Re: [FWDLK] French and Facel Vega

["john g. photakis" <owlshop@telegram.infi.net>]

    I meant it as a very non chalant comment with out true malice. It's  like
Lucas is the prince of darkness, or the Britts all drink warm beer because of
the Lucas refrigerators.
    I have a friend whose father  has at last count 3 Facels, 2 with Hemis,1
automatic and 1  4 speed, and 1 with a 340 4speed. They have been sitting in his
barn for I'd say 35 years or more. The build quality is outstanding, typical
French cush on the inside and Gallic styling on the outside. The mopar
drivetrain made it perfect.
John Photakis.


Family Brandwijk wrote:

> Hello,French are not nasty to Americans alone,its there attitude,but not all
> French are like that,we have a french member on the list who loves America
> and there cars.I even believe he owns a Facel Vega.
>
> Abouth Facel Vega,just outside Paris the factory built bodies for
> Panhard,Simca and Ford.
> In 1954 ,de director Jean Daninos decided to build  there own cars.
> Its was going to be the Facel Vega and was build with high quality material.
> He decided to use mechanichal parts from Detroit because he saw the American
> market as the biggest consuming market,and at second he was convinced in the
> reliability of american parts.
> The Facel vega's were not real sportscars but belonged to be the most
> beautyfull and fastes cars at that time in Europe.
> De cars where build on a tube chassis and the first cars where equipped with
> 4.5 liter engines from DESOTO.
> Other followed,that where Chrysler motors.
>
> 1954   4524cc    180PK/4400tm
> 1955   4768cc    203PK/4400tm
>        5407cc    250PK/4600tm
> 1956   4940cc    253PK/4600tm
> 1958   5907cc    360PK/5200tm
>
> most of the cars where build as 2+2,there was also a 4doors version,called
> de Excellence,from 1958 to 1963 only 152 where build.
>
> Other Facel Vega's build : FV production years 1954/1957
>                            FV1 only 46 sold,FV2 only 103 sold,FV3 205 sold.
>
>  Chryser  engine           HK500    Years  1958/1961   548 sold
>
>  Chrysler engine           Facell II       1961/1964   148 sold
>
>  With French motor         Facellia        1959/1962   1258 sold
>
>  With Volvo motor          Facel III       1963/1964    402 sold
>
>  With Austin Healey motor  Facel 6         1963/1964     42 sold
>
> In 1964 Facel Vega went bankrupt,the end of a very nice car and Jean Daninos
> dream.
>
>  I would like to know ,I am planning a visit to Spring Carlisle,anyone else
> going or is there any Forward Look stand where I can meet some of you guys.
> Email me personally ,if some goes,I wont be there next year!
> Greetings to you all, Dirk Brandwijk ,Plymouth Belvedere 1955