1964 Facel Vega Facel 6 Coupé

• Ultra-rare French sports car
• One only 35 Facel 6 coupés built
• Imported from France in 2007
• Extensively restored in 2010

In its relatively short life, the French firm of Facel produced approximately 2,900 cars, all of which were stylish, luxurious and fast. Hand built, they were necessarily very expensive – the Chrysler V8-engined Facel was priced in Rolls-Royce territory – and bought by the rich and famous seeking something exclusive and distinctive. The roll call of owners includes royalty, politicians, diplomats, entertainers, and racing drivers. Seeing the need for a higher-volume product, company boss Jean Daninos introduced an all-French sports car intended to compete with those of Alfa Romeo: the Facellia. Introduced in 1959, the latter was powered by a troublesome 1.6-litre Pont-à-Mousson twin-overhead-camshaft engine, and although its problems were addressed by the F2 model, the debacle forced Daninos's resignation and eventually bankrupted the company.

The 1.8-litre Volvo B18 engine was used in a revised version - the Facel III - while a further development of the small Facel - the more luxurious Facel 6 - was powered by a modified version of the 3.0-litre six-cylinder Austin-Healey engine producing 150bhp. The four-speed manual gearbox and live rear axle were carried over from the V8 models, and disc brakes were fitted all round. Top speed was a respectable 125mph (200 km/h). But it was too late to save Facel. By the time production ceased in October 1964 when the firm went into receivership, only 44 Facel 6s had been built (source Amicale Facel Vega): 35 coupés, eight cabriolets, and one cabriolet with fixed hardtop.

According to the Amicale Facel ,this Facel 6 was sold new to France and delivered new to a Mr Corton. This example was imported into the UK from Paris in 2007 by John Armstrong, a prominent member of the French Facel Vega Club, who had carried out an extensive, bare-metal restoration of the car in 2010. Works carried out included making and fitting new sills; conversion to alternator electrics; up-rated cooling fans fitted; modern air conditioning unit fitted; interior sound-proofed; brake strip-light fitted to rear parcel shelf; indicators to rear parcel shelf; seats re-upholstered; and three-point seatbelts fitted. Items renewed included the exhaust system; fuel tank; headlining (in correct fabric); and window seals.

In 2019 the car was sold to Neil Lawson-Baker, who was a member of the Facel Vega Club in the UK and had experience of rallying two other Facel 6s. For the last four years the Facel has been looked after by TLB Automotive Ltd. Described by our vendor as in good condition in every respect, this ultra-rare French sports car is offered with a V5C document; list of restoration works; list of ownership changes; original Facel 6 brochure; original French numberplate; and two Facel Vega key blanks.