Lot 220: Facel Vega HK 500

During its 10 year history as a motor car manufacturer, Facel Vega earned a reputation for producing beautifully built, elegant and expensive high performance coupés. They were generally large cars, and by using large capacity Chrysler V8 engines a high level of performance became a hallmark of the Facel Vega marque. The most powerful engine options became available in 1958 in the form of the HK500 with either 5.9 or 6.3 litre variants of the Chrysler hemi-headed V8; with either 335 or 360bhp on hand, maximum speed of the 3,885 lb HK500 was between 130 and 145mph with 0-60mph reached in around 8.5 seconds. Indeed, according to the French manufacturer, the HK500 outperformed the Ferrari 250 GT, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL and the Aston Martin DB4 as regards zero to 60mph acceleration, speed over a standing start kilometre distance and fuel economy. It was also claimed to be the fastest car of its genre in production for a four year period. The considerable V8 power, hand-built quality and exclusivity of Facel Vega models ensured their popularity. Notable celebrity owners included Ava Gardner (who had three), Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant and Rob Walker - the latter trio appreciative of their ability to cover the distances between the race circuits of Europe at high speeds and in comfort and safety - Pablo Picasso, Joan Fontaine, Ringo Starr and Tony Curtis to name a few; one of the less fortunate was French writer Albert Camus, who was killed at the wheel of a Facel Vega. Total production of the HK500 between 1958 and 1963 amounted to just 489 cars. Having been the subject of a comprehensive restoration to the highest standards, with the body sandblasted to bare metal, then primed before seven (!) layers of paint were applied, every screw that needed replacing replaced, every rubber sealing renewed and the interior not only fitted with new leather to the seats and the rest of the interior but also the famous hand painted dashboard newly painted by the hand of an artist, every enthusiast of this fantastic matching numbers French super car will be hard pressed to find a better example. Dieser traumhafte Facel Vega wurde erst kürzlich einer umfassenden Restaurierung unterzogen, bei der die Karrosserie sandgestrahlt und grundiert wurde bevor sieben (!) Lackschichten aufgetragen wurden , jede notwendige Schraube erneuert , alle Gummiteile erneuert sowie das Interieur nicht nur mit einer neuen Lederausstattung versehen sondern auch das Armaturenbrett von einer Künstlerin handbemalt wurde. Es wird wohl schwer möglich sein, ein besseres Exemplar dieses französischen Klassikers zu finden.