Facel Vega HK500. A childhood dream or a nightmare?
Discussion
Adam. said:
jamesson said:
You are most welcome for my continued interest in this! It is one of my favourite threads here and such a splendid car. I really commend you for saving it. It's not something I could do so I take my hat off to you for your dedication, patience and bottomless wallet! 
this
PS Those closest to me would replace 'dedication and patience' with 'stubborn as a mule'. Same thing...different lens!!
I was reminded of this thread when I watched a recent episode of Bangers & Cash earlier today.
They only got one bid of £75K for the one they were selling last year, even though it was guided at £90K+. But the seller accepted that anyway.
Being an LHD Auto probably didn't do it any favours though!
Anyway I'll keep enjoying watching the progress of this one. I doubt they sold too many RHD ones.
They only got one bid of £75K for the one they were selling last year, even though it was guided at £90K+. But the seller accepted that anyway.
Being an LHD Auto probably didn't do it any favours though!
Anyway I'll keep enjoying watching the progress of this one. I doubt they sold too many RHD ones.
Mr Tidy said:
I was reminded of this thread when I watched a recent episode of Bangers & Cash earlier today.
They only got one bid of £75K for the one they were selling last year, even though it was guided at £90K+. But the seller accepted that anyway.
Being an LHD Auto probably didn't do it any favours though!
Anyway I'll keep enjoying watching the progress of this one. I doubt they sold too many RHD ones.
The person who bought it said in the interview at the end of the programme, he was willing to bid far more...I think he said £150k, but no one else bid! On that basis he did well. From memory, the car no longer had its original push button auto and the dashboard had been altered at some stage, but it seemed a very sound car.They only got one bid of £75K for the one they were selling last year, even though it was guided at £90K+. But the seller accepted that anyway.
Being an LHD Auto probably didn't do it any favours though!
Anyway I'll keep enjoying watching the progress of this one. I doubt they sold too many RHD ones.
Around 20% of HK500 production was RHD (100 cars in round numbers). Intercontinental Cars, the UK importer did a great job of selling Facels to the great and the good (or not so good...Facels had a pretty high profile with the 'wrong sort of people'). As he also had an Aston franchise, he tended to move those Aston customers who were less diligent with their maintenance or had experienced issues with their cars onto Facels.
To keep second hand values high, the importer tried to buy back any car that was for sale, thus retaining control. This became more difficult as time went on and the cars suffered huge depreciation, so at that point people stopped maintaining/repairing them. When they went wrong they were just pushed into the nearest barn. Quite a few are still there, based on the number of restoration projects that have come to light recently!
theadman said:
Mr Tidy said:
I was reminded of this thread when I watched a recent episode of Bangers & Cash earlier today.
They only got one bid of £75K for the one they were selling last year, even though it was guided at £90K+. But the seller accepted that anyway.
Being an LHD Auto probably didn't do it any favours though!
Anyway I'll keep enjoying watching the progress of this one. I doubt they sold too many RHD ones.
The person who bought it said in the interview at the end of the programme, he was willing to bid far more...I think he said £150k, but no one else bid! On that basis he did well. From memory, the car no longer had its original push button auto and the dashboard had been altered at some stage, but it seemed a very sound car.They only got one bid of £75K for the one they were selling last year, even though it was guided at £90K+. But the seller accepted that anyway.
Being an LHD Auto probably didn't do it any favours though!
Anyway I'll keep enjoying watching the progress of this one. I doubt they sold too many RHD ones.
Around 20% of HK500 production was RHD (100 cars in round numbers). Intercontinental Cars, the UK importer did a great job of selling Facels to the great and the good (or not so good...Facels had a pretty high profile with the 'wrong sort of people'). As he also had an Aston franchise, he tended to move those Aston customers who were less diligent with their maintenance or had experienced issues with their cars onto Facels.
To keep second hand values high, the importer tried to buy back any car that was for sale, thus retaining control. This became more difficult as time went on and the cars suffered huge depreciation, so at that point people stopped maintaining/repairing them. When they went wrong they were just pushed into the nearest barn. Quite a few are still there, based on the number of restoration projects that have come to light recently!
I didn't realise that many were RHD though!
Mr Tidy said:
You're right, the buyer seemed really pleased to get it for £75K, and looked like he would treat it well.
I didn't realise that many were RHD though!
Back in the day, the number of countries with significant wealth to buy these cars was limited, and the UK was one of those. Today it would likely be a very different percentage.I didn't realise that many were RHD though!
I'm probably getting ahead of myself, but having changed the insurance policy from laid up cover to comprehensive last week, yesterday I took the V55 to the Post Office and changed the status from 'not licensed' to 'historic'. I then taxed the car from 1st May, the first time it has been taxed for 50 years!
This feels like progress.
Work is continuing on the car, sorting out a load of snags that are part and parcel of any restoration, let alone one that spans more than 30 years in total (just coming up to 25 with me). Whilst this is frustrating, I take comfort in the fact that every problem overcome is one step nearer to my first drive.
At this rate I'm hoping to have the car on the road in time for its 25th anniversary in my care. Let's hope this isn't a deadline that is missed (like my daughter's prom in 2010, my son's prom in 2015 and the Facel Club meet at the Revival in 2018). Since 2018 I haven't bothered setting a target date, until now!
Fingers crossed!
By the way, I was really surprised that the car could just be taxed, given it has been off the road for that long. My original plan was to simply try and license the car as I was expecting to have to provide an MOT to prove road worthiness. The car will be MOTed regardless, as a second pair of eyes is very useful, but I still can't quite believe it's taxed and insured for the road!
