Help Facel Vega, Facel 2
Discussion
Bob CD said:
OK, it's a wet day here in Sussex, so I thought I'd put on my anorak, let the lawn grow another inch, waste some time and see if I can clarify this HK500 thing...
Do we agree that Hans Ruhe's Register, published in 1990, is the bible when it comes to things Facel? (There are a lot of respected Facel people here who know a lot more than me, who have agreed that HKF2 is second RHD in line, and I'm very wary of contradicting them...)
But if we are to believe The Register, we have a little reconsidering to do. According to the Register/bible, the first right hand drive HK500 was HKC4 followed by C5, C9, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 etc. So the car for sale, HKF2, isn't the second RHD but the 11th - easily confused when you write Facel 11. It is, however, the 47th overall, so that bit is correct. (There were another five conduit a droite produced after it).
So according to that list, theadman's D2 is therefore the fifth RHD in line.
Right, I've put my neck on the block, I'll go and exchange my anorak for a flak jacket (too many mixed metaphors?)
A vous messieurs.
I shall then get out my guillotine...c4 c5 c9 d1 d2 d3 d4 d5 e9 f1 f2 Quite right number 11 RHD.Ex Brooklands cars.And 47th HK also correct.I make it 91 RHD made after F2.Do we agree that Hans Ruhe's Register, published in 1990, is the bible when it comes to things Facel? (There are a lot of respected Facel people here who know a lot more than me, who have agreed that HKF2 is second RHD in line, and I'm very wary of contradicting them...)
But if we are to believe The Register, we have a little reconsidering to do. According to the Register/bible, the first right hand drive HK500 was HKC4 followed by C5, C9, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 etc. So the car for sale, HKF2, isn't the second RHD but the 11th - easily confused when you write Facel 11. It is, however, the 47th overall, so that bit is correct. (There were another five conduit a droite produced after it).
So according to that list, theadman's D2 is therefore the fifth RHD in line.
Right, I've put my neck on the block, I'll go and exchange my anorak for a flak jacket (too many mixed metaphors?)
A vous messieurs.
Thanks for so much information, so quickly!
So there were 102 RHD cars produced...I'm surprised the proportion of total production was so high. I can't imagine RHD markets outside the UK accounted for many of these?
This afternoon I was looking through the Amicale Facel data which I have from 2007 and members were listed as owning 21 HKs in the UK at that stage. I wonder how many of the 102 still exist here? It is interesting that HK F2 was not on the 2007 Amicale list and so it's possible that there are quite a few others knocking about.
So there were 102 RHD cars produced...I'm surprised the proportion of total production was so high. I can't imagine RHD markets outside the UK accounted for many of these?
This afternoon I was looking through the Amicale Facel data which I have from 2007 and members were listed as owning 21 HKs in the UK at that stage. I wonder how many of the 102 still exist here? It is interesting that HK F2 was not on the 2007 Amicale list and so it's possible that there are quite a few others knocking about.
theadman said:
Thanks for so much information, so quickly!
So there were 102 RHD cars produced...I'm surprised the proportion of total production was so high. I can't imagine RHD markets outside the UK accounted for many of these?
This afternoon I was looking through the Amicale Facel data which I have from 2007 and members were listed as owning 21 HKs in the UK at that stage. I wonder how many of the 102 still exist here? It is interesting that HK F2 was not on the 2007 Amicale list and so it's possible that there are quite a few others knocking about.
England was a very good market for the big facels.Until Harold Wilson closed down some of the directors perks [ my father cried when Wilson got in] So most of the HKs would have been bought as company cars.So there were 102 RHD cars produced...I'm surprised the proportion of total production was so high. I can't imagine RHD markets outside the UK accounted for many of these?
This afternoon I was looking through the Amicale Facel data which I have from 2007 and members were listed as owning 21 HKs in the UK at that stage. I wonder how many of the 102 still exist here? It is interesting that HK F2 was not on the 2007 Amicale list and so it's possible that there are quite a few others knocking about.
Thanks d.wilde for the production figures. I really must grit my teeth and spend £250 on that book!
If we apply the overall survival rate (329 of 490) to the 105 RHD cars it would suggest that 70 should still be around!!
The most I've seen in one place in the UK was in 1975(ish) at an early club meeting in Banbury. From memory these three HKs all required some degree of TLC. Sorry for the terrible quality...my Kodak Retinette was hardly a cutting edge camera even then!! Martin Bank's Facel ll (SPY 222) was the star car that day.
