Facel Vega HK500. A childhood dream or a nightmare?
Discussion
theadman said:
urquattroGus said:
Looking for some advice on purchasing an HK500 are there any UK Facel Experts that can be recommended?
urquattroGus, as you can imagine, it's hard enough to find anyone who has experience of working on Facels, but there are a few around. Happy to share my thoughts if you PM me.
P5BNij I had a quick hunt around for this car but couldn't find anything on it. I vaguely remember it being auctioned a long time ago...perhaps your picture is of it being transported pre or post auction?
It isn't surprising that there are HK500s knocking around as about 20% of production (around 100 cars) were RHD and the vast majority of these were for the UK.
Given decades of low values, high restoration costs and a lack of all parts other than mechanical ones, most cars left are off the road, slowly crumbling away. It is good to see that trend reversing and a number of cars making it back onto the road, where they belong.
It would be interesting to know what happened to the car you pictured.
It isn't surprising that there are HK500s knocking around as about 20% of production (around 100 cars) were RHD and the vast majority of these were for the UK.
Given decades of low values, high restoration costs and a lack of all parts other than mechanical ones, most cars left are off the road, slowly crumbling away. It is good to see that trend reversing and a number of cars making it back onto the road, where they belong.
It would be interesting to know what happened to the car you pictured.
P5BNij said:
Does anyone here know this FV...? My other half took the photo as we overtook it on the M25 on the way to look at a Mk2 Mini Cooper in Kent, the date is 17/6/10...
OGS786: 1959 FV. First registered in UK July 2001. Last log book July 2010. Last MOT expired August 2012. Not presently taxed, but apparently was taxed until 2020.Failed an MOT 17/06/2010 - date of the photo. Passed one a year later.
Picture of the car in 2008: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Facel_Ve...
Was for sale in 1977 for £1250: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
C&SC tweeted about it in 2021: https://twitter.com/candscmagazine/status/13637508... and that car is their photo for FV as an “extinct marque:” https://classicandsportscar.com/gallery/8-extinct-... having been featured by the magazine in 2011: https://automobil-literatur.de/classic-sports-cars...
Apparently FV chassis number HK1BF6 and series number 610 per https://forum-auto.caradisiac.com/topic/374205-top...
Was included in the Coys Spring Classics Classic Car Auction in London 6th March 2012 (listed as a 1960, not 1959, HK500). This suggests either it didn’t sell, was withdrawn, sold prior, etc: https://www.classicdriver.com/en/auction/coys-auct...
HTH
It would help if I had been searching by the correct registration plate! Thank you skwdenyer.
With regards my car, I'm afraid there is nothing to report. A new fuel pump and a couple of sets of points have been out of stock for ages at the two suppliers Ian uses.
Having become impatient I looked at the Rock Auto site in the States a fortnight ago, deduced which parts should fit a 361ci Plymouth Belvedere/De Soto Adventurer (1959 Model Year), decided to take a punt and ordered them. They were delivered within a week, all taxes paid and customs cleared. I'm now waiting to see if they do actually fit!
For anyone who has a car with an American V8, the service Rock Auto provide is first class.
With regards my car, I'm afraid there is nothing to report. A new fuel pump and a couple of sets of points have been out of stock for ages at the two suppliers Ian uses.
Having become impatient I looked at the Rock Auto site in the States a fortnight ago, deduced which parts should fit a 361ci Plymouth Belvedere/De Soto Adventurer (1959 Model Year), decided to take a punt and ordered them. They were delivered within a week, all taxes paid and customs cleared. I'm now waiting to see if they do actually fit!
For anyone who has a car with an American V8, the service Rock Auto provide is first class.
skwdenyer said:
P5BNij said:
Does anyone here know this FV...? My other half took the photo as we overtook it on the M25 on the way to look at a Mk2 Mini Cooper in Kent, the date is 17/6/10...
