1959 Facel Vega Excellence
French luxury car manufacturer Facel Vega created the Excellence as their exclusive four-door sedan, intended for presidents, industry leaders, and wealthy clientele seeking American power wrapped in sophisticated European styling.
Only 156 examples were produced between 1958 and 1964, making it exceptionally rare compared to contemporary luxury alternatives like the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud or Mercedes-Benz 600.
The Excellence featured striking design elements including a wraparound windshield, prominent vertical grille, subtle tail fins, and distinctive pillarless doors with rear-hinged rear doors.
Built on an elongated chassis derived from the FV Coupé, the four-door maintained elegant proportions while providing spacious accommodations.
Power came from Chrysler’s reliable 361 cubic-inch V8 engine producing approximately 360 horsepower, paired with either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. This American powerplant enabled genuine 140-mph performance, rivaling the best European grand tourers.
The Excellence commanded premium pricing at $12,800 when new ($141,000 in today’s dollars), roughly four times the cost of a Citroën DS sedan, positioning it firmly in ultra-luxury territory.
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