I understand the UK club has a stand at the Silverstone Classic event on 22-24 July...perhaps there is a chance of getting more than three HKs together then? Sadly it looks like mine will still be spread across several different counties (from Hampshire to the West Midlands)!
If we apply the overall survival rate (329 of 490) to the 105 RHD cars it would suggest that 70 should still be around!!
The most I've seen in one place in the UK was in 1975(ish) at an early club meeting in Banbury. From memory these three HKs all required some degree of TLC. Sorry for the terrible quality...my Kodak Retinette was hardly a cutting edge camera even then!! Martin Bank's Facel ll (SPY 222) was the star car that day.
I understand the UK club has a stand at the Silverstone Classic event on 22-24 July...perhaps there is a chance of getting more than three HKs together then? Sadly it looks like mine will still be spread across several different counties (from Hampshire to the West Midlands)!
[quote=theadman]Thanks d.wilde for the production figures. I really must grit my teeth and spend £250 on that book!
If we apply the overall survival rate (329 of 490) to the 105 RHD cars it would suggest that 70 should still be around!!
The most I've seen in one place in the UK was in 1975(ish) at an early club meeting in Banbury. From memory these three HKs all required some degree of TLC. Sorry for the terrible quality...my Kodak Retinette was hardly a cutting edge camera even then!! Martin Bank's Facel ll (SPY 222) was the star car that day.
That would have been the previous Facel club with Barry Sanity.Strangly neither Martin Banks or Barry sanity joined the new club when it was formed in around 1978.
If we apply the overall survival rate (329 of 490) to the 105 RHD cars it would suggest that 70 should still be around!!
The most I've seen in one place in the UK was in 1975(ish) at an early club meeting in Banbury. From memory these three HKs all required some degree of TLC. Sorry for the terrible quality...my Kodak Retinette was hardly a cutting edge camera even then!! Martin Bank's Facel ll (SPY 222) was the star car that day.
That would have been the previous Facel club with Barry Sanity.Strangly neither Martin Banks or Barry sanity joined the new club when it was formed in around 1978.
neutral 3 said:
Ages ago I remember seeing a photo of a Facel HK500 ? Taken in France , That had hit a tree with fatal results.
From memory it was being driven by a famous Writer . Anyone know more ?
Albert Camus was killed, in his publisher's FV3B. From memory it was being driven by a famous Writer . Anyone know more ?
Edited by vixen1700 on Thursday 23 June 09:22
The HK500 mentioned earlier in this thread sold at Bonhams today for £33,350. In spite of other amendments to the details by Bonhams, there was no correction on the website that it wasn't the second HK500 built, the first thing mentioned in the sale details and therefore obviously considered important. (Bonhams' Messrs Hubbard and Gilbertson had been informed of this detail, but apparently chose to ignore it). I was not at the sale so don't know whether it was mentioned there. Bonhams' Mr Hubbard also told me that he got the car out of the barn where it had been stored. Was there a personal interest here?
Bob CD said:
The HK500 mentioned earlier in this thread sold at Bonhams today for £33,350. In spite of other amendments to the details by Bonhams, there was no correction on the website that it wasn't the second HK500 built, the first thing mentioned in the sale details and therefore obviously considered important. (Bonhams' Messrs Hubbard and Gilbertson had been informed of this detail, but apparently chose to ignore it). I was not at the sale so don't know whether it was mentioned there. Bonhams' Mr Hubbard also told me that he got the car out of the barn where it had been stored. Was there a personal interest here?
Described as;
The second HK500 produced, right-hand drive chassis number 'HKF2' was supplied new by HWM of Walton-on-Thames to R E 'Jimmy' Gardener of the Yardley cosmetics company. In 1967 Yardley sold the car to one Elliott Longford and in 1970 it was purchased by David Scott Cooksey's company, Inter Cobra Ltd. The current vendor's late father acquired the Facel in the early 1970s and used the car regularly until 2000, since when it has been dry stored. New exhaust 'flexis' have been fitted and a few weeks ago the car was started using a jury-rigged fuel supply and ran very well, with good oil pressure and no smoke. Sold strictly as viewed, this rare early HK500 is offered with old-style logbook, expired MoT (1982) and Swansea V5 document. A fundamentally sound car, which with sympathetic re-commissioning could be used 'as is, or alternatively an excellent basis for full restoration.
