine and were faster still. Dunlop disc brakes were fitted on all four wheels and Hydrosteer power steering, leather seats, electric windows and radio aerial all became standard during the production run.

The Facel II was produced from october 1961 until may 1964 in only 184 examples (including the prototype). Jean Daninos, its creator and manufacturer, said of the Facel II, "The HK500 was the most interesting car we ever made but the Facel II was by far the best. It was totally "elegant".

Chassis

Steel welded tubes, independent front suspension with coil springs, live axle (2.93) with leaf springs, on most cars : limited slip differential, disc brakes with servo, power assisted on nearly all automatic cars, optional on manual cars, tyres 6.70 x 15 (Michelin X), fuel tanks 100 litre.

Body

Pressed steel and welded dimensions : 4,75 x 1,76 x 1,28 Weight : 1650 kg.

Body Colours

Facel Blue Irise, Black, Grey, Blue, Dover Grey, Red, White, Green (Most colours available in several shades, special colours on demands).

Interior

Black, Beige, Grey, Red, Blue, Green (some colours available in several shades).

Extras

Set of special suitcases, tinted glass, steel wheels instead of Borrani wire wheels, air conditioning.

Engine

All Facel II with automatic transmission and all Facel II series A with manual gearbox had Chrysler V8 (wedge)  bore and stroke 107,95 x 85,85 mm capacity 6286 cc / 383 cu.in. maximum power 355 hp at 4800 rpm with one four barrel carburettor, maximum power 390 hp at 5400 rpm with two four barrel carburettors.

All Facel II series B with manual gearbox had Chrysler V8 (wedge) bore and stroke 106,43 x 95,30 mm capacity 6765 cc / 413 cu.in. maximum power 400 hp at 5400 rpm.

Carburettors

383 cu.in. engine with automatic gearbox : one Carter AFB (four barrel).
383 cu.in. engine with manual gearbox : two Carter AFB (four barrel).
413 cu.in. engine with manual gearbox : two Carter AFB (four barrel).

Gearbox

4-speed manual (Pont-à-Mousson).
3-speed automatic (Chrysler Torqueflite).

Production

1 prototype, chassis number HK2A099, 183 made between October 1961 and May 1964, chassis number HK2A100 to HK2A199 / HK2B100 to HK2B182.
LHD : 157 / RHD : 26 (+ 1 stillborn at the factory HK2A112).
Manual : 70 (including prototype) / Automatic : 114
Power steering : standard on most automatic and 31 manual cars.
Air conditioning : 40

Register (as of November 2011)

Chassis

Gearbox

Exterior/Interior

Note

HK2A099

PAM

Noire
Noire

Prototype, still in existence somewhere in France.

HK2A100

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige 847

First production car, press car - Musée de Lohéac France.

HK2A101

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

Paris and London Motor Show 1961. Sold new to the British composer Lionel Bart. Found in a scrapyard in England and convertible transformation by John Barton.

HK2A102

AUT

Gregio Glacé
Rouge vif

HK2A103

PAM

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A104

PAM

Silver Grey
Beige 847

HK2A105

AUT

Noire
Beige 543

HK2A106

AUT

Gris Mét.
Noire

HK2A107

AUT

Tudor Grey
Rouge

HK2A108

PAM

Noire
Noire

HK2A109

AUT

Bleu Facel 3230
Gris

HK2A110

AUT

Noire
Noire

HK2A111
RHD 01

PAM

Torch Red
Noire bordée rouge

 

HK2A112
RHD

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Noire bordée bleu

Destroyed by the factory in January 1962

HK2A113
RHD 02

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Noire bordée bleu

 

