The Facel Vega Facel II is a Luxurious Brute

Designed to be a grand tourer beyond reproach, the French brand Facel quickly earned a reputation for style, speed, and quality through the ’50s as it wood the European elite. The company’s slogan was, “For the few who own the finest,” and it’s easy to see why Facel cars are still highly prized today.
For restorer Jasper Beukenkamp, Facel cars are a special sort of passion. “The cars used to be purchased by wealthy people,” Beukenkamp says, “artists and even kings. Known owners of Facel Vegas were Ava Gardner, Tony Curtis, Ringo Starr, and Stirling Moss.”
The car here is a Facel Vega Facel II, first introduced in 1962 as a replacement for the company’s earlier designs. Though it looks quite familiar to Facel models produced before, the Facel II was by many measures the better car-even calling it the “Fastest 4-seater coupé in the world.”
With lots of Chrysler V8 power under its hood, the Facel II is, as Beukenkamp says, still very sought-after but very hard to find; over two years of production, only about 180 Facel IIs were produced before the firm went bankrupt. Production of the expensive grand tourers used to be subsidized by Facel-Metallon’s steel stamping factory and car body production line, but the losses were too great.
Now,12 years after a fire had consumed Beukenkamp’s workshop, he’s helping to restore and bring these French beauties back to life. “Restoring a car is like making a puzzle,” he says, “You know in advance how it will look…and only have to put each piece in the right place.”
Drive Tastefully®
Petrolicious.com
/ petrolicious

[@spirit5278]

I worked in a parking garage when I was younger and had the pleasure of driving a facel vega I nearly every week whilst it was parked up by the owner . He asked I take it for a short drive once a week. It was racing green and a real beast. Absolutely stunning.

[@felixarbable]

the best thing about this channel, weather i personally like the cars or not. is that the owners certainly do and their enthusiasm shines through

[@BruceBoschek]

My uncle worked for Mallory ignitions and Chrysler and sometime in the late 1950s he visited us in an HK500. I got to go for a ride and was stunned at what could be done with a Chrysler engine! That car had a 4-speed Pont-à-Mousson manual gearbox and was blindingly fast for the time. Thanks for letting us have a close look at the II.

[@danielsaragih3595]

Ppppp

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

Jasper, you're a magician! This FV looks just like out of the production. It's clear that you have a passion for restoring old timers. Cool that you're making a living out of it too. Beautiful work, hands down. Bravo!

[@alessioriso9671]

American and european style mixed together....awesome car

[@ckm-mkc]

One of my favorite cars of all time... Surprised to see it here.

[@TheMendipman]

Every Petrolicious video is a joy to watch, full of memories. Thanks!! Noel

[@SuperStig23]

What a beauty, reminds me a bit of the UK Lagonda

[@StevenVanLoven]

Een nederige jongeman! Komt nuchter over. Zo iemand zou ik aan mijn oude wagens kunnen laten werken.Respect.

[@OhMyKMPR]

The interior is absolutely gorgous!

[@theotherdave2005]

Roughly fifteen years ago, my neighbor a few doors down - who owned a '66 C2 427 - had a friend who drove a '59 HK500. I treasured every moment that glorious brute trundled past my window, with 383 cubic inches of sheer acoustic exuberance. Thanks for the moment to reminisce...

[@peterfullerton1027]

Have always loved these cars..elegant..classy..understated

[@sfbassist]

As soon as I saw the word "Facel" on my feed I knew you had me.... I love these cars. Really any of the 60's "hybrids": Bizzarrini, Facel, Iso, Monteverdi, DeTomaso.... Fantastic.

[@pablocramer9669]

DH Bennett Do not forget Jensen Interceptor, I owned one Mk.II

[@sfbassist]

pablo cramer Very good point! And the Jensen I put in a vaulted position because, like the Monteverdi and Facel, it's a Chrysler engined car!

[@lgprod6459]

my grand-grand-father had one of those, sadly I never had the chance to have a ride in it, now it's in the le mans museum in France, want to see it one time, it's a beautiful car !

[@italsounds001]

Great French classic. The wonderful Facel HK500 was the fastest GT car ever when it was produced in 61.

[@Pietervdv]

Good to see one of my favorite channels visited my country! Great episode btw, good to see young people getting into the restoration business.

