The 1963 Apollo 3500 GT Coupe represents a fascinating chapter in American automotive history. Created by California engineer Milt Brown, the Apollo brand aimed to compete with European luxury sports cars by combining Italian styling with American mechanical reliability. This approach gave American buyers access to exotic design without the high costs and maintenance challenges of imported vehicles.
The Apollo GT featured a sturdy tubular steel frame with custom suspension based on Buick Special components. Power came from a lightweight 3.5-liter aluminum Buick V-8 engine paired with a Borg-Warner close-ratio four-speed transmission. At just 2,300 pounds—approximately 500 pounds lighter than a Jaguar E-Type—the Apollo delivered impressive performance.
The car’s elegant body was initially designed by Ron Plescia, then refined by renowned stylist Franco Scaglione. Italian coachbuilder Intermeccanica crafted the bodies in Turin before they were shipped to California for final assembly. Despite its technical merits and beautiful design, the Apollo GT unfortunately became both the first and last model from this ambitious American brand.
Here is a set of amazing photos of the 1963 Apollo 3500 GT Coupe by Intermeccanica.
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