Help Facel Vega, Facel 2
Discussion
lowdrag said:
Regarding LHD and RHD and the two sale cars in question, there is an interesting bit in Octane this month, concurring that since the French love them so much they are prepared to pay a fortune for LHD. However, somehow that grates, since a Royale was RHD as were many of the top cars of yesteryear so that the chauffeur could pull up alongside the kerb, get out and open his lordship's door right next to the pavement. So what's wrong, in that case, with RHD?
Oh dear ! You have never owned a Facel II have you? If Madam were in the back of a facel II she would have no legs to speak of and would therefore require a wheelchair.Seriously though,we [the english] are far better able to adjust to a left hand drive car either in the UK or in europe.I have never had the slightest problem either way.The french on the other hand are totally unable to accept RHD,one notable exception being a gentleman in my village with two RR's from the 1950's.There is a "snob" appeal to RHD but only if the car in question is english,and preferably "upper crust". theadman said:
Driving up from London tonight minding my own business and I overtook an unremarkable Kia...and did a doubletake.
The registration number was SPY 222...
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/d8eTQzpF.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/hoxXkexk" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/t/hoxXkexk.jpg)
As you can see, it has graced rather more interesting cars!
The photo was taken around 1974 and I believe the car is no longer in the UK.
Pity you didn't get a photo of the KIA !The registration number was SPY 222...
As you can see, it has graced rather more interesting cars!
The photo was taken around 1974 and I believe the car is no longer in the UK.
Bob CD said:
Wonderful to read so much Facel input! I have a few messages for individuals following their contributions.
1.d.wilde. Thanks for all your 'blue car' pics. As you are aware, 432 EMW is mine, on the road, driven yesterday. The one I didn't recognise was F64MAN, but perhaps you're not allowed to say who such a car belongs to...
Facelvega and facelman might also like to note that in the pic of LNG44, you can see that there are no 'turrets' on the front bumper. (Not very technical term, maybe facelman has a better one.) Whether the car now has those turrets I'm not sure. I know that Freddy wanted to try and put the car back to standard, in spite of its idiosyncracies.
Thanks also, d.wilde, for the list of owners. I have several 'lists' and I'm trying to make them all into one document; not sure how I can print off that one.
Thanks also for the pics of Rob with his car. He was such a great character. We miss him in F1; hardly a race goes by without someone telling a Rob story, attempting his languid voice.
And thanks, finally, for the lovely pic of your own car in such a beautiful setting. I hope that's yours too!
2. Motown Junk. Well, that makes three Facels out and about recently. I think that car belongs to a Mr Green of Lymington or thereabouts. It was restored about eight years ago or so. Its registration is HK K1D (geddit?)
3. facelman. Aha, so this is where you lurk. Glad to hear that you're still and alive and kicking too! How amazing to have so many local Facels. We must come and visit sometime.
4. DaveP As Fanelli mentions, Charlie Drake was somewhat short in stature and prior to the elevation of his seat there were, apparently, several minor brushes with the scenery as he couldn't see the outer reaches of his car.
5. Facelvega. I can, as above, assure you that 432EMW is on the road and used! Incidently, there are several associations with Facel 11s and Dorset in the past, particularly due to Sherborne School. The Vandervell mentioned as an owner should be Tony Vandervell whose son, Colin, was at Sherborne, as was Rob Walker's son, Robbie. There was a great story about how Colin Vandervell told all his schoolmates how his father had the first Mercedes 300SL in the UK and then in swept Rob in his... Probably rubbish but it makes a good tale.
6. Fanelli. Great to hear more on Richard Wrottesly. I have a friend called Colin Adams who, for some reason, used to borrow and race some of RW's cars. The Elva certainly rings more than a bell because it was in that car, as a teenaged passenger wedged in the back (it was a rare coupe) that I first travelled at 100mph, on the Halnaker straight near Goodwood. I remember Colin also used his Daimler SP250.
It's great to hear more and more stories about Facels; I'm building up a dossier on the owners of Facel 11s, Excellences and Facellias.
That's enough for now. Keep it coming!
Turrets? Over riders is common or as the french put it "Bananes"1.d.wilde. Thanks for all your 'blue car' pics. As you are aware, 432 EMW is mine, on the road, driven yesterday. The one I didn't recognise was F64MAN, but perhaps you're not allowed to say who such a car belongs to...
Facelvega and facelman might also like to note that in the pic of LNG44, you can see that there are no 'turrets' on the front bumper. (Not very technical term, maybe facelman has a better one.) Whether the car now has those turrets I'm not sure. I know that Freddy wanted to try and put the car back to standard, in spite of its idiosyncracies.
Thanks also, d.wilde, for the list of owners. I have several 'lists' and I'm trying to make them all into one document; not sure how I can print off that one.
Thanks also for the pics of Rob with his car. He was such a great character. We miss him in F1; hardly a race goes by without someone telling a Rob story, attempting his languid voice.