HK2A114
RHD 03

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Noire bordée bleu

HWM Motors demo car, tested by Autocar and Motor in 1962

HK2A115

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Havane 846

HK2A116

PAM

Silver Grey
Rouge 3171

HK2A117
RHD 04

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige

Sold new to G.A. “Tony” Vanderwell

HK2A118

PAM

Noire
Noire

HK2A119

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A120

PAM

Gris Mét.
Vert 846

HK2A121

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A122
RHD 05

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A123

AUT

Noire
Beige 847

HK2A124

PAM

Gris Mét.
Beige 847

HK2A125

AUT

Noire
Noire

HK2A126

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A127

PAM

Silver Grey
Rouge

HK2A128

PAM

Tudor Grey
Beige clair

Sold new to Count Volpi

HK2A129
RHD 06

AUT

Dover Grey
Noire

HK2A130

AUT

Noire
Vert 846

HK2A131

AUT

Gris Mét.
Noire

HK2A132

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige 847

HK2A133

PAM

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2A134

PAM

Silver Grey
Beige clair

HK2A135

AUT

Dover Grey
Rouge vif

HK2A136

AUT

Bleu Facel
Beige 847

HK2A137

PAM

Silver Grey
Rouge 3171

HK2A138

PAM

Bleu Facel
Bleu 3015

HK2A139

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A140

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A141

AUT

Tudor Grey
Noire

HK2A142

AUT

Bleu Facel
Bleu 3015

HK2A143

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A144

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Rouge 3516

HK2A145

AUT

Bleu Facel
Gris 3230

Gooding & Co 15/08/2009, 203 500 $

HK2A146

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2A147

AUT

Tudor Grey
Rouge 3171

HK2A148

AUT

Noire
Beige

HK2A149

AUT

Blanc
Rouge 3171

HK2A150

AUT

Blanc
Rouge 3516

HK2A151
RHD 07

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Noire bordée bleu

 

HK2A152

AUT

Tudor Grey
Rouge 3171

HK2A153

AUT

Blanc
Rouge 3516

HK2A154

AUT

Peacock Bleu
Gris 3230

HK2A155

AUT

Noire
Rouge 3171

HK2A156

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A157

AUT

Dover Grey
Noire

HK2A158
RHD 08

AUT

Torch Red
Noire

Sold new to Charlie Drake

HK2A159

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A160

PAM

Blanc
Rouge 3516

HK2A161

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2A162

AUT

Silver Grey
Vert 846

HK2A163

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A164

PAM

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2A165

PAM

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A166

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige 847

Artcurial Motorcars Paris 30/10/2011, 204 455 €

HK2A167

AUT

Bleu Jean Bart
Beige 72 Costil

 

HK2A168

AUT

Silver Grey
Beige 847

HK2A169

PAM

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A170
RHD 09

AUT

Bleu Brunswick
Gris 3230 bordée bleu

Sold new to Rob Walker

HK2A171
RHD 10

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge vif 3516

 

HK2A172
RHD 11

AUT

Dover Grey
Rouge vif 3516

 

HK2A173

PAM

Silver Grey
Rouge 3171

HK2A174

PAM

Noire
Beige 847

HK2A175

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige 847

HK2A176

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A177

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2A178

AUT

Tudor Grey
Rouge 3171

HK2A179

PAM

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2A180

PAM

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A181

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Gris 3230

HK2A182

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2A183

AUT

Blanc
Beige 847

Sold new to Debbie Reynolds

HK2A184

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3171

Artcurial Motorcars Paris 09/07/2010, 176 910 €

HK2A185

AUT

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2A186

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2A187

AUT

Noire
Rouge 3516

Sold new to Tony Curtis

HK2A188

AUT

Tudor Grey
Rouge 3171

HK2A189

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2A190

PAM

Blanc
Rouge 3516

HK2A191

PAM

Dover Grey
Noire

HK2A192

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Rouge 3171

HK2A193

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A194

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Vert 846

HK2A195

PAM

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2A196

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2A197

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Noire 8500

HK2A198

AUT

Vert Racing
Rouge 3171

HK2A199

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B100

AUT

Noire
Rouge 3516

Gooding & Co 22/01/2010, 176 000 $

HK2B101

PAM

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2B102

PAM

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2B103

PAM

Noire
Rouge 3171

HK2B104
RHD 12

PAM

Torch Red
Noire gansé rouge

 

