1957 Facel Vega FV4
Only 67 hand-built examples of the FV4 left the Parisian factory, making this French grand tourer one of the rarest luxury automobiles of the late 1950s. The FV4 represented Facel Vega’s answer to American demand for both continental elegance and raw horsepower, pairing Jean Daninos’ sophisticated coachwork with Chrysler’s FirePower Hemi engine.
The design featured double-stacked headlights and a panoramic wraparound windshield set into largely steel coachwork with select aluminum panels.
Chrome-plated stainless brightwork accented the profile, while distinctive “V” taillights referenced the model name’s celestial origins (Vega being among the brightest stars in the constellation Lyra). Typhoon script badges appeared behind the front wheels.
The cabin showcased Connolly leather upholstery and an aircraft-inspired dashboard with hand-painted faux wood grain over metal. Facel’s emphasis on craftsmanship and detail placed the FV4 firmly in competition with the era’s top-tier luxury GTs.
Standard power came from a 354 cubic inch Hemi V8 with dual four-barrel Carter carburetors generating 325 horsepower, though select examples received the upgraded 392 cubic inch version from the Chrysler 300C producing 375 horsepower.
Most were paired with three-speed TorqueFlite automatics, while eight cars received rare Pont-à-Mousson four-speed manuals.
Despite weighing over 4,100 pounds (about 1,860 kg), the FV4 achieved 0-60 times around eight seconds and could approach 135 mph. These numbers placed it squarely among the fastest and most exclusive grand tourers of its day.
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