OGS786: 1959 FV. First registered in UK July 2001. Last log book July 2010. Last MOT expired August 2012. Not presently taxed, but apparently was taxed until 2020.Failed an MOT 17/06/2010 - date of the photo. Passed one a year later.
Picture of the car in 2008: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Facel_Ve...
Was for sale in 1977 for £1250: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
C&SC tweeted about it in 2021: https://twitter.com/candscmagazine/status/13637508... and that car is their photo for FV as an “extinct marque:” https://classicandsportscar.com/gallery/8-extinct-... having been featured by the magazine in 2011: https://automobil-literatur.de/classic-sports-cars...
Apparently FV chassis number HK1BF6 and series number 610 per https://forum-auto.caradisiac.com/topic/374205-top...
Was included in the Coys Spring Classics Classic Car Auction in London 6th March 2012 (listed as a 1960, not 1959, HK500). This suggests either it didn’t sell, was withdrawn, sold prior, etc: https://www.classicdriver.com/en/auction/coys-auct...
HTH
skwdenyer said:
P5BNij said:
Does anyone here know this FV...? My other half took the photo as we overtook it on the M25 on the way to look at a Mk2 Mini Cooper in Kent, the date is 17/6/10...
OGS786: 1959 FV. First registered in UK July 2001. Last log book July 2010. Last MOT expired August 2012. Not presently taxed, but apparently was taxed until 2020.Failed an MOT 17/06/2010 - date of the photo. Passed one a year later.
Picture of the car in 2008: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Facel_Ve...
Was for sale in 1977 for £1250: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
C&SC tweeted about it in 2021: https://twitter.com/candscmagazine/status/13637508... and that car is their photo for FV as an “extinct marque:” https://classicandsportscar.com/gallery/8-extinct-... having been featured by the magazine in 2011: https://automobil-literatur.de/classic-sports-cars...
Apparently FV chassis number HK1BF6 and series number 610 per https://forum-auto.caradisiac.com/topic/374205-top...
Was included in the Coys Spring Classics Classic Car Auction in London 6th March 2012 (listed as a 1960, not 1959, HK500). This suggests either it didn’t sell, was withdrawn, sold prior, etc: https://www.classicdriver.com/en/auction/coys-auct...
HTH
Turned out to be a bit of a wasted journey as I didn't buy the Cooper, but it was nice to see the FV all the same!
RDMcG said:
When I was a youngster in Dublin in the fifties the house next door was rented by a young Persian medical student. He had a new Facel. I was fascinated by that car so he took me for a drive. I recall it well as I had never been in anything so remotely luxurious. It was simply stunning.
It had a record player installed!. this thing would play one 45rmp record at a time.
Not exactly iTunes.
@RDMcG sent you a pm , looking forward to your reply ! It had a record player installed!. this thing would play one 45rmp record at a time.
Not exactly iTunes.
Still enjoying this thread , no glossing over the pains of a thorough restoration !
There is currently more pain than gain, I'm afraid.
Latest update from yesterday...no further progress! Looks like the never ending dramas of running a busy MOT and light commercial servicing business keep getting in the way.
It's a shame. I really want it completed by the current person, as I trust him, he has huge knowledge of Facels and has put a lot of effort in to get the restoration back on track. I think he'd also derive much satisfaction from finishing the job. However, my patience is finally running out. I may have to make an uncomfortable New Year's resolution, which will be difficult as I've known him for over 20 years.
Plan B is all thought through and was nearly actioned earlier this year. I'm really loathed to pull the trigger, though.
Latest update from yesterday...no further progress! Looks like the never ending dramas of running a busy MOT and light commercial servicing business keep getting in the way.
It's a shame. I really want it completed by the current person, as I trust him, he has huge knowledge of Facels and has put a lot of effort in to get the restoration back on track. I think he'd also derive much satisfaction from finishing the job. However, my patience is finally running out. I may have to make an uncomfortable New Year's resolution, which will be difficult as I've known him for over 20 years.
Plan B is all thought through and was nearly actioned earlier this year. I'm really loathed to pull the trigger, though.
