Description
Capots Vintage, specialist in Sport & Collection vehicles in Lyon, presents this automobile to you—selected with care and accompanied by a detailed presentation. We are pleased to offer for sale this remarkable Facel Vega Facel III Cabriolet, delivered on 23 June 1965. A rare survivor from the last months of the Facel Vega adventure, it belongs to the highly confidential Facel III Cabriolet series, produced in just 191 production examples, to which a single prototype is added. An absolute rarity within French automotive heritage.
Presented in an elegant deep blue shade paired with beige upholstery, this Facel III wins you over immediately with the harmony of its presentation—a refined, luminous combination and particularly representative of 1960s French elegance. The last evolution of the line of the “small Facel”, the Facel III takes up the design conceived under the direction of Jean Daninos, who is today considered one of the most elegant designers among the French production of the period. The famous chromed trapezoidal grille, the stretched lines of the bodywork, the long bonnet as well as the numerous finishing details give the whole an instantly recognisable presence. The proportions are especially well judged.
Both sporty and refined, the silhouette retains all its elegance from every angle. The chrome accents underline the body’s lines with subtlety, while the quality of the presentation fully brings out the balance of the design. At the rear, delicately flared wings, round tail lights ringed in chrome and bumpers with clean, restrained lines all contribute to the model’s unique character.
With the hood lowered, the Facel III reveals all the purity of its silhouette; once up, it keeps a rare elegance and perfectly controlled proportions.
The cabin is one of the major attractions of this example. The beige upholstery—simple yet warm—matches the exterior colour perfectly and helps create the particularly refined atmosphere aboard.
The famous Facel dashboard, painted in trompe-l’œil style like a burr of dark walnut, has been restored by a decorative painter approved by the Monuments Historiques, recognised for his expertise on the brand’s automobiles. Having carried out restorations of numerous Facel Vega dashboards, his work enabled this example to be displayed at the Facel stand during an exhibition dedicated to the brand, demonstrating the high standard of its restoration.
Under the bonnet sits the renowned Volvo B18 B engine, a 1, 780 cc unit developing 108 hp thanks to its two SU carburettors. Chosen by Facel Vega for its robustness and ease of use, this mechanical setup is one of the Facel III’s key strengths and marks the culmination of the concept initiated with the Facellia.
This example is fitted with its original overdrive, paired with a 4. 56:1 rear axle—an especially sought-after configuration that significantly improves road-going drivability and lets you fully enjoy the flexible, eager character of the Volvo engine.
Around twenty years ago, the car received a high-quality restoration, accompanied by an extensive photographic dossier documenting the different stages of the work carried out. Its history is equally fascinating. Thanks to the archives of the Amicale Facel Vega, it has been established that this car was originally destined for the Lyon dealership. Kept in stock during the winding up of Facel S. A., it was ultimately delivered in the Paris region on 23 June 1965, several months after production had ended. This particularity gives it a unique place in the brand’s history, as it forms part of the very rare examples sold after the disappearance of Facel Vega.
Since the restoration, this Facel III has been used regularly at various events organised around the brand. It notably took part in the rally for club members organised by the Amicale Facel Vega in Saint-Malo, on several outings in the Bordeaux region, and also in a private rally across the Pyrenees connecting ***, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Spanish side and Cadaqués, before returning to ***. It then went on to join an important private collection, while continuing to be cared for properly and regularly started.
Rare, elegant and particularly well documented, this Facel Vega Facel III Cabriolet brings together everything that fans of the marque look for today: an attractive colour configuration, a quality restoration, a mechanical setup known for its reliability, and a history that is both interesting and genuinely engaging. A rare opportunity to acquire one of the most exclusive French cabriolets of the 1960s.
Part-exchange may be possible on your classic vehicle. We’re at your disposal for any further details…
