1963 Apollo 5000GT
| Title | Content |
|---|---|
|
Year |
1963 |
|
Mileage |
62,000 miles |
|
Exterior Colour |
Striking Red |
|
Price |
€83,000 |
1963 Apollo 5000GT
Step into the world of automotive innovation and legacy with the captivating tale of the Apollo GT, a fusion of Italian flair and American ingenuity born in the heart of Oakland, California, in the early 1960s. It was the brainchild of three visionary friends - Milt Brown, Ron Plescia, and Ned Davis - who sought to capture the essence of the finest European sports cars while harnessing the reliability of American engineering.
During a fortuitous encounter at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1961, Milt Brown forged a partnership with Frank Reisner of Carrozzeria Intermeccanica, setting the stage for a remarkable collaboration. Ron Plescia's artistic vision gave birth to a striking coupe body, further refined by the renowned designer Franco Scaglione, infusing it with elements reminiscent of iconic marques like Jaguar and Ferrari.
Underneath its elegant exterior, the Apollo GT boasted a robust steel ladder frame with a Buick front subframe and suspension, offering a harmonious blend of performance and durability. Power was delivered by Buick's lightweight aluminum 3.5-liter V8 engine, coupled with a Borg-Warner four-speed manual transmission, ensuring an exhilarating driving experience.
The production process unfolded at International Motor Cars in Oakland, where the meticulously crafted bodies from Intermeccanica were married to the American-made chassis. Priced competitively at under $7000, the Apollo GT offered exceptional value, rivaling its Italian counterparts while retaining accessibility for enthusiasts and the extremely low production number (87 pieces) makes this car to be rarer than many of the Ferraris, Jaguars, and Aston Martins they were meant to compete against.
Initial acclaim and positive reviews from esteemed automotive publications propelled the Apollo GT into the spotlight, paving the way for the introduction of a convertible variant and the high-performance 5000 GT model, featuring Buick's potent 5.0-liter V8 engine.
Fast forward to the present day, where the legacy of the Apollo GT lives on in rare gems like this 1963 Apollo 5000 GT, one of the approximately 87 produced between 1962 and 1965. Impeccably refurbished in striking red, and boasting a meticulously rebuilt 300ci Buick V8 engine, this masterpiece stands as a testament to automotive craftsmanship and heritage.
With its timeless design, captivating history, and scarcity surpassing even the most revered European sports cars of its era, the Apollo GT continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike, transcending mere machinery to embody the epitome of automotive artistry and excellence.
The car comes from a private collection where it didn't spent too much time because the owner is quickly running out of space. Some of his cars are worth a considerable amount, this car sits in great company of 3 Porsche Carrea GT's there, the vehicle has never been neglected nor stored outside. We have been tasked with the mission of finding a new custodian therefore expectations are high when it comes to finding a new owner. All our cars are delivered with fresh fluid change, tuneup and a list of recommendations for better preserving the car in the future.
