Misplaced Pages

#847152

29-708: The Facel "Vega" was launched at the 1954 Paris Salon, although the first prototype had been completed in October 1953. Originally the model name was "Vega", but they gradually became "Facel Vega" with "FV" followed by a number indicating the iteration. By 1956, the cars were called FVS (for Facel Vega Sport) in the United States. The 1954 versions of the Facel were fitted with a DeSoto Firedome (Chrysler) 4.5 litre Hemi V8 engine, paired with either Chrysler's two-speed Powerflite automatic transmission or, at extra cost,

58-455: A Facel II 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 acquaintances. Said 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

87-633: A French Pont-a-Mousson four-speed manual gearbox the full-four-seater 6.3 litre Facel II could reach over 150 mph (240 km/h) and out-accelerate two-seat GTs such as the Aston Martin DB4 , Ferrari 250 GT and 'gull-wing' Mercedes-Benz 300SL , to 60 mph (97 km/h) and all except the Ferrari to 100 mph (160 km/h). Dunlop disc brakes were fitted on all four wheels and Hydrosteer power steering , leather seats, electric windows and radio aerial all became standard during

116-407: A four-speed manual made by Pont-à-Mousson. At this stage, the 180 hp (132 kW) FV was capable of a top speed from 172 to 193 km/h (107 to 120 mph), depending on which rear axle ratio was installed. The chassis, designed by Lance Macklin , was tubular framed, featuring coil springs and double wishbones at the front, with a leaf-sprung live rear axle. The styling, by Daninos himself,

145-451: A luggage platform and additional access to the boot. In 1955 the engine capacity increased to 4.8 litres and 200 hp (147 kW) ( FV1 ). The FV1 was also 12 cm (4.7 in) longer than the original design47 of these early FVs were built in 1954 and 1955. Seven were convertibles, but as these suffered from rigidity troubles all but a handful of the rest of the large two-door Facels were pillarless coupés. Introduced in October 1955,

174-435: A top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h). The car weighed 3,700 lb (1,700 kg) and had a 0–60 mph (100 km/h) time of 15.5 seconds. This was the first time that DeSoto offered an 8-cylinder engine in one of its models since 1931. By 1953, DeSoto's Firedome Hemi V-8 produced 170 horsepower. In 1955, Chrysler dropped its 6-cylinder DeSoto Powermaster series and added the topline Fireflite series, pushing

203-575: Is a grand touring car produced by French automaker Facel Vega between the years 1962 and 1964. By 1962, the Paris-based company was facing bankruptcy. The Facel II was to be the company's last attempt to create a luxury GT car in the French tradition. Jean Daninos , president , 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

232-622: The FV2 featured a panoramic (aka wrap-around) windshield. The trompe-l'œil dashboard was metal, hand painted to look like burled wood by Marcel Bigot, the head of Facel's paint department. Referred to as the FVS in the United States, the car featured the same 4.8-litre engine as in the FV1, albeit now offering 250 hp (184 kW). During 1956, the 5.4-litre FV2B appeared, with 285 hp (210 kW) and substantial added torque. One single FV2 convertible

261-494: The 1952 model year, it retained that position until demoted to the least expensive model for 1955. It was reclassified to become a mid-range vehicle for 1957 and was discontinued for the 1960 model year. The 1953 Firedome was introduced just prior to DeSoto's 25th Anniversary in 1953, and arrived as the new top series, displacing the Custom nameplate which was retired at the end of the 1952 model year. The entire De Soto model lineup

290-602: The 1957 model year, Facel did the same and called the resulting model the FV3B . In addition to the new 253 hp (186 kW) engine, the FV3B also received new, slightly longer and wider bodywork on cars built after the first batch of twelve cars had been completed in March 1957. For 1958, the engine grew to 5.8 litres ( FV4 ) and 325 hp (239 kW), although the earlier 4.5 and a 4.9 ( FV3/FV3B ) were still listed as available and

319-400: The 1957 models. In an attempt to attract buyers, Chrysler offered the 1959 DeSoto Firedome in 26 solid colors and 190 two-tone finishes. By the end of the 1959 model year, Chrysler was struggling to find buyers for its DeSoto automobiles. Despite the wide variety of models available, consumers shunned DeSoto automobiles as rumor circulated that Chrysler would phase out the marque. A padded dash

SECTION 10

#1732787387848

348-485: The Facel Vega HK500, the Facel II was a heavy vehicle, weighing 1,880 kg (4,145 lb) (37 cwt) 'dry' and well over two tons with four passengers and a full petrol tank. There may have been some question about its ride and rear suspension – 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

377-533: The Firedome down to entry level status. Still, the Firedome was not a cheap offering, retaining its V8 engine , but increasing the 276 c.i. displacement to 291 c.i. with a larger bore, a power boost to 185 horsepower, and coming with a host of features and interior upgrades that were lacking in the Powermaster series. While Powerflite 2-speed automatics were advertised as optional transmission equipment on

406-489: The Firedome, officially the car was also offered with a 3-speed manual as standard equipment, although few were produced. In 1956,the Firedome V-8 got still another boost in horsepower, to 230 H.P., an increase of 45 horsepower over the previous year. The series was again moved upmarket in the model offering when the 1957 DeSotos were introduced, with the new entry-level Dodge-based Firesweep . A new air-conditioner

435-657: The HK500 in 1962, after 489 had been built. One was a specially made convertible. Total FV/HK production was 842, or 846 depending on the source. Albert Camus died when the Vega he was travelling in hit a tree. DeSoto Firedome The DeSoto Firedome was a full-size automobile produced between 1952 and 1959 by the DeSoto division of the Chrysler Corporation . Introduced as DeSoto's premium line of vehicles for

