Help Facel Vega, Facel 2
Discussion
freebee said:
I have not read the whole thread so apologies if this has been published before but original Facel body buck discussed here:
http://www.allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=89...
Thanks for that.I had not seen this site and have been able to correct their misconceptions about the facel tooling which I have used and which used to belong to me !http://www.allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=89...
justin-banks said:
Its now back from a lengthy but sensitive restoration, the number plate should look familiar to some! looks great, drives really well, first time out after 10 years of slumber, constant rain at the C&SC party, ho hum, well I did buy it to use it!
Looks very good.Very quick work.I had not realised that eric had not had it out for ten years.Sadly he got sidetracked by horses and his brighton run car. 
Justin, that looks fantastic, great to know that it went to a good home, and one that will use it instead of cosetting it, in my opinion, a car is not a car if it ceases being used, its simply a lump of metal, a car thats used has a soul, one that sits idle has died..
I'm sure Eric would be pleased to know that his trusty ride is in good hands..!!
Ronald.
I'm sure Eric would be pleased to know that his trusty ride is in good hands..!!
Ronald.
Thought I might clarify and perhaps expand on one or two of the points regarding the appearance of what is now EPH4B, the maroon Facel 11 which has re-appeared recently.
This is the car originally bought by Ringo Starr; the pic posted by Wilde of Ringo shows him with his free Facel Vega lighter (anyone got one?) which, according to those present, was what Ringo was much more interested in than the car itself when it was delivered. It was said that he couldn't drive at the time anyway. It had the bigger 6.7 litre engine over the more normal 6.3.
Since then, it has become 1FPU and was until recently in the hands of the family of Facel Vega Owners Club (later Car Club) president Eric Philpott. He died a couple of years ago, the car wasn't used much in the last years of his life, and Justin Banks was able to buy it. Justin has rapidly done a restoration - only he can tell us how comprehensive - and it's back on the road again, with its original registration, which again Justin might expand on. Good to see it!
This is the car originally bought by Ringo Starr; the pic posted by Wilde of Ringo shows him with his free Facel Vega lighter (anyone got one?) which, according to those present, was what Ringo was much more interested in than the car itself when it was delivered. It was said that he couldn't drive at the time anyway. It had the bigger 6.7 litre engine over the more normal 6.3.
Since then, it has become 1FPU and was until recently in the hands of the family of Facel Vega Owners Club (later Car Club) president Eric Philpott. He died a couple of years ago, the car wasn't used much in the last years of his life, and Justin Banks was able to buy it. Justin has rapidly done a restoration - only he can tell us how comprehensive - and it's back on the road again, with its original registration, which again Justin might expand on. Good to see it!
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your comments and clarifications. The car has indeed been in restoration for the last 18 months or so, ever since I bought the car from the Philpott family. I guess it helps if you are a dealer with facilities for this kind of work and can prioritise it!
I have attempted to restore the car sympathetically for my own regular use, not for Pebble Beach. I have gone completely through the car, welding the structure, full bare metal glass out respray, all brightwork removed and polished, all mechanical items and running gear checked and replaced as necessary. The engine and gearbox did not need rebuilding although most of the running gear did. The shell of the car looked OK but was quite rusty, and the fabrication of the new metalwork was a large project. I am extremely happy with the results and the car is a pleasure to use and look at, the engine is super strong, keeps constant temperature, and the gearbox is very precise and easy to use. I made the decision to keep the original interior, I could have re-trimmed for a fraction of the total restoration costs but I felt the old leather still has a story to tell! I also wanted to keep the original Chrome Disc wheels, as specified in the original build sheet, as opposed to simply putting new Chrome Wires on. I also felt it important to reunite the car with the original Registration Number EPH4B and the DVLA, after much correspondence, were happy to oblige. I will attempt to post some photos of the work carried out over the next few weeks for those interested.
I am sure you will all see the car over the coming months, as I intend to use it extensively, and will have your own ideas on what I should have done! The quality of the work, however, is superb and the restoration comprehensive. EPH4B is now ready for the next 20 years and if you see me out and about, say hello!
