The Apollo 3500 Gran Turismo Sports Coupe is the first sports car to combine exotic Italian coachwork with the economy and reliability of on American production car engine and complete running gear. The Apollo features a hand-built aluminum body, luxurious interior and comprehensive instrument panel, and includes as standard equipment many items offered as extras on other cars. Every mechanical component is from the highly successful Buick Special V-8.
The Apollo GT body had a choice between two-seater convertible or fastback styles. Power came from a 215 cu in (3.5 L) or 300 cu in (4.9 L) Buick engine mated to a 4-speed manual.
The Apollo Gran Turismo is a high-performance luxury sports-touring car combining finest Italian coachwork with the mechanical excellence of Buick. With a hand-formed steel body designed by Franco Scaglione, a famed Italian coachwork designer and built by Italy’s finest craftsmen, the Apollo has established an impressive reputation for performance, comfort and mechanical reliability. The Apollo is a true limited production automobile with a dynamic personality all its own. From the graceful sweep of the hand-formed bumpers to the simple elegance of the unusually spacious interior, each Apollo is completely hand-crafted.
The Apollo was available with four-speed or automatic transmission and In three models. The Apollo convertible features completely disappearing top, easy one-hand top operation and chrome-plated top mechanism.
Price schedule for 3500GT shows options, including some relatively rare ones: Aluminum valve covers, air conditioning, Blaupunkt radio. If customer took neither the $550 Borrani nor the $224 mag wheel options, the car would have come with Buick wheels. Performance upgrade to 5000GT specification is treated as a $284 option.
Exterior Colors came in Red. Gray, Blue. Green. Black or White. Special Color options mixed to customer’s specification was $250 extra. Upholstery colors were Black or Fawn.
Apollo 3500 GT Standard Equipment
- Wood trim steering wheel.
- Quick opening racing filler cap
- Jaeger instruments;
- 5″ diameter 180 mph speedometer and diameter 8000 rpm mechanical drive tachometer
- Separate 2″ diameter gauges for oil pressure, oil temperature, water temperature, ammeter and fuel.
- Leatherette-covered instrument panel,
- Passenger grab handle,
- Map pocket in each door
- English leather-covered aircraft-type bucket seats
- Roll-up windows
- Opening rear quarter windows
- Cigarette lighter and larger ashtray
- Deep pile carpets
- Dual-tone air horns
- Windshield washer
- Heating and ventilating system
- Turn indicators
- Body completely undercoated
Apollo 3500 GT Optional Equipment
- 4-speed Borg-Warner close ratio gearbox
- Buick Special automatic transmission
- Borrani wire wheels
- Limited-slip differential
Apollo 3500 GT Specifications
- List Price………………………………..$5987.00
- Engine……………………………………Buick Aluminum V8
- Brake Horsepower…………………..190
- Displacement………………………….3524cc
- Curb Weight…………………………..2200 lbs
- Length (overall)……………………..180 in.
- Width (maximum)………………….66 in.
- Height…………………………………..51 in.
- Wheelbase…………………………….97 in.
- Tread (F and R)……………………..56 in.
- Brake Swept Area…………………..224 sq. in.
- Tire Size………………………………..600-15
- Gas Tank Capacity…………………21 gal.
- Rear Axle Ratio……………………..3.36 to 1
- Steering Ratio (lock-to-lock)…..3.5
Apollo 5000 GT Standard Equipment
- Opening wind-wings
- Wood-rim steering wheel
- Adjustable steering column
- Jaeger instruments, including oil temperature gauge
- Leatherette-covered instrument panel
- Passenger grab handle
- English leather bucket seats
- Roll-up windows
- Twin-trumpet air horns
- Windshield washers
- Trico windshield wipers
- Anti-dazzle rear view mirror
- Heating and ventilating system
- Self-cancelling turn indicators
- Leather luggage straps
- Separate lockable trunk
Apollo 5000 GT Optional Equipment
- 250 hp (300 cu. in.) Buick Skylark V8 engine
- Bendix-Dunlop servo-assisted disc brakes
- 4-speed Borg-Warner gearbox
- Buick automatic transmtssion
- Pirelli Cinturato tires
- Borrani 16 inch chrome-plated racing wire wheels
- Limited-slip differential
- 3.90 rear axle
- Blaupunkt AM, FM and Marine radio
- Air conditioning
- Grille guard
- Magnesium wheels
- Competition kit
Apollo 5000 GT Specifications
- List Price………………………………..$
- Engine……………………………………Buick Aluminum V8
- Brake Horsepower…………………..200
- Displacement………………………….3524cc
- Curb Weight…………………………..2440 lbs
- Length (overall)……………………..178 in.
- Width (maximum)………………….66 in.
- Height…………………………………..50 in.
- Wheelbase…………………………….97 in.
- Tread (F and R)……………………..56 in.
- Brake Swept Area…………………..224 sq. in.
- Tire Size………………………………..640-15
- Gas Tank Capacity…………………18 gal.
- Rear Axle Ratio……………………..3.36 to 1
- Steering Ratio (lock-to-lock)…..3.5
- Gas Mileage………………15 to 25 mpg
Apollo 5000 GT Performance
- Acceleration (0-60 mph)….7.9 sec.
- Standing Quarter Mile…..16.1 sec.
- Top Speed…..140 mph
The Apollo GT is an Italian-American sports car, initially marketed from 1962 to 1964 by International Motor Cars (IMC) in Oakland, California. They were assembled at the former Union Pacific Laundry building on 28th St. Engineered by Milt Brown and designed by Ron Plescia, it featured handmade Italian bodywork and chassis by Intermeccanica.
In 1962 a prototype Apollo was built, becoming the soul focus of Intermeccanica, and winning awards such as the best in show at the New York Auto show. The initial company completed assembly of 42 cars (40 coupes and one spyder, including the prototype) before suspending production while seeking new financing. IMC allowed the sale of Intermeccanica body/chassis units to Vanguard Motors in Dallas, Texas, to produce cars under the Vetta Ventura name. These were made until 1966 as a stop-gap measure to keep body producer Intermeccanica in business until new backers were found. Vanguard built only 11 cars, with shop foreman Tom Johnson purchasing the leftover 11 body/chassis units and completing them as late as 1971.
The Thorndyke Special
A pair of Apollo 3500 GTs were used to portray the Thorndyke Special race car which was featured in The Love Bug, a 1968 Disney movie.
The Thorndyke Special is a 1963 Apollo 3500 GT race car owned by cars salesman and race driver Peter Thorndyke. The Thorndyke Special is first seen on display at a European Imported Car dealership. When Jim Douglas sees this car he immediately takes great interest in it. Carole Bennet also liked it and was allowed to borrow it while out on a date with him. They drive it to the same spot where Herbie tried to get them alone.
It became Thorndyke’s race car in the El-Dorado and was given the number 14. It was rigged with oil slick and Thorndyke would charge it past Herbie with a loud honk from its horn. However it couldn’t beat him when his rear crossed the finish first and his front came third. Thorndyke lost every thing and the fate of the Thorndyke Special remains unknown.
Intermeccanica is an automobile manufacturer, founded in Torino, Italy, in 1959 by Frank Reisner and Paula Reisner. It subsequently moved first to the United States, then to Canada. In 2001, Frank Reisner died of complications due to sarcoidosis. Frank’s son Henry took over as President and continues to run Intermeccanica in Vancouver, British Columbia. Today they designed and fabricated chassis Classic Modern Porsche Speedster variants.
