What the car is and where it came from
The Facel Vega HK500 was introduced for 1959 by the French maker Facel. It was essentially a renamed, upgraded FVS, the name by which the earlier Facel Vega was known in the United States from 1956. It stayed in production until the Facel Vega II replaced it in 1962, after 489 had been built. One of them was a specially made convertible.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
A Chrysler V8 sits at its heart, because no French company at the time produced an engine that met Facel’s goals. It started with the 335 hp 5.8 L V8 from the FVS and soon received a 6.3 L Chrysler V8 with 360 hp. The Facel Vega line used a tubular chassis, double wishbone suspension at the front and a live axle at the back, and the early cars were as heavy as American ones, at about 1,800 kg. On the HK500 disc brakes were optional at first and became standard in April 1960.
What it gets right
Speed. The 6.3 L car had a top speed of 147 mph (237 km/h) and accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. Stirling Moss, one of the well-known owners, drove his HK500 from event to event rather than fly.
What it does not
It does not use a French engine. The V8 came from Chrysler, as it had in the earlier cars. And it is not known as a light car: the line followed standard American practice, with a live rear axle, the early cars weighed about 1,800 kg like American ones, and the 1959 models were heavier still.
What it changed
It was the later and more famous form of the Facel Vega V8 car. It carried the line from 1959 until the lighter, sleeker Facel Vega II arrived in 1962.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for people who like the idea of French coachwork around an American V8, and for collectors of cars from the turn of the 1960s. It is not for those after a light car.
Is it worth your time
Yes, as a car to know about: a short-lived, fast coupé from a small French maker, built in 489 examples.