[@tomvannispen]

i saw this guy drivibg last month in a vega cabrio, beautiful car

[@blolo8]

I swear, these videos are just gorgeous every time! Thank you so much for this awesome content !

[@Gaudine]

Just last night before I fell asleep I was looking at Facel Vega pics on Instagram. Illuminati confirmed!

[@TobyWhiteUK]

Never heard of the make before, but wow, that interior!

[@gregraines1599]

Back in the '80s a classic car dealer, advertising on the back page of Auto Trader, had one of these for sale. The first time I'd ever heard of this maker.The ad stayed up for months. I thought the car was just gorgeous and would have done almost anything to buy it. Beautiful and packing a big Chrysler V-8. Wonderful interior. It was only going for about 25K. Now I could afford one at that price but it's too late, values have climbed so high I'll never be able to own one. Sigh.

[@gregorytimmons4777]

Perhaps there will be a world wide recession in which you will prevail. Some rich but heavily leveraged collector may have to liquidate. Imagine you are one of very few with much in the way of readily available cash and so again You prevail. It could happen. In the meantime thank God you are not poor.

[@DaveAppleton]

A blue one of these fueled up (gased up) at the petrol station where I work today. I thought I recognised it from this video and the driver confirmed it was one. I never thought I'd see one close up.

[@rockinchimp]

Another car I have never heard of, interesting to note that the manual version of this with 390 HP was quicker to 60 MPH than the Aston Martin DB4 and Ferrari 250 GTO. That engine wasn't even the biggest either.

[@Pietervdv]

rockinchimp I've heard they handle like a dog though, so the Aston and Ferrari would be likely to catch up in the twisty bits.

[@rockinchimp]

Pietervdv Wouldn't bother me, especially since this is no doubt a far more civilized car to drive than those two.

[@Pietervdv]

I'd give my left arm for either one of them, to be honest.

[@rockinchimp]

Pietervdv Good luck driving such a thing with one arm... Haha.

[@Pietervdv]

Better go for that Facel Vega then, at least that's an auto box. :)

[@Heatfarmer]

Such a beautiful car

[@IamAtomman]

Nice film ! there were rumours of a new Facel Vega a few years back, I even saw some sketches and it looked awesome.

[@IROCMAN666]

A beautiful french car ! Such a shame, in France, luxurious trademarks are disapeared now.

[@jmfleureau8662]

70 ans de socialisme ont tué les véhicules haut de gamme français .

[@IROCMAN666]

@@jmfleureau8662 Je ne crois pas que la politique ait quelque chose à avoir là-dedans... c'est plus une question de marketing, je pense.

[@bennyhannover9361]

The Cars did not make Profit. According to the Book of Jean Paul Chamberette et al. from Amicale Facel Vega it lost 7.400 NF per Car. 80 of them produced

[@bennyhannover9361]

Only Facel Deux of Course!

[@GeSchmidtt]

I have always loved this car. First one I saw was about 25 years ago. Beautiful in every respect. The dark side; Albert Camus was killed in Facel Vega driven by a friend.

[@513MUGSY]

You look at the little picture of what is going to be shown in the video, and you think will this video be just good as the last one? .....Hell yes it is!! Thanks for another gearhead fulfilling video!

[@jamesh7571]

Well I didn't understand a word you said bro, but I can tell you're very passionate about these beautiful cars! 2 thumbs up 👍👍

[@mrbondohrama]

I wish there were more shots of the engine, boot, and undercarriage. The scenes are beautiful but more of the car would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[@theflyingDUTCHM3N]

Prachtige wagen en een geweldig bedrijf. Ik kan alleen maar hopen dat deze auto in Nederland blijft...

[@docdope654]

wow petrolicious went to holland :) nice video

[@WilvB1]

Prachtige auto en sympathiek verteld. Heel leuk. Gr. Wil van Buuren

[@bmos02]

Please don't enable banner ads if you're going to insert subtitles into the bottom of your video. Just put them at the top! Video is really excellent, as usual!

[@Dethmeister]

William Thieme When the video starts, press pause. Click past the yellow mark on the time line. Click the x on the ad that pops up. Go back to the beginning of the time line. Press play. Enjoy video without pop up banner ad.

[@bmos02]

Dethmeister so the world should never improve? I'm offering constructive criticism about their use of KZbin; I know how to watch the video without the ad in my way.

