Facel Vega · 1954–1962

Facel Vega FVS

The Facel Vega FV/FVS is a car produced by French automaker Facel from 1954 until 1959. It continued to be built until 1962 as the HK500.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Facel Vega HK500

All Facel Vega FVS data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

=== FV === The Facel "Vega" was launched at the 1954 Paris Salon, although the first prototype had been completed in October 1953. Originally the model name was "Vega", but they gradually became "Facel Vega" with "FV" followed by a number indicating the iteration. By 1956, the cars were called FVS (for Facel Vega Sport) in the United States. The 1954 versions of the Facel were fitted with a DeSoto Firedome (Chrysler) 4.5 litre Hemi V8 engine, paired with either Chrysler's two-speed Powerflite automatic transmission or, at extra cost, a four-speed manual made by Pont-à-Mousson. At this stage, the 180 hp (132 kW) FV was capable of a top speed from 172 to 193 km/h (107 to 120 mph), depending on which rear axle ratio was installed. The chassis, designed by Lance Macklin, was tubular framed, featuring coil springs and double wishbones at the front, with a leaf-sprung live rear axle. The styling, by Daninos himself, was somewhat American and perhaps a bit heavy, with rudimentary tail fins. The body was an expanded version of the earlier, Facel-bodied Simca/Ford Comète. An abundance of stainless steel brightwork was fitted. The dashboard was aircraft-inspired, and one of the first to feature a middle console over the gearbox. On FV and FV1 models, the dashboard was entirely upholstered in leather. The rear seats folded flat to provide a luggage platform and additional access to the boot. In 1955 the engine capacity increased to 4.8 litres and 200 hp (147 kW) (FV1). The FV1 was also 12 cm (4.7 in) longer than the original design47 of these early FVs were built in 1954 and 1955. Seven were convertibles, but as these suffered from rigidity troubles all but a handful of the rest of the large two-door Facels were pillarless coupés. FVS. Introduced in October 1955, the FV2 featured

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Specifications

name: Facel Vega FV/FVS/HK500
Manufacturer: Facel
aka: Facel Vega HK500 (1959–1962)
Production: 1954–1962
Assembly: Colombes, Paris, France
Successor: Facel Vega II
Class: grand tourer
Body style: 2-door coupé, 2-door convertible
Layout: Front engine, rear wheel drive
Engine: 4,525 cc Plymouth Poly V8, 4,528 cc DeSoto Fire Dome V8, 4,768 cc DeSoto Fire Dome V8, 4,910 cc Plymouth Poly V8, 5,407 cc DeSoto Fire Dome V8, 5,801 cc Chrysler Hemi V8, 6,279 cc Chrysler Typhoon V8
Transmission: 2- or 3-speed automatic, 4-speed manual
Designer: Jean Daninos
sp: uk