As a replacement for the stylish HK500, the Facel II was to be positioned as the marque’s flagship model. A foreign powerplant was desired, which led to Jean Daninos to select the technically superior Chrysler V-8 engine. The Facel II had excellent performance and was a capable high-speed tourer; the 6.3-litre (383 cu in) engine was rated by the factory at 355 horsepower and could sprint from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds, with a top speed of 134 mph. Some 180 cars were built between 1962 and 1964, and it is thought that only 26 of those were made in right-hand drive, including the example offered here.

The Facel II was brought to the UK by Intercontinental Cars, a subsidiary of HWM, specified with an automatic gearbox and power steering. The car was originally finished in grey coachwork with red leather hide—a colour combination it retains today—and it was first registered 20 March 1964, supplied through Lazenby Garages of Rothley in Leicestershire to Gee Advertising Ltd. In April 1965, the car was sold to Birds Swansea Ltd, while by August 1965 the Facel was purchased by the well-known car collector George Milligan. The car joined another Facel II in his stable and remained with him until 1981, whereupon it was sold to Hamish McAlpine, who kept the car until the 1990s.

Mr McAlpine sold the car to French film producer Daniel Carrillo, a noted French car collector who kept it for over 10 years. The car was purchased by a UK collector in 2008, who entrusted it to Alan Carrington who faithfully restored the car over a three-year period. The restoration was undertaken with parts supplied by Hans Ruhe, a Facel Vega specialist in Holland.

The body was stripped to bare metal and restored with new metal where necessary. The car was painted in gunmetal grey metallic, and the chassis was detailed at the same time. The suspension was dismantled and restored with new shock absorbers all around and new Coopercraft brakes. A full retrim of the interior was carried out, the seats were retrimmed in red leather, a red cloth headlining was fabricated, and every rubber seal was replaced with a new item. The dashboard was restored correctly, as was the wooden rim steering wheel. The power steering system was rebuilt, and five new stainless steel wire wheels were fitted. The car is accompanied by restoration invoices and photos.

Later, the Facel appeared in a fascinating road trip feature in the April 2012 issue of Classic & Sports Car in which it was driven to France. The car is accompanied by a copy in which it appears. Also in 2012, the Facel Vega was sold to a Hong Kong-based owner and it is understood that the car was briefly exported to Asia, while in November 2017 it was acquired by its consigning owner and returned to the UK. In December 2023, the Facel II was recommissioned by The Light Car Company Ltd of Oxfordshire, who renewed the fuel system and returned the car to running condition with work totalling £7,769.