Sorry to hear the frustration continues. How long has the current chap had your car now? If you've known him for over twenty years, perhaps he'd be amenable to devoting a bit more time to it so progress can be made. Similarly, perhaps he'll think it's fair enough if you want to move the car to someone else to carry on from this point.
Either way, best of luck. Like everyone on this thread, I can't wait to see it finished and running.
Either way, best of luck. Like everyone on this thread, I can't wait to see it finished and running.
Well...I've started receiving invoices rather than 1001 reasons why there has been no progress! This is good news for my mental health, but bad news for my bank balance!
Spurred on by the dwindling bank account I made the pilgrimage to Cornwall on Tuesday to see what's going on.
Before anyone gets too carried away, I better manage expectations. No it isn't finished.
But it is getting there...
The interior was back in it with all the leather cleaned and fed...
...until the ignition switch decided it wasn't going to play and was subsequently joined by an electric window switch. This meant parts of the dashboard needed to be removed...again!
The offending window switch...
So, the last couple of days have been spent on the internet. It always amazes me what a wealth of knowledge is at your finger tips. It seems the ignition switch is straight from Chrysler. This info was posted on the Facel Facebook group within a couple of hours of me posting there.
A bit more research unearthed a modern pattern part for sale through the Amicale Facel Vega shop and a number of used original items on ebay. However, good 'ole RockAuto appear to have the self same thing as the Facel people for a third of the price and it can be here by early next week. So, that's the route I've taken. Hopefully it will fit.
So, what's left to do?
1. Make the car run reliably. At the moment, every time the car is started something seems to go wrong. On Tuesday, there was a misfire, that wasn't there a few days previously. The engine is a fresh rebuild, so these issues are snagging and to be expected to some degree. I want to get through this as quickly as possible. A working ignition switch should help (fingers crossed)!
2. Tidy up the windscreen rubber, which bulges out in the acute angle of the 'dog leg' A pillar and then check that the car is watertight (ish)
3. Get the car moving under its own steam so the brakes, suspension and gearbox can be checked. All these items have been rebuilt, but some of them have been standing for 15 years now.
4. MOT as a final safety check.
5. Drive it for the first time in 25 years!
It also looks like the Facel has found a new friend...
There can't be too many workshops in the UK with more than one HK500!
Spurred on by the dwindling bank account I made the pilgrimage to Cornwall on Tuesday to see what's going on.
Before anyone gets too carried away, I better manage expectations. No it isn't finished.
But it is getting there...
The interior was back in it with all the leather cleaned and fed...
...until the ignition switch decided it wasn't going to play and was subsequently joined by an electric window switch. This meant parts of the dashboard needed to be removed...again!
The offending window switch...
So, the last couple of days have been spent on the internet. It always amazes me what a wealth of knowledge is at your finger tips. It seems the ignition switch is straight from Chrysler. This info was posted on the Facel Facebook group within a couple of hours of me posting there.
A bit more research unearthed a modern pattern part for sale through the Amicale Facel Vega shop and a number of used original items on ebay. However, good 'ole RockAuto appear to have the self same thing as the Facel people for a third of the price and it can be here by early next week. So, that's the route I've taken. Hopefully it will fit.
So, what's left to do?
1. Make the car run reliably. At the moment, every time the car is started something seems to go wrong. On Tuesday, there was a misfire, that wasn't there a few days previously. The engine is a fresh rebuild, so these issues are snagging and to be expected to some degree. I want to get through this as quickly as possible. A working ignition switch should help (fingers crossed)!
2. Tidy up the windscreen rubber, which bulges out in the acute angle of the 'dog leg' A pillar and then check that the car is watertight (ish)
3. Get the car moving under its own steam so the brakes, suspension and gearbox can be checked. All these items have been rebuilt, but some of them have been standing for 15 years now.
4. MOT as a final safety check.
5. Drive it for the first time in 25 years!
It also looks like the Facel has found a new friend...
There can't be too many workshops in the UK with more than one HK500!
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