Ringo Starr’s Facel Vega for sale

Date: 09.10.2013

Ringo’s ultra-rare French touring car – once dubbed ‘the world’s fastest four-seater’ – heads Bonhams’ December auction

Ringo Starr’s Facel Vega for sale

A 1964 Facel Vega Facel II, once owned by The Beatles’ drummer, Ringo Star, is part of the Bonhams sale in London on 1 December with an estimated price range of of £300,000 - £350,000 (AU$510,711 - AU$595,829).

Ringo owned the car for four years after buying it directly from the stand at Earls Court Motor Show in 1964, two years after joining The Beatles.

The glamorous grand tourer is one of only two produced with the larger 6.7-litre, 390hp Chrysler Typhoon engine and manual gearbox and was the last of the 26 right-hand-drive Facel IIs produced.

With elegant bodywork by Jean Daninos, it combined muscle and traditional looks with a price tag of £5,570 (AU$9482), which was massive for the time. The current owner has the car insured for £500,000 (AU$851,185)

Launched in 1961, the Facel II was destined to be the last of the V8-engined models, production ceasing in 1964 after an unsuccessful venture into engine manufacture effectively bankrupted the company. Production of the preceding HK500 amounted to only 500-or-so units between 1958 and 1961, and the Facel II to a mere 182 (including 26 right-hand-drive).

In its relatively short life, the French firm of Facel produced approximately 2,900 cars, known for being stylish, luxurious and fast. Being hand built, they were also very expensive – the Facel II was priced in Rolls-Royce territory and sought after by the rich and the famous for something exclusive and distinctive. Clientelle included royalty, politicians, diplomats and entertainers including Tony Curtis, Danny Kaye, Ringo Starr, Joan Fontaine and Ava Gardner, as well as great motor racing figures such as Sir Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant and Rob Walker.

Sholto Gilbertson, a director in Bonhams Collectors Car department, says, "This car has to be one of the rarest and most collectable modern classic cars given its almost unique engineering and its place as part of pop music history. As Ringo drove this car he would have listened on the car radio to the Beatles total domination of the pop charts. The sale of this car represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone who loves cars and the Beatles."

For more classic and rare car auctions, visit www.bonhams.co.uk

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