By Dean Larson

Photos: Seller, BringaTrailer.com

Some of the most interesting cars in the world come together from a melding of international skills, like the De Tomaso Pantera, AC Cobra and Iso Rivolta. In these examples, strong and affordable mechanicals from here in the U.S. paired nicely with European coachwork — Italian in the case of De Tomaso and Iso, and countless others. It’s a bit less common to see coachwork from France, by the 1950s and ’60s anyway, but the cars are just as intriguing, as you’ll see in the case of the Facel Vega.

The Facel manufacturing company actually traces its origins back to wartime aviation, as the company started as a subcontractor for the French government in Paris in 1939. After the war, Facel did some restructuring and began to focus on custom coachwork for the likes of Panhard, Delahaye, Ford and Simca. But the industry’s switch to uni-body style chassis marked the end for many of Facel’s main contracts, and the company began to search for an automobile design of its own.

Facel debuted the Vega model in 1954 as a luxurious two-door GT-type car with ample power on tap from Chrysler’s Hemi-head engines. Styling was an international mix of cues, but the large bodies, tailfins and abundance of exterior trim echoed American styling of the 1950s. Mechanicals were otherwise simple, with coil springs up front, a rear live axle and automatic transmissions from Chrysler with an optional four-speed available as well.

The Vega truly excelled in its interior though, where Facel included top-of-the-line leather upholstery and an array of instruments across a steel dash with a deep, wood grain effect. Leaning on its roots, the dash reminded buyers of aviation, especially so in the middle console, where Facel is known as one of the first manufacturers to include a middle console with instruments.

The Vega evolved over the years in terms of its appearance and power output. The car seen here on BringaTrailer.com, a 1957 FV2B model, is a lovely combination of features, sporting an uprated 5.4-liter Chrysler engine and a handsome appearance. The car’s most dramatic feature is likely the panoramic windscreen, a feature unique to 1956 and up models, and the FV2B also features the telltale tailfins as well. But as in any Vega, it’s the interior that sells the car, and this one is no exception.

Dark red Oxblood upholstery contrasts nice gray carpeting and the wood-look dash well, and it’s likely the interior has been redone sometime recently given its condition. The Chrysler automatic transmission’s pushbutton controls can be found to the left of the steering column, and a period-correct Blaupunkt radio is installed.

Values on the Facel Vega can be quite lofty, as Hagerty’s value guide places the average price on a 1957 FVS model at $114,000, and this car has already been bid uo to $60,000 with three days remaining in the sale.

See the 1957 Facel Vega for auction here on BringaTrailer.com.