And thanks, finally, for the lovely pic of your own car in such a beautiful setting. I hope that's yours too!
2. Motown Junk. Well, that makes three Facels out and about recently. I think that car belongs to a Mr Green of Lymington or thereabouts. It was restored about eight years ago or so. Its registration is HK K1D (geddit?)
3. facelman. Aha, so this is where you lurk. Glad to hear that you're still and alive and kicking too! How amazing to have so many local Facels. We must come and visit sometime.
4. DaveP As Fanelli mentions, Charlie Drake was somewhat short in stature and prior to the elevation of his seat there were, apparently, several minor brushes with the scenery as he couldn't see the outer reaches of his car.
5. Facelvega. I can, as above, assure you that 432EMW is on the road and used! Incidently, there are several associations with Facel 11s and Dorset in the past, particularly due to Sherborne School. The Vandervell mentioned as an owner should be Tony Vandervell whose son, Colin, was at Sherborne, as was Rob Walker's son, Robbie. There was a great story about how Colin Vandervell told all his schoolmates how his father had the first Mercedes 300SL in the UK and then in swept Rob in his... Probably rubbish but it makes a good tale.
6. Fanelli. Great to hear more on Richard Wrottesly. I have a friend called Colin Adams who, for some reason, used to borrow and race some of RW's cars. The Elva certainly rings more than a bell because it was in that car, as a teenaged passenger wedged in the back (it was a rare coupe) that I first travelled at 100mph, on the Halnaker straight near Goodwood. I remember Colin also used his Daimler SP250.
It's great to hear more and more stories about Facels; I'm building up a dossier on the owners of Facel 11s, Excellences and Facellias.
That's enough for now. Keep it coming!
theadman said:
Driving up from London tonight minding my own business and I overtook an unremarkable Kia...and did a doubletake.
The registration number was SPY 222...
As you can see, it has graced rather more interesting cars!
The photo was taken around 1974 and I believe the car is no longer in the UK.
This car is HK2 A 113.The registration number was SPY 222...
As you can see, it has graced rather more interesting cars!
The photo was taken around 1974 and I believe the car is no longer in the UK.
justin-banks said:
Yes, this is my car, fresh out of restoration, it will not look any better than this after the next few years of my abuse so RM persuaded me to enter it into their October Auction in London, the dealer in me couldn't refuse!
I guess we will see what a Restored RHD Facel II is worth. I do have a few weekends to enjoy it and C&SC are doing a nice article on it next month so it should be around and about.
I hope you know who bought it because when I win the lottery i will be chasing them down and making them an offer I guess we will see what a Restored RHD Facel II is worth. I do have a few weekends to enjoy it and C&SC are doing a nice article on it next month so it should be around and about.
I need one of these.
facelman said:
d.wilde said:
HK F3 is still with us in England owned by club member.
F3 was registered 9766AT.It is a manual car,originally Grey with red leather [ 3171 vaumol] Was owned by Mr Ostromof in my 1988 listing,but my list is very much out of date.The Rix Facellia FAD 144 is owned [ also in my 1988 listing ] by Mr Hall. Undergoing repair I believe.
Hi all you Facel boys
Bob CD said:
In Martin Buckley's book, he says that Brian Rix not only had a secondhand HK500 but also a new Facellia. Jean Daninos says,in his book, that Rix had HK F3 which is fairly specific and a right hand drive car. One of our HK500 correspondents will have to tell us if that car still exists.
In Buckley's book, Rix is photographed in a white Facellia, but you can't see much of it
. According to Buckley, he apparently bought it in March 1962 when it was already 18 months old. FA C-142 was the first Facellia imported, in July 1960, then FA C-185, 187, 188 and 194 were imported in September of that year, followed by FA D-117 in November plus others.
The five possible cars (those registered in July and September) still exist in various forms. Facelman knows about two of them, C-185 which apparently became a Bugatti, and C-194, Diana's. C-187 is in Italy, apparently, Nigel Cooper has C-188 and Charles Wells has C-142. Now just a small matter of elimination...
In Buckley's book, Rix is photographed in a white Facellia, but you can't see much of it
. According to Buckley, he apparently bought it in March 1962 when it was already 18 months old. FA C-142 was the first Facellia imported, in July 1960, then FA C-185, 187, 188 and 194 were imported in September of that year, followed by FA D-117 in November plus others.
The five possible cars (those registered in July and September) still exist in various forms. Facelman knows about two of them, C-185 which apparently became a Bugatti, and C-194, Diana's. C-187 is in Italy, apparently, Nigel Cooper has C-188 and Charles Wells has C-142. Now just a small matter of elimination...
Can someone please post that picture, if they have it, I would love to see it
williamp said:
I wont give the exact business location, but in the mid 90s I visited a business near Edenbridge in kent which had a HK500 waiting to be restored in a barn next to the business. Is it still there?
If the barn in question is on the Tonbridge side of Edenbridge then not any more - I used to keep my eye on one and was always told the usual story.
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