Facel Vega FV2B (1956)
With its original French style, good driving characteristics and luxurious interior, the FV2B is a wonderful example of the cars made by the eccentric Facel Vega. It was one of the fastest four seater cars from its age, thanks to its 285 hp Chrysler HEMI V8. Only 74 FV2B’s were built, of which only about 40 remain. Of these, the car we offer must be one of the very best. In perfect condition, matching numbers, full history, low mileage and with the rare 4-speed manual gearbox. If you are looking for a good Facel Vega, this is a ‘must see’ car.
Origins of the FV2B
Beginning as a supplier to the aerospace industry and later to car brands such as Panhard and Delahaye, the Facel Company developed into its own car brand named ‘Facel Vega’ under the leadership of Jean Daninos in 1954. The goal was to build luxurious cars with above-average performance in a French avantgardistic style. Their first model was called the Vega (later the FV) and was introduced at the 1954 Paris Salon. It was built on a newly developed tubular frame with double wishbone suspension in the front and a live axle in the rear. For the engine, they diverted to America because no French engine could deliver the intended performance. And so the cars were fitted with a 4.5-liter Chrysler HEMI V8.
Already a year later Jean Daninos and his team came with a completely new version, called the FV2 (Facel Vega 2). With its wraparound panoramic windscreen, the famous painted metal dashboard with wood grain and single headlights, the FV2 is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cars made by this extraordinary French brand. A year later, they decided to increase performance by mounting a even bigger engine, the 5,4-liter Chrysler HEMI V8. These new cars were called the FV2B. With 285 hp versus the FV2’s 250 hp, they were considerably faster; especially the cars fitted with the Pont-a-Mousson 4-speed manual gearbox, like the one on offer.
Our car
The first owner of this gorgeous 1956 FV2B with manual transmission was the French industrialist Gérard Foussier. After ten years he sold the car tot Roger Baillon, a car collector who was planning to create a car museum in Niort, France. Due to financial setbacks, the Facel was subsequently sold in 1979 to the American car collector C.J. O’Brien II, who didn’t use the car at all. He did not even register it. In 1990 the FV2B found its way back to Europe, where the new German owner had it carefully restored in 1990/1991.
In 2019 the car was sold to a new owner in Germany, who now decided the car is now ready for a new lover of Facel Vega. The FV2B is in perfect condition, has matching numbers and a low mileage. The car is registered in Germany. We kindly invite you to our showroom to have a look at this wonderful Facel and take her for a test drive.
Specifications
Prod. no.: 134 (out of no. 74 to no.147)
Matching numbers
Top speed: 198 Km/h
Year of production: 1956
Engine: Chrysler De Soto V8 Hemi S-24 5413cc/285bhp
Gearbox: Pont-a-Mousson 4-speed manual
Price: € 199.000,-