The HK500 was introduced for 1959 as a renamed and upgraded FVS from the French maker Facel. It started with the 5.8 L Chrysler V8 and soon moved to a 6.3 L unit rated at 360 hp, good for 237 km/h. The Facel Vega II replaced it in 1962 after 489 were built.
The Facel Vega Facel II is a French grand touring car produced from 1962 to 1964. It was Facel Vega’s final attempt to build a luxury GT in the French tradition. Jean Daninos considered it the best car the company ever made and described it as 'totally elegant'. Facel S.A. marketed it as 'The Fastest 4-seater Coupé in the World'. Sports Car Graphic called it a 'luxurious brute'. Bernard Cahier observed that its Chrysler engine made wheel-spin easy at light throttle. It used a Chrysler 6.3 L 'Typhoon' engine producing 355 hp with automatic transmission or 390 hp with manual transmission. With automatic transmission, it exceeded 217 km/h. Only 180 units were built before the company collapsed.