Facel Vega Facel II
| Facel Vega Facel II | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Facel Vega S.A. Paris |
| Also called | Facel II |
| Production | 1962–1964 approx. 180 produced [26 r.h.d] |
| Designer | Jean Daninos |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Grand tourer |
| Body style | 2-door 4-seater coupe |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 6.3L Chrysler V8 6.7L Chrysler V8 |
| Transmission | Automatic Chrysler transmission. Manual 4-speed all-synchromesh Pont-a-Mousson transmission offered at extra cost. |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,660 mm (104.7 in) |
| Length | 4,750 mm (187.0 in) |
| Width | 1,760 mm (69.3 in) |
| Height | 1,280 mm (50.4 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,880 kg (4,140 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Facel Vega HK500 |
The Facel Vega 'Facel II' was a French grand touring car produced by 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, Facel's founder and , said of the Facel II, "The HK 500 was the most interesting car we ever made but the Facel II was by far the best. It was totally 'elegant' .
The Facel Vega 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."
It was powered by an American 6.3 litre (383 cu.in.) Chrysler 'Typhoon' engine which produced 355 hp (265 kW) in automatic-gearbox form and 390 hp (291 kW) in manual. Using Chrysler's three-speed Torqueflite automatic gearbox, the 6.3-litre Facel II could reach over 135 mph (225 km/h). With a French Pont-a-Mousson four-speed manual gearbox the full-four-seater 6.3 litre Facel II could attain over 150 mph (247 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 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 manuals were fitted with the even more powerful 6.7 litre (413 cu.in.) Chrysler "RB" wedge engine and were faster still.
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