Story by Brandes Elitch
(Brandes is the US representative for the FACEL Amicale, the owner’s club based in France.)
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt and Steve Snyder
From the VeloceToday Archives, December 15, 2010
“I like cars that nobody can maintain!”
Dr. Rick Zeiger, on the restoration of Excellence sedan EX12A
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is still the most famous in the world, and likes to feature recently restored cars that have never been shown since their restoration. In 2010, Dr. Rick Zeiger entered his 1958 FACEL Excellence sedan, a car that he has owned for 12 years.
FACEL is an acronym for Forges et Ateliers et Constructeurs Eure et Loire. The Excellence debuted at the Paris Auto Show in October, 1956, and 152 were produced from 1958 until 1964. My favorite quote about it comes from esteemed author Richard Langworth, who wrote in the November, 1985 number of Collectible Automobile that, “The Excellence is a large vehicle…better suited as a Car of State rather than a daily driver.”