The story of the Facel II, widely praised as a revival of the grand French coachbuilding tradition, traces back to chassis HK2 A099, constructed as a prototype in 1959, a full two years before the model’s launch, and served as the precursor to the 183 production examples that followed.
Not only was the prototype substantially more athletic than the HK500 on which it was based, but it also diverged significantly from the final Facel II design. It boasted elegant coupé styling, complete with a sheet metal rear quarter panel, a shorter roof, customized glazing, and a striking front end featuring distinct headlamps.
Source; RM Sotheby’s