[@Dethmeister]

I'm just trying to help you.

[@bmos02]

Dethmeister oh, I appreciate it then.

[@MrNemebiax]

Chrysler Engine. Beautiful car at the time.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Sweet looking car. I've heard of Facel Vega, but I've never seen one in person. :)

[@rare6499]

This is glorious!

[@TRXfiend]

beautiful

[@activa7000]

Why French industrialists don't resurrect this brand today ? Or even Delage, Delahaye, Voisin or Talbot ? Very sad...

[@ZerokillerOppel1]

Or Simca....

[@volkswagenk7017]

or Panhard..

[@motard811]

Because in France it is now and since a while strictly impossible to raise any industrial business from ground. All those who tried quickly bite the ground. Ever heard of Voxan motorcycles for example? I experienced it myself in another branch of industry

[@anonimushbosh]

Elle Sea But the restomod & ratrod/ratmod (or whatever they’re calling them) craze proves there is a lucrative market for this kind of thing. On a smallish scale some of these old marques and designs are perfect for enterprising modern makeovers.

[@annekrank7176]

theres actually some rumors about a facel vega reviving and Delage has already started a reviving :) :www.facelvegaparis.com/

[@newmabreu96]

im so happy for tuesdays, new petrolicious video

[@pwddogman]

Would be nice to provide more detail on the Mark/Model

[@Coflat6]

Nice video for a rare brand and an exceptionel model. Shame that it was not in French !

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Arguably, I believe, one of the most beautiful cars ever built. There are few designs that will ever find this balance of proportion and detail.

[@johnypiston]

Hugh-John Fleming Hi there. Sorry but can I ask, just for reference, which one other modern day car you consider beautiful?

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

I think the modern Aston Martins are smart, and everyone a seems to be stealing those lines... I love the CTS wagon and I am happy to admit I have odd tastes. Modern cars have become very homogeneous to me.

[@MrDanty64]

Hugh-John Fleming Spot on!!! Well put!!

[@johnypiston]

You have good taste in cars then. Something about this one is just not quite doing it for me though ...but I do like the front of it a bit. Anyway, thanks for your response.

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

I have a fondness for design. Like what you like and don't let what other people think bother you. History is a great teacher but never let it be your esthetic .

[@bobby4277]

True luxury. A beautiful car.

[@lion-e-nl]

Really cool to see a Dutch episode :-D

[@wimpeugeot]

Ah, die andere Facel uit Groningen. Is dus nu uit de stad verdwenen. Mooie auto, een van de eerste met het stuur links.

[@lexvaniterson857]

This is Dutch. I live close by his shop. It says in the writing his shop went up in flames,but it is wrongfully translated... the shop where his father-in-law had his TR painted was the place that burned down to the ground.

[@kartoonle]

Lex van Iterson where in Netherland is this gentleman based ? I am eager to buy an old Citroen DS and would love to pay him a visit for consultation if he could manage to restore it. Bedank in advance!

[@ZerokillerOppel1]

www.jbclassiccars.com/

[@MikeGormez]

There's a miror error in the translation; Jasper says they used slightly larger engines with this model compared to the HK500 (5m in video). Subtitle reads "similar engines".

[@leneanderthalien]

Only the first HK500 had a bit smaller engine (5.9L) the last HK500 had the same 6.3litre engine as the first Facel II, only the last Facel II had a bigger 6.8L engine...

[@gabrielsandoval4994]

Looks like a 63 Buick Riviera from the rear, with a 60's Mercedes front and interior. Definitely cool looking.

[@lieutenantbullitt7221]

Une voiture Française incroyable!

[@WarFivevyone]

uitstekende presentatie Jasper

[@brentg3707]

fabulous

[@teymourbayat8266]

At the end, it's the indicators you are talking about, not the taillights.

[@pierremaillet2099]

Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure et Loir. Le modèle HK500 possède le plus beau tableau de bord de la lignée des V8. Phares et feux Marchal, jantes Borrani, quelques-unes ont un intérieur en cuir de grenouille et moteur V8 Typhoon Chrysler comme dans les bateaux Riva.

