The Key and the Lost Jewels: Bristol, Facel Vega and Pegaso
13 September 2025 1 min read 3 images
Creativity and imagination have always given rise to passionate and fascinating carmakers who, after brief yet intense chapters, vanished from the automotive scene. The Key 2024–2025 offers a cultured and engaging snapshot of three such marques: Bristol in England, Facel Vega in France, and Pegaso in Spain. Each embodies a distinct identity – English aeronautical technology, French grandeur, and Spanish ambition.
Their stories are rich in details and curiosities. Take Bristol, for example: the marque drew its origins before the war from the legendary BMW 328, one of the most prestigious cars of its time. This inheritance proved invaluable after the war, when Bristol, drawing on its aeronautical expertise in aluminium, was able to harness the know-how of the defeated German manufacturer. The result was a series of cars brimming with refined solutions. Encountering one today, in the hands of a fortunate collector, is a treat worth savouring. Sadly, the company’s demise was unglamorous, and various attempts to revive the name have all failed.
Facel Vega, meanwhile, stands as a perfect expression of French grandeur. Entrepreneur Jean Daninos sought to provide an alternative to Citroën and Renault, which lacked prestige models in the 1950s. By equipping his elegant creations with powerful American V8 engines sourced from Chrysler, he stunned the automotive world. Yet the cars’ very American character — especially their prodigious fuel consumption — proved a weakness. The arrival of the revolutionary Citroën DS dealt another blow. Though beautiful and luxurious, Facel Vega’s cars remained few in number. The company’s effort to expand with the smaller Facellia, powered by a Volvo engine, failed to impress. After about a decade, the adventure ended. Only later did collectors rescue the Facel Vega name from obscurity and turn it into a symbol of refined taste.
No less ambitious was Pegaso, the Spanish marque that dared to take Ferrari as its benchmark. The dream began with a V12 engine and evolved into an advanced 8-cylinder design paired with bold aerodynamic styling. Each Pegaso was a one-off, its bodywork shaped by the chosen coachbuilder, making every car unique. It is a captivating story, but one that ended in failure. Alongside its cars, the company built successful trucks and buses, but its automotive ambitions — set against competition from Ferrari and Maserati in Italy and Jaguar and Aston Martin in England — were unsustainable. In total, just 84 Pegaso cars were ever produced, leaving behind an exclusive treasure trove for collectors.
