The Facel Excellence occupies a special place in the history of the automobile.

Firstly for the marque itself, Jean Daninos launched the luxury French brand in 1954, at a time when the country had lost its most prestigious manufacturers.

Secondly for its body, a low, elegantly styled saloon that was as luxurious as a Bentley and as fast as a Jaguar thanks to its powerful and reliable American engine.

Finally for its rarity, between 1958 and 1964, just 145 examples of the Excellence Series One and eight Series Two were produced.

Presented in 1956 and available from 1958, the Excellence was distinguished by its subtle blend of luxury and exclusivity, the painted dashboard packed with dials had a sporty feel in keeping with the 5.9 litre Chrysler engine that allowed it to match some of the best sports cars around.

The Excellence was a top performer and could hold its own among the best GTs Europe had to offer.

Some high-performance American cars, most notably Chrysler's 300 'letter ...