Facel Vega HK500. A childhood dream or a nightmare?
Discussion
Mercdriver said:
Thanks for the update adman, very frustrating this must have been, keep going though first time you tax the car it will be worthwhile
Mazak in UK, Zamak in the states, the five letters are the metals used to make the alloy. Todays useless information alloy used in making petrol pump counting heads. Notorious for problems in later life
I thought it was probably the same thing, but had never come across it being called Zamak before. Thanks for the info. Mazak in UK, Zamak in the states, the five letters are the metals used to make the alloy. Todays useless information alloy used in making petrol pump counting heads. Notorious for problems in later life
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.
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.
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.
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!
Spinakerr said:
So this will be ready for the Festival of The Unexceptional in July then? ;-)
Really wonderful to see. I could stare at those wooden dash panels all day.
After all this effort, I'm not sure I'd like being outshone by a Nissan Micra! Really wonderful to see. I could stare at those wooden dash panels all day.
But, hopefully it will be on the road before the Festival.
Mr Tidy said:
It's great to see some real progress. 
Seeing 2 together in one place is a real treat - I haven't seen one in the flesh for years!
Thanks Mr Tidy. Seeing 2 together in one place is a real treat - I haven't seen one in the flesh for years!
There are about 25 HK500s in the UK registered with the owner's club (Amicale Facel Vega, if you're interested) and there is a move among club members to raise the profile of the brand. So, with a bit of luck you might bump into one 'in the flesh' before too long! I'm sure there are quite a few other survivors out there...around 100 of the 500(ish) made were RHD and the global survival rate is reckoned to be around 70%.
This was September 2018 at the Goodwood Revival, where a joint meeting was organised with the French club.
urquattroGus said:
Brilliant, great to see some progress!!
Thanks Angus! Another bill has arrived, which suggests progress is continuing.Om said:
Magnificent! I could stand and stare at that all day and still not get fed up.
Om, I was the same...for the first couple of years! After nearly 25, it's fair to say the feeling has worn off a bit (although I still love it)! Thanks for the compliment.Dinoboy said:
Fantastic!
Thanks Dinoboy. It's these positive comments that have provided much needed motivation over the last 18 months. I really had got to a low point with it all.jamesson said:
Just look at those seats! Magnificent.
The seats were actually made in the UK by Pullman (who I believe did seats for the train with the same name). There's more about them on page 5 if you're interested. Jamesson, thanks for your continued interest in this marathon of a project. Hopefully, the finishing line isn't far away.
tog said:
There will be some Facel Vegas at the Shuttleworth Collection's Best of British airshow next month. The FV club will have a display there and have invited some Bristols to join in also.
I'm planning to be there...but I doubt it will be in the Facel! If you are going it would be good to say hello.tog said:
Yes I also plan to be there, ideally in a blue Bristol 410 with two kids in tow. I love a Facel but they don't fit me - I photographed a gorgeous Facel II a few years ago but could barely close the door as there was no knee room between the door and the enormous steering wheel!
The seating position in an HK is less compromised than a Facel ll. The latter sits on the same chassis but is 3 inches lower overall. The headroom is about the same, so most of those inches came out of the height of the seat squab from the floor. The result is a rather different driving position and a snug fit between your knees and the steering wheel.I'd still love a Facel ll though!
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! 
thisPS Those closest to me would replace 'dedication and patience' with 'stubborn as a mule'. Same thing...different lens!!
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'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!
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
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