1958' Facel Vega Fv3B Coupé

Bonhams are delighted to offer at our forthcoming Collectors' Motor Car Auction on Sunday 10th September at The Chantilly Sale, Château de Chantilly, France, 34 collectors motor cars.

Ex-Maurice Trintignant
1958 Facel Vega FV3B Coupé
Chassis no. FV3B58-357

•One of only 90 made
•Believed the last FV3B produced
•Highly original condition
•Previous long-term ownership (30 years)
•Owners manual signed by Jean Daninos and Maurice Trintignant
•EU registered

'Two cars stand out for me for their speed, comfort and safety: the supercharged 3.3-litre Bugatti 57C... and the three Facels that I drove across Europe to get me from one Grand Prix to another.' - Maurice Trintignant.

In its relatively short life, the French firm of Facel produced approximately 2,900 cars, all of which were stylish, luxurious and fast. Hand built, they were, of course, necessarily very expensive – the Facel II was priced in Rolls-Royce territory – and were bought by the rich and famous seeking something exclusive and distinctive. The roll call of owners includes royalty, politicians, diplomats and entertainers; Tony Curtis, Danny Kaye, Ringo Starr, Joan Fontaine, and Ava Gardner being counted among the latter. Confirming that there was high-performance substance behind Facel's unquestionable style, they were owned and driven by great motor racing figures such as Sir Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant, and Rob Walker.

Founded by Jean Daninos in 1939, Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure-et-Loir (FACEL) specialised in the construction of aircraft components and metal furniture. After the war the company engaged in the supply of car bodies to Panhard, Simca and Ford France, before branching out into automobile manufacture in its own right with the launch of the Vega at the 1954 Paris Salon. Government legislation had effectively killed off France's few surviving luxury car manufacturers after WW2, but that did not deter Jean Daninos in his bold attempt to revive what had once been a great French motoring tradition. A luxurious Grand Routier, the Vega took its name from the brightest star in the Lyra constellation and featured supremely elegant coupé bodywork welded to a tubular-steel chassis. There being no suitable French-built power unit, Daninos turned to the USA for the Vega's, that chosen initially being Chrysler's 4.5-litre, 180bhp V8, while there was a choice of push-button automatic or manual transmission. Improvements to the first FV model were not long in coming and by the end of 1956 the car was being built in 200bhp FV3 form.

This rare FV3B was delivered new to none other than Maurice Trintignant, the famous French racing driver, who registered it on 28th May 1958. Winner of the 1954 Le Mans 24 Hours Race and 1955 Monaco Grand Prix, Trintignant knew a thing or two about driving fast cars and was particularly fond of Facels.

One of only 90 FV3Bs manufactured during 1957 and 1958, this car is believed to be the very last of its kind to leave the factory. It is powered by the 4.9-litre Plymouth (Chrysler) V8 engine producing 253bhp, which is coupled to a Torqueflite three-speed automatic transmission. Chassis number '357' belonged to its previous owner for some 30 years up to February 2015. The car remains in remarkably original condition and has a lovely patina. The exterior was repainted in its original colour in 1978, and the carpets replaced in 1980. The red leather interior appears little worn and boasts an impressive steel dashboard painted with an imitation wood effect. Accompanying paperwork consists of a UK V5 registration document and a file of bills dating back some 50 years. The car also comes with the owner's manual, signed by Daninos and Trintignant; a parts list; and an impressive logbook containing notes on almost every trip between 1965 and 1968.

An exciting combination of elegant European style and American V8 power, this beautiful Facel Vega is a worthy successor to the legendary French Grandes Routières of pre-war days.