1960 Facel Vega Excellence EX1 Sedan

We’re looking at one of only about 2900 cars made by Facel Vega during its decade of automobile production. The company was founded in 1939 to make aviation parts; later, it built bodies for Simca, Ford in France, Delahaye, and Panhard. But Jean Daninos, the company’s engineer and designer, yearned to create a car under Facel’s label. The availability of American drivetrains coupled with the factory’s own aptitude for metalwork propelled his vision of a powerful and elegant hunk of rolling art. Facel’s first cars were two-door hardtop coupes, popular with celebrities and well-situated politicians, though reviewers criticised the anemic effort from the drum brakes. Improvements brought better regard, so Daninos moved up the curve, launching his first four-door sedan in 1958. Called the Excellence, it was produced in three series until 1964. Here on eBay is this 1960 EX1 hailing from Kuwait but now located in Crownsville, Maryland. The asking price is $59,750, and we have Curvette to thank for the tip!

In a move that would later lead to the company’s demise, Daninos chose from a variety of Chrysler engines to power his early cars. Hunkered in this engine bay is a 361 cu. in. “wedge” V8, rated at 360 hp; power is channeled to the rear wheels via a pushbutton three-speed TorqueFlite. Despite its curb weight of 4200 lbs, top speed was about 140 mph. Diminutive numbers of the Excellence were made – only 137 EX1s, for instance. Later in the production timeline, options such as power steering became available. This car was imported recently after two decades spent in Kuwait; the paperwork is clean, but there’s no word on its running condition.

The car’s signature feature was its instrument panel, hand-painted to look like real wood. Also notable are the rear-hinged rear doors, which caused no small amount of trouble when the model was first introduced, popping open of their own accord around turns. Other than that, the cabin displays the usual sumptuous leather/deep carpets/full Jaeger gauge set that hallmarks luxury cars of the era. The passenger’s rear seat has an odd rectangular mark on its outside bolster, and the remainder of the upholstery is scuffed here and there.

Styling holdovers from the ’50s are still in evidence – the wraparound windshield, the rear fins. Impressive overhangs emphasize the near-limousine quality of the Excellence – its wheelbase was 125″, but it measured over 206″ long. Unfortunately, as majestic as it was, the Excellence couldn’t carry the weight of an entire company. Daninos’ next effort was a smaller, cheaper road car, fitted with an engine from Facel’s supplier, Pont-à-Mousson. The engine was a disaster, costing millions of francs in warranty claims. Daninos lost his job running Facel when the French government provided funds to rescue the company. The money didn’t last long: Charles de Gaulle was never fond of the decision to use American engines in a French car. In the eyes of collectors today, many of Daninos’ creations have gained favor, with prices creeping up across the range. Still, this big, rare Facel will require a special buyer, willing to spend cash on its needs now and in the future.