This feels like progress.
Work is continuing on the car, sorting out a load of snags that are part and parcel of any restoration, let alone one that spans more than 30 years in total (just coming up to 25 with me). Whilst this is frustrating, I take comfort in the fact that every problem overcome is one step nearer to my first drive.
At this rate I'm hoping to have the car on the road in time for its 25th anniversary in my care. Let's hope this isn't a deadline that is missed (like my daughter's prom in 2010, my son's prom in 2015 and the Facel Club meet at the Revival in 2018). Since 2018 I haven't bothered setting a target date, until now!
Fingers crossed!
By the way, I was really surprised that the car could just be taxed, given it has been off the road for that long. My original plan was to simply try and license the car as I was expecting to have to provide an MOT to prove road worthiness. The car will be MOTed regardless, as a second pair of eyes is very useful, but I still can't quite believe it's taxed and insured for the road!
theadman said:
By the way, I was really surprised that the car could just be taxed, given it has been off the road for that long. My original plan was to simply try and license the car as I was expecting to have to provide an MOT to prove road worthiness. The car will be MOTed regardless, as a second pair of eyes is very useful, but I still can't quite believe it's taxed and insured for the road!
I'm equally amazed that an initial MOT wasn't required before they would change the status to historicB'stard Child said:
I'm equally amazed that an initial MOT wasn't required before they would change the status to historic
The primary necessary condition is that if is over 40 years old and is, therefore, MOT exempt. Why would an MOT be required in order to update the status to being exempt from an MOT? 
skwdenyer said:
B'stard Child said:
I'm equally amazed that an initial MOT wasn't required before they would change the status to historic
The primary necessary condition is that if is over 40 years old and is, therefore, MOT exempt. Why would an MOT be required in order to update the status to being exempt from an MOT? One of my cars is was manufactured in 1971 registered in 1972 and was last taxed in 1983 - So I can insure it, go down the Post office and change it's status to historic and not put it anywhere near an MOT - I think there is a glitch in the matrix ;-)
B'stard Child said:
Because it hasn't been on the road for 30 years...............
One of my cars is was manufactured in 1971 registered in 1972 and was last taxed in 1983 - So I can insure it, go down the Post office and change it's status to historic and not put it anywhere near an MOT - I think there is a glitch in the matrix ;-)
When taxing it you are responsible to ensure the car is roadworthy, if its not then you are liable for any accidents and its unlikely your insurance will pay out. I have a good garage do a thorough check on my cars every year even if I don't MoT them.One of my cars is was manufactured in 1971 registered in 1972 and was last taxed in 1983 - So I can insure it, go down the Post office and change it's status to historic and not put it anywhere near an MOT - I think there is a glitch in the matrix ;-)
classicaholic said:
B'stard Child said:
Because it hasn't been on the road for 30 years...............
One of my cars is was manufactured in 1971 registered in 1972 and was last taxed in 1983 - So I can insure it, go down the Post office and change it's status to historic and not put it anywhere near an MOT - I think there is a glitch in the matrix ;-)
When taxing it you are responsible to ensure the car is roadworthy, if its not then you are liable for any accidents and its unlikely your insurance will pay out. I have a good garage do a thorough check on my cars every year even if I don't MoT them.One of my cars is was manufactured in 1971 registered in 1972 and was last taxed in 1983 - So I can insure it, go down the Post office and change it's status to historic and not put it anywhere near an MOT - I think there is a glitch in the matrix ;-)
An MOT might be for a year but it’s only a result of a test on the day - it doesn’t exempt you from being prosecuted for dangerous condition etc etc
I’m saying that it has been the case that for cars that have been off the road for some considerable time an MOT was required before historic status was applied - this appears to no longer be the case - that gives me some concern!!
Mercdriver said:
Well done, looking forward to pikkies of it at a car show in all its glory.
Given this car's history of fighting progress every step of the way, I wouldn't hold your breath! Dinoboy said:
Fantastic, great milestone reached!
Edited to correct, autocorrect had put "millstone", I'll leave it up to you to decide if that would have been more apt
Thanks Dinoboy...I think in this instance autocorrect might just be right! However, I'll derive a lot of satisfaction from seeing it finished.Edited to correct, autocorrect had put "millstone", I'll leave it up to you to decide if that would have been more apt
theadman said:
Logic would suggest some proof of roadworthiness would be wise as the car was last taxed in 1974!
Unfortunately exempt from MOT means exactly that. I can see an argument for really early veteran cars to be exempt, as they are so different to current cars that a tester is unlikely to know where to begin, but most cars built in the last hundred years or more have enough similarities that they should be subject to at least a basic safety test. It's not a glitch. I went to the Post Office at the start of April to change a car to historic status just as the tax ran out. It's MOT'd until the end of May. But, since the MOT, I'd changed the number plate, so I had a V5 with the new number and an MOT with the old one. Chassis number is on both documents, of course, but I thought computer might say no. It was suggested that I could go back to the MOT station and ask for them to formally verify that the MOT is for the same car. That sounded too much like hard work. Next suggestion was that I retax or SORN it until the MOT runs out, then apply for historic status and just fill in an MOT exemption form, which is simply a declaration by me that the car is exempt. So, I took one of those and thought I'd go back in a few weeks. Then, I gave all the paperwork to a friend and left the country. She promptly took it to her local Post Office, handed over the new V5 and the old MOT, which were stapled together, lobbed in a tray and apparently we'll say no more about it.
Cool story, huh?
Cool story, huh?
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