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302The ex-Earls Court Motor Show1962 Facel Vega II CoupéRegistration no. 3 GXKChassis no. HK2 B 148Engine no. TY8-6132701‘LBH 8C’ as discovered in Islington, Londonafter 24 years in storage, January, 2014‘The HK500 was the most interesting car we ever made but the FacelII was the best. It was totally elegant.’ – Jean Daninos.In its relatively short life, the French firm of Facel producedapproximately 2,900 cars, all of which were stylish, luxurious andfast. Hand built, they were necessarily very expensive – the FacelII was priced in Rolls-Royce territory – and bought by the rich andfamous seeking something exclusive and distinctive. The roll call ofowners includes royalty, politicians, diplomats and entertainers: TonyCurtis, Danny Kaye, Ringo Starr, Joan Fontaine and Ava Gardnerbeing counted among the latter. Confirming that there was highperformancesubstance behind Facel’s unquestionable style, theywere owned and driven by great motor racing figures such as SirStirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant and Rob Walker.Founded by Jean Daninos in 1939, Forges et Ateliers deConstruction d’Eure-et-Loir (FACEL) specialised in the constructionof aircraft components and metal furniture. After the war thecompany engaged in the supply of car bodies to Panhard, Simcaand Ford France, before branching out into automobile manufacturein its own right with the launch of the Vega at the 1954 Paris Salon.Government legislation had effectively killed off France’s few survivingluxury car manufacturers after WW2, but that did not deter JeanDaninos in his bold attempt to revive what had once been a greatFrench motoring tradition. A luxurious Grande Routière, the Vegatook its name from the brightest star in the Lyra constellation andfeatured supremely elegant coupé bodywork welded to a tubularsteelchassis. There being no suitable French-built power unit,Daninos turned to the USA for the Vega’s, that chosen initially beingChrysler’s 4.5-litre V8, while there was a choice of push-buttonautomatic or manual transmission.164 | Goodwood festival of speed