FACEL II
Country of Manufacture: France     Vin #: HK2A137
Model Type: 2 Door Coupe
Body Designer: Jean Daninos
Engine: Chrysler Typhoon 383 V8 (6270cc)
Horsepower: 390 bhp at 5400 rpm
Torque: 448 lb at 4000 rpm
Transmission: Pont-A-Mousson 4-Speed Gearbox
Suspension:
Front- Independent, double wishbones, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear- Leaf springs, telescopic shock absorbers
Brakes:
Front- Dunlop discs
Rear- Dunlop discs
Top Speed: 150 mph

History: Facel (Forges et Ateliers Construction d’Eure at de Loire-Medallon) which was founded by Jean Daninos in 1939, began as metal forming specialists turning out metal furniture and combustion chambers. After WW II, Facel moved on to manufacturing jet engine parts, Vespa motor scooter stampings and car bodies for French Ford, Simca, Panhard and French Jeep. With an improving French economy, these manufacturers brought their car body production back in-house and Facel was stranded with a large, idle manufacturing capacity. Founder Jean Daninos, who had studied under Pininfarina, began to plan a car of his own, beginning with six Facel Bentleys which were built between 1949 and 1951. Seeking to fill the high performance/luxury void left by the demise of Bugatti, Delahaye, Delage and Talbot, Daninos decided to build his own cars utilizing a chassis and body of his own design and powered by Chrysler V8 engines. Over a ten year period, 7 different luxury V8 powered coupes were built, specifically the FV1, FV2, FV2B, FV3, FV3B, FV4, HK500, the Facel II and the four door Excellence. Daninos’s desire to build an all French car was Facel’s eventual undoing and the production of the smaller Facellia coupes and convertibles crippled the company. Facellia’s were initially powered by Facel’s own 4 cylinder, twin overhead cam engine (built for Facel by Pont-A-Mousson, Facel’s manual gearbox supplier) and while advanced in design, these engines suffered from bad water circulation and rigidity problems. These problems ultimately led to the substitution of Volvo and then Austin Healey engines, but the expense of warranty repairs and with its reputation ruined, Facel went into insolvency in 1964.

Production: Total Facel production of all types amounted to just 3033 examples. Only 180 Facel II’s were built. This particular car is a 2 owner car from new and features the rare manual gearbox (most were fitted with Chrysler Torqueflight automatics) and the higher horsepower (390 vs 350 bhp) motor.

This car took first place in its class when shown at Pebble Beach in 1992.

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