This Friday on Feb 5th, collectors can have a chance to own a piece of French automotive history.
Artcurial will offer for sale the first ever Facel Vega produced and owned by the founder Jean Daninos.
Facel Vega (the word vega comes from one of the stars) was a French luxury car brand in the 1950s known for their extreme elegance, luxury interiors and powerful motors. It was France’s answer to Rolls Royce and represented the pinnacle of luxury and elegance. Films stars, powerful businessmen and Royalty all drove this iconic French brand. Shah of Persia, Ava Gardner (for me perhaps the most beautiful women ever), Picasso, Dean Martin as well as the Ringo Star were all Facel Vega customers.
The car maker was successful because it had found a niche: Combining European luxury with American power (Chevrolet V8 engine). The first model the FV 54 prototype debuted in 1954 and is this very car being sold. Originally delivered in a stunning two tone color scheme of light blue gray with a blue roof – the car appeared on a variety of magazines including Road & Track in 1955 (although appearing with a slightly different color now). The car still carries the original engine (V8, Chevy) and has a 4-speed gearbox (original) as opposed to an automatic transmission (which many Facel Vega cars later had).
While the car is unique and important in French car history – sadly the car is not completely original anymore. The color has been changed to black /black (which the owner Daninos carried) out and he also requested that the front received a face-lift so two extra lights were added (in my view the car looks much worse now unfortunately). Although it is original as it was done by Facel Vega and by the owner of Facel Vega – it does not reflect how the car was born. The hub cap on the wheels are also not original and I would restore the car to the way it was born (with wire wheels but different hub caps).
I personally would change the front lights back to its original state and change the color scheme back to the beautiful original colors. This will cost the new owner a few hundred thousand Euros but it is well worth it to preserve this important automobile.
Overall I think this is a phenomenal opportunity for a collector to own the first Facel Vega and restore it back to its stunning original colors. The original front would also have to be changed as well as the wheels. It would be well worth the effort and when completed this car would surely be offered invitations for the most important car events in the world.
The estimate for this unique first Facel ever made is €350-550’ooo. More information can be found here.
(all pics below are credit Artcurial)
The Facel Vega is among the most elegant cars ever made in my opinion. Notice the rear lights that Enzo Ferrari / Pininfarina might have taken and incorporated in the S1 250 Spyder.
The front is masculine and elegant at the same time.
