Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

I enjoyed the recent topic on the Gordon Keeble and it reminded me of another hand built car of around the same era which I always thought to be vaguely similar in appearamce - the French built Facel Vega.

I only ever saw one about 20 years ago and that was only a glimpse of one as it passed in the opposite direction and it struck me then as a handsome vehicle.

Do any members of this forum know any more about them?
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Roger-hatchy]

Google Facel Vega

You will get an abundance of info.
They only had a production run of 10 years 54-64.
Facel started in the motor trade as special body builders.

[Ellis]

[47p2]

0-100mph in under 18 seconds from the 400bhp engine which will take you effortlessly to over 150mph,
the gearbox is automatic or manual at the flick of a switch and all this from the worlds fastest touring car.




The car below was for sale a couple of years ago for £55,000













A quick check on classic sales sites reveals a couple for sale and they are around the £80k price range
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

[lowdrag]

There's been an interesting thread on Facels here:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&f=140&t=989339&mid=66383&nmt=Help+Facel+Vega%2C+Facel+2

[badhuis]

I had a HK500 in to fit an electric power steering a couple of weeks ago. Took it out for a test drive before and after fitment.
It is a gorgeous car to look at. Exterior and interior. Very quick acceleration. Huge turning circle, the complete steering system looks like an afterthought on the car. Cars with original fitted (hydraulic) power steering are in fact dangerous because the pitman arms can break (this was the cause of at least a couple of deadly accidents).
But the big disappointment for me was the very harsh ride. You would expect a comfy ride from an old French car but not so. No comparison to an E-type, or Interceptor.
Most people when they saw the car did not like the too-Mercedes like front end.

Dion

[badhuis]

I had a HK500 in to fit an electric power steering a couple of weeks ago. Took it out for a test drive before and after fitment.
It is a gorgeous car to look at. Exterior and interior. Very quick acceleration. Huge turning circle, the complete steering system looks like an afterthought on the car. Cars with original fitted (hydraulic) power steering are in fact dangerous because the pitman arms can break (this was the cause of at least a couple of deadly accidents).
But the big disappointment for me was the very harsh ride. You would expect a comfy ride from an old French car but not so. No comparison to an E-type, or Interceptor.
Most people when they saw the car did not like the too-Mercedes like front end.

Dion