HK2B105
RHD 13

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Noire gansé bleu

 

HK2B106

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B107

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B108

AUT

Bleu Facel
Beige 847

HK2B109

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2B110

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2B111

AUT

Noire
Noire

HK2B112

AUT

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2B113

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge

HK2B114

AUT

Noire
Rouge

HK2B115

AUT

Tudor Grey
Rouge

HK2B116

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Gris 3230

HK2B117

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B118

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Rouge

HK2B119

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Vert 846

HK2B120

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2B121

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B122

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Light beige

HK2B123

AUT

Tudor Grey
Light beige

HK2B124

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Gris 3230

HK2B125

PAM

Bleu Mét. Facel
Bleu 3015

HK2B126

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B127

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Rouge 3516

HK2B128

?

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3244

HK2B129

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3244

HK2B130

AUT

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2B131

PAM

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B132

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Rouge 3516

HK2B133

PAM

Blanc
Rouge 3516

HK2B134

PAM

Noire
Noire

HK2B135

AUT

Gregio Glacé
Rouge 3516

HK2B136

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2B137

AUT

Gregio Glacé
Noire

HK2B138

AUT

Blanc
Pink

HK2B139

PAM

Rouge Mét. Facel
Beige 846

HK2B140

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige 847

HK2B141

AUT

Blanc
Rouge 3516

Artcurial Motorcars Paris 14/02/2010, 186 312 €

HK2B142
RHD 14

AUT

Platinum
Rouge 3516

HK2B143

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige 847

HK2B144

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2B145

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2B146

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge

HK2B147
RHD 15

AUT

Rouge Mét. Facel
Beige 847

HK2B148
RHD 16

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Noire bordée bleu

 

HK2B149
RHD 17

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Rouge

converted to LHD in the 80’

HK2B150

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B151
RHD 18

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge vif

HK2B152
RHD 19

AUT

Bleu Brunswick
Gris

HK2B153
RHD 20

AUT

Rouge Mét. Facel
Beige 847

HK2B154
RHD 21

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Gris

HK2B155
RHD 22

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge 3516

Unsold at £ 170 000, RM Auctions London 26/10/2011

HK2B156
RHD 23

AUT

Silver Grey
Bleu 3015

HK2B157

AUT

Noire
Beige 847

HK2B158
RHD 24

AUT

Dover Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2B159
RHD 25

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Rouge 3516

HK2B160
RHD 26

PAM

Rouge Mét. Facel
Beige

Sold new to Ringo Starr

HK2B161

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige clair

HK2B162

AUT

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B163

AUT

Silver Grey
Rouge

HK2B164

AUT

Tudor Grey
Beige 847

HK2B165

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige 847

HK2B166

PAM

Vert
Beige 847

HK2B167

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Noire

HK2B168

PAM

Rouge Mét. Facel
Noire

HK2B169

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Bleu 3015

HK2B170

AUT

Tudor Grey
Beige

HK2B171

AUT

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige

HK2B172

AUT

Tudor Grey
Rouge 3516

HK2B173

PAM

Silver Grey
Bleu foncé

HK2B174

AUT

Tudor Grey
Beige

HK2B175

PAM

Tudor Grey
Beige

HK2B176

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige

HK2B177

AUT

Gregio Glacé
Rouge

HK2B178

AUT

Noire
Beige

Artcurial Motorcars Paris 16/11/2009, 117 940 €

HK2B179

AUT

Grise
Rouge

Sold new to Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia

HK2B180

PAM

Bleu Facel Irisé
Beige

HK2B181

?

Silver Grey
Noire

HK2B182

PAM

Gregio Glacé
Rouge vif

Last production car

For more information:
Amicale Facel Vega
http://www.facel-vega.asso.fr