1961 Porsche 996 Turbo

This 1961 Facel Vega Facellia is one of 679 cabriolets produced between 1960 and 1963 and was reportedly sold new via Peter Satori Imports of Pasadena, California. It is said to have remained in the state until it was purchased by the seller in 2016 and subsequently refurbished. The car is finished in gray over red vinyl upholstery, and power comes from a replacement 2.0-liter Volvo B20 inline-four paired with a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive. Features include a black soft top, vacuum-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, air conditioning, Coco Mats, and a wood-rimmed steering wheel. This Facellia is now offered with factory literature, a removable light bar with Marchal driving lamps, service records, a list of maintenance performed under the seller’s ownership, and a clean Illinois title in the seller’s name. The Facellia debuted at the 1959 Paris Motor Show and was intended to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 190SL, Alfa Romeo Giulia, and Porsche 356B. Reliability issues stemming from the model’s Pont-à-Mousson-built 1.6L twin-cam inline-four quickly led to a reputation of the car being failure prone, and replacement costs under warranty led to a financial crisis at Facel Vega. Facellia production ended in 1963 before the company was shuttered in October 1964. The bodywork on this example was repainted metallic gray in 2016, and areas of corrosion were treated with POR-15 around that time. The stainless steel bumpers and trim were also polished during the refurbishment, and additional features include dual side-view mirrors and a black soft top. A removable light bar with Marchal driving lamps is included in the sale and can be seen in the gallery. The 14″ chrome wheels wear Facel Vega-branded hubcaps and 185/75 Milestar Touring SE tires. A steel spare wheel with a whitewall tire is stowed in the trunk. The Facellia rode on a 96.5″ wheelbase and featured a tubular steel frame with a coil-sprung independent front suspension and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Replacement front wheel bearings and races were reportedly installed in 2023. Stopping power is provided by a vacuum-assisted dual-circuit system with Dunlop calipers over discs at all four corners. The cabin features bucket seats and a rear parcel shelf that were reupholstered in red vinyl by Commercial Interiors Group of Schaumburg, Illinois, in April 2016. A color-matched center console and door panels were installed at that time along with black carpets. Additional equipment includes a dash-mounted rear-view mirror, lap belts, and Coco Mats. The under-dash air conditioner is reportedly fitted with a Sanden compressor. The wood-rimmed steering wheel features a Facel Vega center cap and frames a tachometer with a 6k-rpm redline, a 140-mph speedometer, and a voltmeter. Gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and water temperature are fitted in the center of the dash. The five-digit odometer shows under 77k miles, approximately 1,800 of which were added under the seller’s ownership. Total mileage is unknown. The 2.0-liter Volvo B20 inline-four was installed under previous ownership. The radiator was overhauled under the seller’s ownership, and a thermostatically regulated electric fan with a glovebox-mounted control was also installed. The engine was resealed in 2023, at which time a new battery was installed and an oil change was performed. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox with a Laycock de Normanville overdrive system. A replacement clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing were installed in 2017.