Classic Facel Vega challenge for sale

Facel Vega resurfaces

The Facel Vega HK500 was designed as a grand tourer to challenge top dogs Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin.

But far from the pristine lawns of Pebble Beach where you might spot many of its period rivals today – and miles from the twisting European Tarmac it was designed to devour – this HK500 has been garaged for the past 46 years.

It needs a lot of attention, but having been stored for the best part of five decades means it’s highly original, ‘seemingly complete down to its windscreen washer bottle and underbonnet lights’, according to British auction house H&H Classics, who will be selling the car on 26 April 2023.

Registered VFF 926, it will be offered with no reserve when it crosses the block at the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, Derbyshire – let’s take a closer look.

American influence

H&H Classics believes VFF 926 is one of just 98 UK-supplied Facel Vega HK500s.

Introduced in 1958, the HK500 had a tubular steel chassis, independent double-wishbone suspension up front and a live axle at the rear.

The elegant French car packed a punch with American power under the bonnet: early HK500s used 5.9-litre Chrysler V8s before 6.3-litre units came on stream later in the car’s production.

Left-field choice

Created by Greek-French engineer Jean Daninos in 1954, Facel Vega was still the new kid on the block when the HK500 was introduced.

Taking on established marques like Ferrari and Aston Martin was a daunting task, but Daninos was just the man for the job.

He founded Facel, a metal-stamping company, in 1939, which began producing special bodies for French marques such as Panhard and Delahaye in the early ’50s, but Daninos always aspired to build his own car.

The first Facel Vega was introduced at the 1954 Paris Salon.

Taxed out

Unfortunately, using big American engines put Facel Vegas firmly on the wrong side of France’s expensive tax laws and, as a result, most were exported.

On the flip side, the HK500 was one of the quickest cars of its time: 0-60mph was dispatched in 8.4 secs and it would apparently keep going until 140mph.

Typhoon power

VFF 926 is fitted with the larger 6.3-litre Chrysler Typhoon engine.

The model had grown in weight over the years – reportedly tipping the scales at more than 1800kg (more than 3900lb) in 1960 – but the extra grunt afforded by the big Chrysler unit would’ve certainly gone some way to nullify the effects of this extra heft.

A jack-of-all-trades?

British racing driver Lance Macklin was tasked with tuning the Facel Vega’s chassis. 

Road testers of the time praised the HK500 as a comfortable cruiser which was more than capable of dealing with spirited driving, too.

Daninos was certainly heading in the right direction if he wanted to take on the Ferrari 250GTE, Maserati 3500GT and Aston Martin DB4.

Stopping power

This car is fitted with Dunlop disc brakes all round, as was standard for the HK500 from 1960.

Previously cars were fitted with four-wheel finned drum brakes, but poor reviews from road testers prompted the company to introduce more powerful disc brakes, first as an option in 1959.

The extra stopping power afforded by these beefier brakes makes later cars more desirable.

Laid-back tourer

In this example, the Chrysler engine is mated to a three-speed automatic transmission, also courtesy of Chrysler.

There was a four-speed Pont-à-Mousson manual gearbox available, but buyers had to pay a premium for the extra involvement.

Cars fitted with the automatic gearbox gained power steering.

A leap into the unknown?

It is quite some time since this 1960 HK500 has turned a wheel, though.

And if it is to once more, someone is possibly going to have to take a brave pill before bringing this long-term garage-stored classic car back to life.

Bring your friends

The two-door HK500 elegantly packages four seats in a surprisingly roomy configuration.

Granted, rear-seat passengers won’t have quite as much legroom as the lucky person riding shotgun, but a road trip with three of your nearest and dearest is certainly a tantalising prospect for when VFF 926 is back on the road.

Star cast

Apparently, Pablo Picasso, Ava Gardner, Sir Stirling Moss, Ringo Starr, Tony Curtis, Maurice Trintignant, Joan Fontaine, Danny Kaye, François Truffaut and Rob Walker all once owned Facel Vega HK500s.

The fact only approximately 500 models were produced makes this star-studded list even more impressive.

A look inside

Even under a layer of dust, you can see hints of the Facel Vega’s opulent interior.

The wood-effect painted dashboard is furnished with an attractive assortment of dials and switches. 

Luckily, the next owner won’t need to worry about dusting off their French phrasebook; the gauges include an English translation, possibly a result of the HK500’s popularity abroad.

Under the dust

The sumptuous grey leather seats have never been restored, but they might need some attention along with the electric windows. 

If the last MoT is anything to go by, however, the seats shouldn’t be too worn: the last test was in 1972 when the odometer showed 55,000 miles. The expired MoT certificate is included in the sale.

Big grin

There’s plenty of chatter about big grilles on modern cars, but the Facel Vega HK500 was obviously ahead of the curve with this huge item.

The stacked headlights complete the imposing front end while a wraparound windscreen provides great visibility from the inside.

London to Wales

The car is being sold with its continuation green logbook, which shows VFF 926 was first registered on 15 July 1960.

Some seven years later, it was bought by a gentleman in London and this car travelled with him to Flintshire in Wales in ’72.

It passed to its next owner, from whose estate this is being sold now, in 1976, who kept VFF 926 garaged until his death.

Careful extraction

Fast forward to February 2023 and VFF 926 was finally pulled out of its near-50-year home. 

It was discovered with its original Borrani centre-lock wheels and windscreen washer bottle.

It’s clear that a big effort will be needed to put this car back on the road, but it will no doubt be a rewarding project.

Faded star

Facel Vega might today be a car manufacturer lost to the mists of time, but the big-hearted glamour and low-volume production of its cars means they still have a great allure.

However, finding parts to revive this car might well be less simple than with other classics.

On to pastures new

Ahead of its sale on 26 April 2023, with H&H Classics, this car has very carefully been extracted from its resting place after the best part of half a century.

It would be wonderful to hear its large, eight-cylinder engine once more.

Nail in the coffin

In August 1961, the year after this car was built, Daninos resigned his position at the car company he’d founded, but the ailing manufacturer could not be saved.

Facel Vega shut down in 1964.

A gratifying experience

Facel Vega’s back catalogue is impressive, especially considering the marque’s short lifespan, and the elegant HK500 is surely one of the best examples of the company’s charming optimism.

And with so few HK500s built, it would be a great shame if this car wasn’t saved.

Hammer time

There’s no doubt this 1960 Facel Vega HK500 requires a lot of work.

But, if you think you’re up to the challenge, it will go under the hammer with H&H Classics on 26 April 2023, at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire, with no reserve – find out more here.