Vehicle Description
In the early 1960s, an aspiring young American engineer named Milt
Brown dreamed of designing and building an American sports car to
compete with the likes of Aston Martin, Maserati or Ferrari. There
has never been a shortage of enthusiasts sharing the same dream;
however, Milt Brown was among a select few to turn his into
reality. Putting his engineering skills to good use, he designed a
tubular, coil-sprung chassis from scratch, while his friend Ron
Plescia, himself a graduate of Pasadena's elite Art Center College
of Design, did the initial styling work for the body. For the
engine, Milt instead turned to Buick, for their new all-aluminum
215 cubic-inch V8, which was compact, lightweight, and powerful. He
hoped to sell the car through select Buick dealers, but the deal
never worked out, perhaps because GM wanted to protect the
Corvette. With the design settled, he partnered with Frank Reisner
of Carrozzeria Intermeccanica in Turin, Italy. Intermeccanica had a
solid reputation for high-quality tuning parts and racing cars. At
Reisner's suggestion, the famous Italian designer Franco Scaglione
refined the design, lending the project serious credibility.
Scaglione added rear quarter windows, reworked the tail to taper
subtly, and shortened the nose to create a beautiful and balanced
fastback coupe. Intermeccanica handled the construction of the
chassis and body, then shipped the trimmed and painted cars to
Oakland, California, to install the running gear. On its debut,
Road & Track lavished praise on the new Apollo GT for its balanced
handling, surprising comfort, and exciting performance. Despite the
very favorable press, the project faltered due to the costly
assembly process and lack of a suitable dealer network. The more
powerful, 4.9-liter Buick Skylark-powered 5000 GT was a welcome
addition, but problems were too much to overcome, and Brown soon
lost control of the project. The remaining cars were assembled in
Texas and sold as the Vetta Ventura, but in the end, approximately
88 examples of the 3500 GT, 5000 GT, Apollo Spyder, and Vetta
Ventura were produced in total. Offered here is chassis number
1074, the second-to-last coupe produced, and one of a handful to
feature the desirable 4.9-liter Buick Skylark V8. This fabulous
example is one of only two cars finished by Intermeccanica in
British Racing Green and it has covered just under 4,000 miles from
new. It boasts a well-documented ownership history, including a
period when it belonged to Apollo creator Milt Brown. In a 2004
letter, Milt Brown attested to the car's exceptional originality
and mileage. According to Brown, 1074 was the best-preserved Apollo
in the world, having spent 35 years carefully stored in a dry
environment in Southern California, and during the time of his
ownership, it showed fewer than 1,300 miles, which is noted on a
copy of the California title in his name. The Apollo later traded
hands to a collector who commissioned a high-quality respray in the
original shade of British Racing Green. Great care was taken to
preserve the correct Borrani wire wheels, exterior chrome trim, and
the delicate aluminum alloy "eggcrate" grille. The paintwork is
finished to a high standard, displaying smooth, even finishing, and
very straight coachwork. This dark green shade suits the Apollo's
proportions exceptionally and highlights the lovely design and
beautifully crafted coachwork. Apollo GTs are renowned for their
comfort and accommodating driving position. Even taller drivers
would feel great after a day's touring behind the wheel, thanks to
the generous headroom, plenty of legroom, and supportive seats. The
black leather seat upholstery has been restored, while the doors
panels, dash covering, carpets, and interior fittings are all
original. It includes the rare factory-fitted 3-spoke steering
wheel, an original array of Jaeger dials, and correct switches all
in superb order. The intricately engraved ashtray is similar to
those seen on many coachbuilt Italian cars of the period, and it
remains crisp and like-new, down to the tiny Apollo emblem. The
boot houses the original spare wheel and Pirelli Cinturato tire.
Buick's powerful 300 cubic-inch V8 (shared with the Skylark) sits
under the bonnet, dressed with a chrome air cleaner and
Apollo-badged finned alloy valve covers. The engine bay and
undercarriage are honest and tidy, reflective of the car's
preserved nature, while also showing signs of maintenance and care
to ensure it remains in top running order. The balanced chassis,
robust American V8, and remarkably comfortable interior make the
Apollo one of the best-kept secrets for historic road rallies and
touring events. While in the care of previous owners, chassis 1074
appeared at the 2010 Milwaukee Concours, and earned an AACA
National First Prize at the 2012 Cedar Rapid, IA meet. It remains
in superb condition, suitable for preservation class concours
events or driving enjoyment. With provenance that includes
ownership by its creator, Milt Brown, this genuinely remarkable
Apollo 5000 GT will be a welcome addition to the most exclusive
collections. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6726-1964-apollo-5000gt/