464-768: The driver was not familiar with the car's handling and weight, and that contributed to the severity of the crash. For 1959, the Facel Vega HK500 was introduced. Essentially, it was just a renamed, upgraded FVS. Equipped at first with the 335 hp (246 kW) 5.8-litre V8 from the FVS, the HK500 soon received a 360 hp (265 kW) 6.3 litre Chrysler V8, giving it a top speed of 147 mph (237 km/h). It could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.5 seconds. Initially, disc brakes were optional, becoming standard in April, 1960. The Facel Vega II replaced

493-510: The most sought-after of all 1960s Grand Tourers. On 1 December 2013 Bonhams in London auctioned the partially restored ex-Ringo Starr right-hand-drive Facel II for £337,500 [= approx €407,000/$ 552,500 at the time]. On 6 February 2014 Bonhams in Paris auctioned a rusty and derelict 'barn-find' left-hand-drive Facel II in need of a total-rebuild restoration for €155,250 [= approx £129,000/$ 211,000 at

522-458: The most vivid impression on everyone who drove it. In particular one remembers the smoothness and silence, the effortless gait of a car which does 100 mph (160 km/h) 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. In August 1961 Jean Daninos

551-446: The production run, with Armstrong Selecta-Ride shock-absorbers adjustable from the dash while driving fitted to the right-hand-drive British models. The curvaceous wrap-round dash was in fact metal but meticulously painted to look like wood. Many of the controls were airplane inspired. The later models were fitted with the even more powerful 6.7 litre (413 cu.in.) Chrysler RB "wedge" engine and were faster still. Like its predecessor,

580-521: The three models were built alongside each other. In total, 357 FVs and FVSs were built. A four-door version, called the Excellence , was added to the lineup in 1958, but was even more rarefied than the two-door version. French publisher Michel Gallimard was driving his FV2 on January 4, 1960, when he lost control and crashed outside of Villeblevin . The crash killed him and one of his passengers, Nobel laureate Albert Camus . Some have speculated that

609-436: Was built and exhibited at the company's stand at the 1955 Paris Salon , while two FV2B convertibles were built in 1956 for customers in the United States. One FV3 convertible was also finished, in spite of Daninos' reluctance to offer the bodystyle due to its lack of rigidity. The FVS was also offered with a three-speed automatic, and front disc brakes were available from 1958. At some point a reworked, more harmonious front end

SECTION 20

#1732787387848

638-407: Was introduced at the 1961 Paris Motor Show , and was powered by a Chrysler 6.3 litre (383 cu.in.) 'Typhoon' engine which produced 355 hp (265 kW) if equipped with a TorqueFlite automatic-gearbox, or 390 hp (291 kW) with a manual transmission. Using Chrysler's three-speed automatic gearbox, the 6.3-litre Facel II could reach a top speed of over 135 mph (217 km/h). With

667-530: Was introduced for the FV3 model, featuring what looked like twin stacked headlights but what were actually headlamps on top and auxiliaries beneath. Plymouth's Polyspheric 4.5-litre "277 Power Pack" engine replaced the DeSoto Hemi unit; maximum power was down to 200 hp (147 kW). Power steering and power brakes were both standard as of 1957. As Plymouth replaced the 277 engine with the bigger-bore 301 for

696-405: Was obliged to offer his resignation and in 1964 the Facel company went into receivership, largely due to warranty claims against Facel Vega's smaller Facellia with its troublesome 'in-house' engine. As a result, Facel II production had to be discontinued with only 180 Facel IIs built. Regarded by some today as one of the more handsome automobiles ever made, the remaining Facel IIs are now amongst

725-417: Was offered. By 1958 the horsepower had increased to over 300 (220 kW) with the option of the 361 cubic-inch (5,920 cc) V8 engine. Zero to 60 mph (100 km/h) now took just under eight seconds with a top speed of 115 mph (185 km/h). However 1958 DeSoto's sales skidded by almost 60% from 1957's model year output, partially due to the economy and partially because of build issues with

754-446: Was restyled and Firedome prices started at US$ 2,740 ($ 31,203 in 2023 dollars ). During the 1953 model year, approximately 64,211 examples were produced. The Firedome could seat six passengers. It was available as a 4-door sedan , 5-door station wagon , 2-door coupe and 2-door convertible . The AM radio was US$ 85 ($ 968 in 2023 dollars ). The Firedome was powered by a Hemi V8 engine producing 160 hp (120 kW) and had

783-429: Was somewhat American and perhaps a bit heavy, with rudimentary tail fins. The body was an expanded version of the earlier, Facel-bodied Simca/Ford Comète . An abundance of stainless steel brightwork was fitted. The dashboard was aircraft-inspired, and one of the first to feature a middle console over the gearbox. On FV and FV1 models, the dashboard was entirely upholstered in leather. The rear seats folded flat to provide

812-628: Was standard. Firedome production ended at the end of the 1959 model year. For the 1960 model year DeSoto offered two models, the Fireflite and the Adventurer . For model year 1961, a model named only "DeSoto" was sold as a two-door hardtop and four-door hardtop. The end of the DeSoto marque came on November 30, 1960, 48 days after the 1961 models were introduced, ending 32 years of production. Facel Vega II The Facel Vega 'Facel II'

841-585: Was totally 'elegant' ." The Facel S.A. company advertised the Facel II as " Le Coupé 4-places le plus rapide du Monde " ('The Fastest 4-seater Coupé in the World'). Sports Car Graphic described it as a "luxurious brute". Bernard Cahier, a race-driver who tested the car in 1962, said of an early version (without the later limited-slip differential) that "the huge output of the Chrysler engine made it easy to spin wheels at light throttle pressure". The Facel II

#847152