Facel Vega Facel II History

Introduced in 1962 on a refined HK500 platform, the Facel II was lighter, lower, and more elegantly styled than its predecessor. The 104.7-inch wheelbase coupe weighed around 1,880 kg dry — still substantial, but the cleaner body and more powerful tune gave markedly better performance. The 6.3-litre Chrysler 'Typhoon' V8 produced 355 hp with the TorqueFlite automatic or 390 hp paired to the Pont-à-Mousson four-speed manual, the latter giving a top speed exceeding 150 mph (240 km/h). Four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes were standard.

The Facel II was immediately recognised as the marque's masterpiece — cleaner, faster, and more contemporary than the HK500, with a drag-coefficient that belied its hand-formed steel bodywork. Notable owners included Pablo Picasso, Joan Collins, Tony Curtis, and François Truffaut, alongside the continuing roster of royalty and heads of state who had patronised the HK500.

Only 180 Facel IIs were completed before the Colombes factory closed in October 1964, making it the rarest of Facel Vega's big cars. Today surviving Facel IIs are among the most sought-after 1960s grand tourers on the collector market, routinely fetching six-figure sums at auction.