Bob CD said:
The HK500 mentioned earlier in this thread sold at Bonhams today for £33,350. In spite of other amendments to the details by Bonhams, there was no correction on the website that it wasn't the second HK500 built, the first thing mentioned in the sale details and therefore obviously considered important. (Bonhams' Messrs Hubbard and Gilbertson had been informed of this detail, but apparently chose to ignore it). I was not at the sale so don't know whether it was mentioned there. Bonhams' Mr Hubbard also told me that he got the car out of the barn where it had been stored. Was there a personal interest here?
Thanks for letting us know, I wondered about it this afternoon.I dont see the point of the auction house inaccuracies, its either ineptitude or lying. Poor show.
No Facel topic is complete without this one:
http://jalopnik.com/317075/facel-vega-hk500
Sorry for the OT, please do carry on: I love it.
http://jalopnik.com/317075/facel-vega-hk500
Sorry for the OT, please do carry on: I love it.
This topic reminds me of the old PH days, when I used to get excited and explore the internet for yum pics and info to spoil around.
Evil twins. HK500 ticks all my boxes for a 50s GT. Looks even better than a period Bent, sorry.
The 2 has a Jarama kind of appeal.
Wikipedia: . . . the full-four-seater 6.3 litre Facel ll could attain over 150 mph (247 km/h) and out-accelerate its two-seater rivals, the Aston Martin DB4, Ferrari 250 GT and Mercedes-Benz 300SL to 60 mph (97 km/h) and all except the Ferrari to 100 mph (160 km/h).
Exhausts end in rear bumpers.
OK, where's the stick?
Wow . . .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peteharris/4916518939...
Siucide doors.
Bumped into one of these a few months ago. Not my cuppa . . . Facellia ditto.
Evil twins. HK500 ticks all my boxes for a 50s GT. Looks even better than a period Bent, sorry.
The 2 has a Jarama kind of appeal.
Wikipedia: . . . the full-four-seater 6.3 litre Facel ll could attain over 150 mph (247 km/h) and out-accelerate its two-seater rivals, the Aston Martin DB4, Ferrari 250 GT and Mercedes-Benz 300SL to 60 mph (97 km/h) and all except the Ferrari to 100 mph (160 km/h).
Exhausts end in rear bumpers.
OK, where's the stick?
Wow . . .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peteharris/4916518939...
Siucide doors.
Bumped into one of these a few months ago. Not my cuppa . . . Facellia ditto.
we're French persons enthusiasts about Facel Vega and European Classic Cars (Alfa Roméo, Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia etc.) and we're always looking for a "sleeping beauty" need to be loved and restored ! We are interested to buy a Facel Vega all models all conditions, also looking for Facel Vega parts.
If you have one for sale or know of one, have informations, contacts, please contact us
http://searchingfacelvega.blogspot.com/
If you have one for sale or know of one, have informations, contacts, please contact us
http://searchingfacelvega.blogspot.com/
Hi everyone. Can anyone help please?
Over the past XX (insert large number here) years the front suspension trunions on my HK500 have seized to the point where we will have to cut them out. Does anyone know if they were unique to the HK or were they a common part sourced from an OE supplier or some other more numerous French car of the period?
Adam, did you encounter this problem with either of your HKs?
Your help would really be appreciated as I'd like to get this job done whilst the chassis is bare, before the body comes back.
Many thanks.
Over the past XX (insert large number here) years the front suspension trunions on my HK500 have seized to the point where we will have to cut them out. Does anyone know if they were unique to the HK or were they a common part sourced from an OE supplier or some other more numerous French car of the period?
Adam, did you encounter this problem with either of your HKs?
Your help would really be appreciated as I'd like to get this job done whilst the chassis is bare, before the body comes back.
Many thanks.
theadman said:
Hi everyone. Can anyone help please?
Over the past XX (insert large number here) years the front suspension trunions on my HK500 have seized to the point where we will have to cut them out. Does anyone know if they were unique to the HK or were they a common part sourced from an OE supplier or some other more numerous French car of the period?
Adam, did you encounter this problem with either of your HKs?
Your help would really be appreciated as I'd like to get this job done whilst the chassis is bare, before the body comes back.
Many thanks.
Facel suspension parts are unique.I have been making these parts for thirty years.I may have stock.If you mail me I will see if I can help.Over the past XX (insert large number here) years the front suspension trunions on my HK500 have seized to the point where we will have to cut them out. Does anyone know if they were unique to the HK or were they a common part sourced from an OE supplier or some other more numerous French car of the period?
Adam, did you encounter this problem with either of your HKs?
Your help would really be appreciated as I'd like to get this job done whilst the chassis is bare, before the body comes back.
Many thanks.
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