Rare Car Archive

Makes › Facel Vega France › FV (FV1–FV4) · Rare production · 1954–1958 Very Rare

Facel Vega
FV (FV1–FV4)

First Facel Vega V8 grand tourers.

Facel Vega FV (FV1–FV4) (Wikimedia Commons: Facel Vega FV)
Facel Vega FV (FV1–FV4) (Wikimedia Commons: Facel Vega FV)
Photo: Travelarz · CC BY-SA 4.0
354BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
354 Built
Years
1954–1958
Engine
Front-mounted DeSoto/Chrysler Hemi V8 · 4,500 cc / 4.5 LFactory: 4.5 L
Power
134 kW / 182 PSFactory: 180 hp · converted
Top speed
193 km/hFactory: 120 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Jean Daninos and Jacques Brasseur
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The FV was the first Facel Vega, introduced in 1954 by a French firm that had built bodies for other makers and now launched a luxury four-seater with American V8 power. Just 354 were built across seven variants up to 1958.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityVery Rare 354 · Built1,2
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productiontotal FV cars across seven variants 3541,2 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Facel (Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure et de Loire) was founded in 1938 as a machine-tool maker for aircraft production and later built bodies for Panhard, Simca and Ford. In 1954 it introduced the Vega, a luxurious four-seat coupé powered at first by a 180-horsepower DeSoto Firedome Hemi V8. The FV went through seven variants, including the FV2B from April 1956 with a 354 cu in Chrysler Hemi, until 1958.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard FV (FV1–FV4).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine manufacturerChrysler (De Soto Hemi on FV; Plymouth polyspherical on FV3)1 Independently researched
Engine familyChrysler V8 (De Soto Hemi, Plymouth polyspherical, Chrysler Hemi C-300B)1 Registry reportedSizes 4.5 L/277 cu in to 6.4 L/392 cu in, 180 to 325 bhp per the club page (FV4 C-300B quoted at 375 bhp).
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutFront-mounted DeSoto/Chrysler Hemi V83 Independently researched
Displacement 4,500 cc / 4.5 LFactory: 4.5 L1 Independently researchedBase FV figure. FV1 4.8 L, FV2B 5.4 L, FV3B 4.9 L, FV4 5.8 L or 6.4 L depending on the car.
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 134 kW / 182 PSFactory: 180 hp · converted3 Independently researched
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxPont-a-Mousson 4-speed manual or Chrysler automatic (2-speed PowerFlite; 3-speed TorqueFlite from FV3B)1 Registry reported
Gears41 Independently researchedBase FV. Existing record has transmission.type.
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionIndependent, coil springs1 Registry reported
Rear suspensionLeaf-sprung rear axle1 Registry reported
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
Length 4.57 mFactory: 4.57 m1 Registry reportedFV, FV1 (club text), FV2, FV2B, FV3; FV3B 4.59 m after the first 12 cars.
Width 1.76 mFactory: 1.76 m1 Registry reportedNarrow body; FV3B/FV4 1.80 m.
Height 1.38 mFactory: 1.38 m1 Registry reported
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,660 kgFactory: 1,660 kg1 Registry reportedFV to FV3B; FV4 1750 kg.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 193 km/hFactory: 120 mph · converted1 Independently researchedBase FV quoted figure. FV1 and FV2 are quoted at 123 mph and FV4 at 142 mph.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tank 100 LFactory: 100 L1 Registry reported

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The seven FV types differ in details. FV and FV1 have a flat windscreen and single headlamps (FV1 is 12 cm longer overall); the FV2 is the first with the wrap-around screen and false wood trim; the FV2B has double-stacked headlights, double side grilles and the 5.4-litre engine; FV3 reverts to a 4.5-litre Plymouth engine; FV3B and FV4 are wider-bodied (the first twelve FV3B were still narrow), and the FV4 carries the Chrysler C-300B Hemi in 5.8 and later 6.4-litre form.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    The FVs Level B Facel Vega Car Club
    • 354 cars in total
    • De Soto hemi engine replaced by smaller Chrysler Plymouth
    • eight different specification of Chrysler V8 were fitted to FVs
    • Engine is the 4.5 litre/276 cu in De Soto hemi
    • Pont-a-Mousson four speed manual ‘box
    • new three speed Torqueflite automatic
    • Pont-a-Mousson four speed manual
    • independent front suspension with coil springs
    • leaf spring-suspended rear axles
    • 4.57m long x 1.76m wide x 1.38 high
    • weight is 1660kg
    • 120mph/194kph top speed
    • Fuel tanks were 100 litres
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    1957 Facel Vega FV2B Cabriolet | RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2024 Level B
    • 354 total FV cars across seven variants
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3
    1957 Facel Vega FV2B Cabriolet – Monterey 2024, lot 122 Level B RM Sotheby's · 2024
    • DeSoto Firedome hemi-head V8
    • 180-horsepower DeSoto Firedome hemi-head V8
    Accessed 2026-11-11

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