Facel Vega HK500
Facel Vega was the last of the great French luxury car makers, and the HK500 was its masterpiece. Founded by Jean Daninos, Facel (Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure-et-Loir) was originally a metalwork company that made bodies for other manufacturers. Daninos decided to build his own car, combining French style with American power — a formula that created one of the most glamorous grand tourers of the 1950s and early 1960s. The HK500 used Chrysler's mighty 383 cubic inch (6.3-litre) Hemi V8, producing 360 bhp — enough for 150 mph and genuine trans-continental cruising. The body, designed in-house, was hand-built from steel with an elegance that rivaled the best Italian coachbuilders: stacked headlamps, prominent vertical grille, and muscular haunches that exuded sophistication. The interior was trimmed in leather and wood to the highest standards, making the HK500 one of the most luxurious cars money could buy. Celebrities including Ringo Starr, Tony Curtis, Ava Gardner, and Albert Camus (who tragically died in a Facel Vega crash) owned them. Just 490 HK500s were built before Facel's ill-fated Facellia model (with its unreliable in-house engine) bankrupted the company in 1964.
Rarity means every car is known. Body constructed from high-quality steel — less prone to rust than contemporaries. Chrysler V8 parts readily available in USA. French gearbox and electrical components harder to source. Pont-a-Mousson manual gearbox preferred but many have TorqueFlite auto. Verify provenance carefully.
490 HK500 built (1958-1961). Successor to the FV/FVS. Followed by the Facel II (1962-64, 184 built). Chrysler V8 engines. Company collapsed 1964 after Facellia engine failures destroyed reputation.