1958 Facel Vega FV3B Coupe

1958 Facel Vega FV3B Coupe

In its relatively short life, the French firm of Facel produced approximately 2,900 cars, all of which were stylish, luxurious and fast. Hand built, they were, of course, necessarily very expensive – the Facel II was priced in Rolls-Royce territory – and were bought by the rich and famous seeking something exclusive and distinctive. The roll call of owners includes royalty, politicians, diplomats and entertainers; Tony Curtis, Danny Kaye, Ringo Starr, Joan Fontaine, and Ava Gardner being counted among the latter. Confirming that there was high-performance substance behind Facel's unquestionable style, they were owned and driven by great motor racing figures such as Sir Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant, and Rob Walker.

Founded by Jean Daninos in 1939, Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure-et-Loir (FACEL) specialized in the construction of aircraft components and metal furniture. After the war the company engaged in the supply of car bodies to Panhard, Simca and Ford France, before branching out into automobile manufacture in its own right with the launch of the Vega at the 1954 Paris Salon. Government legislation had effectively killed off France's few surviving luxury car manufacturers after WW2, but that did not deter Jean Daninos in his bold attempt to revive what had once been a great French motoring tradition. A luxurious Grand Routier, the Vega took its name from the brightest star in the Lyra constellation and featured supremely elegant coupé bodywork welded to a tubular-steel chassis. There being no suitable French-built power unit, Daninos turned to the USA for the Vega's, that chosen initially being Chrysler's 4.5-liter, 180bhp V8, while there was a choice of push-button automatic or manual transmission. Improvements to the first FV model were not long in coming and by the end of 1956 the car was being built in 200bhp FV3 form.

One of only 90 FV3Bs manufactured during 1957 and 1958, was ordered new in France and finished from the factory in Grey over Red leather. More importantly, the first owner decided to row his or her own by selecting the 4-speed Pont-à-Mousson manual transmission for the meaty, Hemi V8 under the hood. Remaining on the Continent for the first part of its existence, by 1990 the Facel was recorded as being in the United States with collector Ronald Rees. 13 years later the rare machine was in the collection of Charles Emery in Alpena, Michigan. It was acquired by the current owner in late December 2008.

The subject of an older restoration, the luxurious coupe has travelled only 6 miles in the past 14 years and as such is overdue for a bit of mechanical servicing before any grand touring. An exciting combination of elegant European style and American V8 power, this beautiful Facel Vega is a worthy successor to the legendary French Grandes Routières of pre-war days.

Descriptions and pictures by bonhams