The Apollo was a short-lived American automobile company that produced cars from 1962 to 1965. The cars were engineered by Milt Brown who sought to create an American GT to compete with the likes of Aston Martin, Jaguar, and even Ferrari. It featured a design by Ron Plescia and Franco Scaglione. The coachwork was done in Italy, carried out by Frank Reisner’s Carrozzeria Intermeccanica. Upon completion, the Apollos were shipped to the U.S. for final assembly by Brown’s International Motor Cars of Oakland, California.

The Apollo featured breathtaking Italian coachwork with a ladder type tubular steel frame and powered by a reliable American powerplant. The 3500 GT was powered by a Buick 3.5-liter V-8 engine and the later 5000 GT models receiving the 4.9-liter V-8. As with many other independent firms, financial difficulties proved too much, and the company ceased production in 1965, having built only 90 cars.

This 1963 Apollo 3500 GT, chassis no. 1004, is a very early production model and is believed to have been delivered new to the West Coast. Presented in a deep burgundy, it shows in excellent condition, wearing an older lovely restoration. The car rides on gorgeous, polished alloy Borrani wheels, wrapped in period-correct Michelin X radial tires. It is powered by a Buick 3.5-liter V-8 engine mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, and is very well presented under the hood.

The Apollo cabin is remarkably comfortable, with room for two and generous luggage capacity. This example’s interior remains faithful to the original, with door cards, interior panels, and headlining upholstered in the factory-correct heavy-grain vinyl. The dash and seats are trimmed in black leather and floors covered with high-quality Wilton carpet. The Jaeger tachometer and speedometer are ideally situated ahead of the driver, while auxiliary dials are arranged neatly in the center of the dash giving it a classic layout. A wood-rimmed steering wheel completes the interior.

The Apollo’s powerful and reliable Buick running gear paired with its breathtaking Italian coachwork combine to create a genuinely outstanding GT, one worthy of taking on the thoroughbred counterparts from Europe.