Description
Facel Vega made its name during the 1950s building exclusive, expensive cars that were powered by Chrysler V8 engines. Its clientele included actors, socialites, royalty and aristocracy, while Stirling Moss rated the HK500 that he drove around Europe between Grands Prix as being one of the best cars he ever owned.
In late 1959, the Paris-based marque introduced the four-cylinder Facellia, but it was dogged by engine problems and the whole project would end up bankrupting the company by 1964.
Shortly before it closed its doors, Facel Vega introduced the Facel 6, which featured BMC’s tried-and-tested 2. 8-litre six-cylinder engine. Although it was well received, only 44 were built: 35 coupés, eight cabriolets, and a single cabriolet with fixed hardtop.
The Facel 6 being offered for sale here is one of the 35 coupés. It has an incredible story that’s recorded in a book that comes with the car and which was written by its owner.
Having just completed the 1999 Monte Carlo Winter Challenge in a red Facel 6, he heard of this blue car being offered for sale in Lyons. It had been dismantled but the bodywork had been partially restored, and specialist John Barton was confident that he could have it rebuilt in time for it to take part in Philip Young’s Around the World In 80 Days rally, which started in May 2000 – the longest rally ever organised.
As part of the rebuild, the team fitted a large fuel tank, a special air-filter system, and detuned the engine to cope with low-grade petrol. A larger radiator and cooling fans were specified, plus Koni dampers, a roll cage, an undertray and a Webasto roof. This car was painted blue and became known as Cordon Bleu, with the sister red car being named Cordon Rouge.
Only being completed a month before the start of Around the World In 80 Days, Cordon Bleu would actually do the full circumnavigation, while the red version of Cordon Rouge would only go as far as Istanbul.
Along the route of the car preparation and after the owner had met a young girl called Chearish who had what was thought to be an inoperable tumour, the whole effort would be raising money for The Chearish Fund and Helen House Hospice.
The Facel 6 we have was flagged away from Tower Bridge on 1 May 2000 by Stirling Moss. Its progress was documented in The Daily Telegraph, and by the time it arrived in Istanbul, it needed a new exhaust system.
The car ran well through Asia with the exception of a damaged brake line almost causing a collision with a lorry, and it also suffered a damaged sump on the run to Beijing. Subsequent repairs put it behind schedule, but the crew drove non-stop through Alaska and Canada and made up all of the lost time they had incurred.
The engine, however, was on its last legs as they headed into the USA, so a rally-prepared replacement was sourced in California and flown up to Montana so that it could be installed into the Facel.
Having next been flown from the US to Africa, the car then made it through the event’s desert leg before heading north to Tangier, then up through Europe. It crossed London Bridge again on 18 July, and the Chearish Fund had raised more than £200, 000 for Helen House. Chearish herself subsequently went through a nine-hour operation to remove her tumour, and made a successful recovery.
Now being offered for sale with a vast history file that includes carefully documented receipts and expenses, plus route books and other documentation from it’s Around the World In 80 Days adventure, this Facel 6 not only has an incredible story to tell, it has long since proved itself as an unlikely but highly effective long-distance rally car.
Offered for sale this piece of history from the early stages of long distance classic car rallying is ready to find its next owner to enjoy it for pleasure of get it back out on classic car rallies on offer by Rally the Globe, Regularity, Bespoke Rallies or HERO
The car is currently residing with Rally Preparation Services sister Company, RPS Storage Ltd and available for inspection.
All viewings and test drives welcomed through direct contact with Rally Preparation Services.
All email enquiries please contact us on using the button below or telephone +44(0)the details below
Images subject to copyright – Rally Preparation Services Ltd
