The Facel Vega Facel III was developed to answer the criticism directed at the first Facellia and to reassure customers about engine reliability. Presented to the press in April 1963, it replaced the troublesome twin-cam four with a proven 1.8-litre Volvo engine. The rest of the car, including its suspension and brakes, came from the Facellia.
Facel Vega Facel III at a glance
| Maker | Facel S.A., Colombes |
|---|---|
| Production | 1963–1964 |
| Type | FB |
| Class | sports car |
| Engine | 1.8-litre Volvo four-cylinder |
| Power | 108 hp SAE |
| Transmission | Volvo four-speed, overdrive optional |
| Suspension | as Facellia |
| Brakes | Dunlop discs |
| Body styles | 2+2 coupé and cabriolet |
| Built | 625, including 192 cabriolets |
Only the French Wikipedia has a dedicated page on this model; the English material is the general Facel Vega article. Based mainly on one source.
History of the Facel Vega Facel III
A response to the Facellia’s problems
The Facel III was developed to answer the criticism aimed at the first Facellia and to reassure customers about the reliability of its engine. It was presented to the press in April 1963 and went on sale shortly afterwards. The answer was to abandon the troublesome twin-cam unit and fit the 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine of the Volvo P1800 coupé, developing 108 hp SAE and coupled to a gearbox of the same make, with overdrive as an option. The suspension, steering and braking were identical to those of the Facellia.
Design
The Facel III looked much like the Facellia F2. It kept the Marchal Mégalux headlights and the metal dashboard painted in trompe-l’il to imitate burled walnut. The grille, however, took the style of the Facel II, the rear wings were softened, the boot lid was rounded and the tail lights became circular. The upholstery was vinyl, with leather as an option.
Production and legacy
The model was built in 625 examples, including 192 cabriolets. It was replaced by the Facel 6, a six-cylinder version of the Facel III. The Facel III also appeared on screen: in the 1964 film Faites sauter la banque! by Jean Girault, the car driven by the character played by Jean-Pierre Marielle is a Facel Vega Facel III of 1963–1964.
Design and features
- Volvo engine: a proven 1.8-litre four of 108 hp, chosen to restore confidence after the Facellia’s failures.
- Volvo gearbox: four-speed unit with optional overdrive.
- Facel II-style grille: the main visual change from the Facellia F2, with softened rear wings and circular tail lights.
- Familiar interior: Marchal Mégalux headlights and the painted faux-wood dashboard of the Facellia.
- Two body styles: a 2+2 coupé and a cabriolet, the latter accounting for 192 cars.
Facel Vega Facel III versions
- Facel III coupé: the standard 2+2 closed car.
- Facel III cabriolet: 192 of the 625 cars built.
- Overdrive cars: optional overdrive with the Volvo gearbox.
The Facel III was the replacement for the Facellia and was related to the bigger Facel II. More cars are in the Facel Vega collection.
Sources
- Facel Vega Facel III, French Wikipedia: engine, design, production, film appearance
- Facel Vega, English Wikipedia: company context
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