1955 Facel Vega FV
- Engine
- 4.5L V8 DeSoto Firedome, 180 hp, paired with a four-speed manual Pont-à-Mousson gearbox
- Colour
- Black
Chassis FV55007 is the fourth production Facel Vega FV built, following three prototypes, and is distinguished by its early 4.5-litre DeSoto Firedome V8 — a specification shared only with the first four FVs — mated to a Pont-à-Mousson four-speed gearbox. Delivered in October 1955 to the French Ministry of the Interior, the car appeared in archive footage as part of Konrad Adenauer's motorcade during his private visit to Charles de Gaulle in 1958. Retaining its original black paintwork and Havana leather, it passed through French ambassador and private ownership before a mechanical restoration and subsequent concours appearances, including the 2008 Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza.
Ownership
- 2024-05-10Auction saleEstimate €200,000 – €250,000
- 1955-10-05 →Factory deliveryFrench Ministry of the Interiorfull documentation
Delivered new under the René Coty presidency, registered under the name 'DOMAINES'. Archival images show the car in the motorcade of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer during his 1958 private visit to de Gaulle.
- 1963 → 2005Acquisition unknownClaude Le Calvefull documentation
Registered in this name for over four decades; former owner's handwritten notes on maintenance work are among the surviving documentation.
- 2005 → 2007Private saleMr Robertpartial documentation
Family friend of the previous owner; registered the car in Brittany and carried out a mechanical restoration before passing it on.
- 2007 →Private saleCurrent ownerfull documentation
Entered the car in notable concours and exhibition events; offering it for sale with an extensive archive of supporting documents.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFrench ambassador to the United Statespartial documentation
Acquired from the government and gifted to his daughter as a wedding present.
Competition
- 20082008 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
Car appeared at this prestigious lakeside concours in Italy.
- 2014Retromobile 2014
Exhibited on the Amicale Facel Vega stand at the Paris show.
- 2018Epoqu'Auto 2018
Displayed on the Amicale Facel Vega stand at the Lyon event.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2005Mechanical
Mechanical components overhauled or restored by Mr Robert prior to the car changing hands in 2007.
Work is referenced in archived owner notes included with the car's documentation.
- 2024Inspection
A roadworthiness inspection carried out in preparation for the auction sale.
The resulting certificate accompanies the car at sale.
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