Chassis No. 1074

The 1960s and early 1970s represented a golden age for ambitious automotive entrepreneurs who followed a well-established formula: combining readily available production powertrains with bespoke Italian coachwork. Into this landscape emerged the Apollo GT, one of the most compelling Italian-American hybrid sports cars of its era. Founded by a trio of California enthusiasts-Milt Brown, Ron Plescia, and Ned Davis-Apollo International set out to create a grand touring car that would combine European sophistication with American reliability and serviceability. The venture began when Brown, during a fortuitous encounter at the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix, met Frank Reisner of Carrozzeria Intermeccanica, establishing a partnership that would see hand-crafted Italian bodies married to American mechanical underpinnings in Oakland, California.

Following the successful launch of the Apollo 3500 GT with its aluminum Buick V8, market demand for increased performance led to the development of the more potent Apollo 5000 GT in 1964. This enhanced variant utilized Buick's new iron-block, aluminum-head 5.0-liter V8, while retaining the sophisticated chassis architecture featuring a Buick front subframe, four-link trailing arm rear suspension, and Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission. Like many boutique manufacturers of the era, Apollo's ambitious vision ultimately succumbed to the challenging economics of low-volume production and transcontinental logistics, building just 76 Apollo GT Coupes before operations ceased in 1965.

This exceptional Apollo 5000 GT, chassis number 1074, represents one of the most significant survivors of the marque's brief but significant history. Believed to be the penultimate Apollo produced and the sole example to leave the factory finished in the green livery it wears today, this matching-numbers example retains a remarkable degree of originality throughout. The car's provenance is further enhanced by its former ownership by Apollo founder Milt Brown himself, who personally authenticated its exceptional provenance.

According to previous research, chassis 1074 spent its early life preserved in the ideal climate of Southern California, where it spent 35 years in climate-controlled storage. In the early 2000s, the Apollo re-emerged as an exceptionally original example retaining its factory finishes, original interior appointments, matching-numbers drivetrain, and Borrani wire wheels. The car's remarkable condition was documented in a letter written by Apollo founder Milt Brown, who acquired the car in 2004 when it showed just 1,300 miles. Brown provided an authentication of the car's features, finishes, and provenance in a letter to the subsequent owner, who would purchase the car from Brown in 2006. A sympathetic refurbishment in 2009 included a repaint in the correct factory color, deliberately preserving the original door jamb paint and other factory-applied green finishes as important documentation of the car's authenticity.

Today, presented with just over 4,000 original miles, chassis number 1074 remains in keeping with the highly original condition as described by Milton under his ownership, showing an unmistakable patina that validates its survivor status. In current ownership the car has received light maintenance and refurbishment work, to further preserve the originality of the car. Notable details include the original Carello "Made in Italy" wiper arms, Carrozzeria IM side scripts, Borrani wire wheels with triple-ear knockoffs, and the distinctive yellow-enamel Apollo emblem adorning the front grille. As one of the final examples of Apollo's ambitious venture into the realm of international GT cars, chassis 1074 represents a unique opportunity to acquire an exceptionally original, low-mileage example with impeccable provenance. Its preservation-grade condition and founder ownership history make it an important artifact of American automotive entrepreneurship during the golden age of hybrid GT cars.