Justin (considerably poorer but very happy!)
Thanks for your comments and clarifications. The car has indeed been in restoration for the last 18 months or so, ever since I bought the car from the Philpott family. I guess it helps if you are a dealer with facilities for this kind of work and can prioritise it!
I have attempted to restore the car sympathetically for my own regular use, not for Pebble Beach. I have gone completely through the car, welding the structure, full bare metal glass out respray, all brightwork removed and polished, all mechanical items and running gear checked and replaced as necessary. The engine and gearbox did not need rebuilding although most of the running gear did. The shell of the car looked OK but was quite rusty, and the fabrication of the new metalwork was a large project. I am extremely happy with the results and the car is a pleasure to use and look at, the engine is super strong, keeps constant temperature, and the gearbox is very precise and easy to use. I made the decision to keep the original interior, I could have re-trimmed for a fraction of the total restoration costs but I felt the old leather still has a story to tell! I also wanted to keep the original Chrome Disc wheels, as specified in the original build sheet, as opposed to simply putting new Chrome Wires on. I also felt it important to reunite the car with the original Registration Number EPH4B and the DVLA, after much correspondence, were happy to oblige. I will attempt to post some photos of the work carried out over the next few weeks for those interested.
I am sure you will all see the car over the coming months, as I intend to use it extensively, and will have your own ideas on what I should have done! The quality of the work, however, is superb and the restoration comprehensive. EPH4B is now ready for the next 20 years and if you see me out and about, say hello!
Justin (considerably poorer but very happy!)
Something I'd like to add, and something I'd like to ask.
Earlier on in this thread, I mentioned a damaged Facel in the Limousn area of France. Nobody seemed to know anything about it. by pure chance, I found this reference to it on another website. i hope its ok to post this link.
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/...
Comments anyone?
Now for the question. Its stated above that the Facel with the '64 registration had a 6.7 litre Chrysler V8. By my reckoning, that makes it the 400. Surely you mean the 413? The 400 was not made until '72.
Earlier on in this thread, I mentioned a damaged Facel in the Limousn area of France. Nobody seemed to know anything about it. by pure chance, I found this reference to it on another website. i hope its ok to post this link.
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/...
Comments anyone?
Now for the question. Its stated above that the Facel with the '64 registration had a 6.7 litre Chrysler V8. By my reckoning, that makes it the 400. Surely you mean the 413? The 400 was not made until '72.
justin-banks said:
Hi Ubendum, yes, my 1964 Facel II has the 6.7 Litre engine, 6765cc to be exact which makes it the 413 unit, as you say. Nearly all Facel II's had the 6286cc/383ci engine, only the manual B series cars had the 413, I make that 3 RHD cars in total.
Justin Banks.
The last Facel IIs were fitted with the 413ci motor.This car is unique as there was only one 413 right hand drive car built.Had Facel carried on into 1965 there would have been no more manual gearbox V8s.It was decided at a meeting between facel and PAM that the gearbox was incapable of taking the torque of the chrysler motors then in use.The box was designed to take 45 m/Kgs of torque.The original "comet" [ note spelling ] gearbox,had an aluminium case.This worked ok with the baby hemis in 1955/6 but started to break up with the later engines.The case was changed to a cast iron one for the FV2B.The early boxes had a one piece cluster gear which had thus to be changed each time one of the gears broke up.To reduce the cost of repairs the later boxes have separate gears on the layshaft.The box in the 413ci cars in 1964 is designated "comet 4" giving some idea of the number of significant changes made since 1955.The comet 4 box was fitted also to the Facel 6.Given the extraordinary weight of the cast iron box this would have been a good time to use the aluminium case as the AH 2.8 litre engine put out only about 135 BHP which would have been well within the capabilities of the early box.From the foregoing you will note that the manual boxes used in the 413ci Facel II are not the same as the "comet 3 " used in the HK500.Ringo broke the gearbox as did a later owner.Justin Banks.
Edited by facelman on Saturday 6th July 18:57
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