[@SaiKumar-wd4hj]

wow excellent car

[@ryang5719]

What a truly wonderful era it looked to be! So then, these Facel cars predate Virgil Exner's Stutz Blackhawk, right? Looks as though he drew much inspiration from these beauties! Interesting!! Am I going to learn that these Facels are a result of the French being inspired by the Pontiac Grand Prix!?

[@Freimopp777]

0:51 nice 50ccm Kreidler Van Veen racing machine in the background

[@dhineshdevanvadivello3708]

Awesome car..

[@NathanSijpkes]

Amazing video thanks

[@megamanski8183]

Dear petrolicious. It's time for a volvo 240 or maybe a fancy 262 bertone or that other later model luxury bertone 9xx? or an 850? Don't leave use hanging the 240 was epicc! Appreciate your p1800 video recently and that other volvo one

[@Gaudine]

Mega Manski I just looked up the Volvo that you mentioned and wow it's one of the ugliest car I have ever seen. It's a box on wheels with muted colours, ouch.. It must be slow, cheap and full of plastic inside. I hope they will never review it. I'm sorry.

[@TheOVERMUCH]

Mega Manski Would love to see the 780 bertone!

[@TheOVERMUCH]

***** Why? It is easy to maintain, to get and it is practical. It is iconic because of that. Like all people find the citroen ds and the saab900 beautiful. A matter of taste and how hipster you want to be. You like the Toyota Sports800, Porsche 914-6, BMW Isetta? I don't and the only reason they are in here because of their rareness and reasons of that are bad sales, quality and looks. The only reason the 240 should be denied is because of its common appearance. Because the model has achieved more than any other car on this yt page, except some racers though.

[@TheOVERMUCH]

Read what I typed please. You said the 240 shouldn't be here because it is ugly, I named a few other cars which are, to my taste, ugly. Why are they here? Because of other reasons. Give better arguments, like you did now, and don't bully the 240 for its looks.. I'm not a fan of the 240 fyi. "There you have two reasons why something would be called a classic: Looks and performance. Do you notice something? Your 240 Volvo does not share neither of those characteristics." The 3 cars I said earlier, what do they have? Rareness only..

[@maxregal8889]

I own a 240 wagon and I don't want to associate with myself.

[@QUAD405]

Heel mooi Jasper!

[@brentg3707]

hi you are very talented i admire your ability

[@mikelliteras397]

The car reminds me of the Merc 600 and the Lincoln MkII

[@leneanderthalien]

both are MUCH bigger and 500kg+ heawyer than the Facel II who was 4,75 long and did weight only 1660kg

[@271production]

wasnt this exact car and owner featured on Cinecars recently?

[@algernonilfracombe]

Why doesn't France make cars like this anymore?

[@romteb]

Socialism and sectarian far left unions killed french industry, Peugeot , Citroen and Renault survive only because most of their car are built in much lower labor cost countries.

[@gusgus2320]

Socialist cancer

[@TheTheolm]

Alpine is reborn. DS exists but...

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

There is no France as we used to know it any longer. Zut!

[@TheTheolm]

@Martti Suomivuori I have to say that you are right.

[@tomlee1780]

a really cool car.

[@Focusonbehind]

there is a blue one for sale in the netherlands for 330.000 euro

[@bmwm550d-1]

Leuk dat het Nederlands is:)

[@Maine733]

A shame the Dutch never built any car...

[@Bangkok.eye.automotive]

I want.

[@brighton_dude]

I think the video production team should be more concerned about illustration. We never really get to see the "distinctive rear lights". You need to first make sure you have many illustrative shots of the car before you start recording the clever stuff.

[@MrDanty64]

brighton dude ll put. There's way too many close up shots for me, doesn't really do anything other than make it look like another Car Ad, which I don't think Petrolicious is trying to be.

[@ageispolis6960]

You guys should do an old Toyota Soarer, or a 1JZ Celica Supra

[@trefod]

The HK500 must be the more desireable car though. It is better proportioned I think.

[@rogierishier]

Yeah, one from my own country :)

[@BorisLozac]

Hey Petrolicious, i can't seem to find that Italian watch brand that appeared on the start of some of your videos, how's it called? :)

[@kim007250]

i get the feeling these cars look better than they drive, there seems to be a lot of play in that steering ....still a handsome brute though.

[@dizzyrider3883]

Beautiful from every angle, except from side on. Rear end is too square, looks like a seventies cadilac. Of course it's all in the eye of the beholder.

[@bartvanriel6767]

mooie auto hoor!

[@gregorytimmons4777]

Is this the car known as The Facellea if I remember right?

[@leneanderthalien]

Absolutly not: the Facelia is the small 1.8L 4 cylinder (Pont a Mousson or Volvo) engined car: the car whe see here is the Facel II with a V8 big block 6.3liter...

[@pilou827]

@@leneanderthalien Facelia: Pont à Mousson engine / Facel 3: Volvo engine

[@CHuzz7777]

Not one of your better videos. Looks like a great car but I found out more from the description. Prefer videos where the individual and the particular car have a story to tell.

[@ZerokillerOppel1]

Didn't Jean Paul Belmondo own one too ?

[@julianporte7677]

Chicest of the chic!

[@william94743]

Nederland whoooo

[@chrismerrick3156]

Ain't nothin' like a 440

[@bennyhannover9361]

You are wrong there is nothing above the big HEmi 413 CI , accelerates in 5 sec to 63 Miles. 15 sec to 100 Miles this is Facel.

[@bramlabega8147]

Do a video About my Volvo 245 dl a "real" racing car

[@maxwellt91]

He hardly said anything about the car. I wanted to learn more about its history

[@jamesmorris913]

Uh..yeah..What he said!

[@newmabreu96]

1:13 plate from portugal?

[@mikes.4874]

newmabreu96 classic dutch plates

[@Rayportugal]

newmabreu96 não, as antigas holandesas eram pretas com letras brancas como as nossas ;)

[@newmabreu96]

Rayportugal mas tmb 2 letras- 2 numeros-2numeros?

[@Rayportugal]

newmabreu96 sim ;)

[@gusto472]

Just like portuguese plates from that time

[@tonyzed6831]

3:05 Alfa Romeo Montreal being restored...

[@BeetjeVreemd]

Hup Holland Hup :)

[@pvendeloo7512]

nederland jongeeee

[@waltertaljaard1488]

Voor zo'n exclusieve auto heeft hij maar heel gewone achterlichtunits. Simca 1000/1301.

[@markg7030]

Hemi ?

[@mescko]

Nope. The wedgie 383. Automatic cars had a single four-barrel, cars with the Pont-a-Mousson 4-speed got two. As an interesting aside, as a result of the Chrysler connection, the same four-speed was offered on the 1960 Chrysler 300F.

[@leneanderthalien]

@@mescko Engine was a Chrysler 383 RB or 413 wedge

[@liamhoben352]

Ayy lumo 5:11

[@XX-jf8og]

This car looks like an old Merc plus a 60s muscle car

[@TheTheolm]

It was.

[@leneanderthalien]

@@TheTheolm no Mercedes did a bit copy the style from the Facel II who was older than the similar Mercedes

[@christophernewman5027]

I always regard them as a French Bristol...

[@bennyhannover9361]

Sorry, but in 1962 the Bristol 407 with his 5,2 Litre 250 HP could Not compete the 6,8 litre Hemi plus 4 Speed PAM gearbox with 400 plus. That is why Ringo bought it.

[@christophernewman5027]

@@bennyhannover9361 Did l say that the Bristol was better, Andreas? Just very similar design philosophies...

[@silvoslaf]

The subs are too fast, you should use two lines for long sentences.

[@Gliese380]

vette bak, kees

[@LegoMasters1258]

Do a story on a rat rod or something

[@robinhorton3251]

More about the owner, not very much about the car.

[@kennethj1956]

What language is this?↑

[@waatevanhuizen8085]

Dutch

[@linglingjr]

It's pretty awesome how similar European languages are. Seems like there's lots of similarities between this and German.

[@amduser86]

linglingjr and english. most dutch people speak better english then a lot of natives speakers ...

[@linglingjr]

amduser86 Haha I agree completely. I'm American and didn't learn the difference between who and whom until I started learning another language. The only people that know English grammar in its entirety are teachers.

[@paulallen8109]

linglingjr linglingjr "It's pretty awesome how similar European languages are." Yes, the Germanic, Romance, Slavic, Celtic, Finno-Ugric and Hellenic (greek) languages which are spoken in Europe all are so similar. Not. German and Dutch are both Germanic languages (not "European") so therein lies the similarity.