1963 Apollo 3500 GT Spider
When Britain met America with the Shelby Cobra, it was an instant success. Another cross-Atlantic pairing that isn't as well-known is the Apollo 3500 GT, and American-Italian hybrid powered by an all-aluminum Buick V8. The brainchild of engineer Milt Brown, the Apollo used a Brown-designed chassis, the aforementioned V8, and handmade bodywork by Carrozzeria Intermeccanica of Torino, Italy. The Apollo used a ladder chassis with a multi-link rear suspension and upper and lower A-arms at the front — one-upping Ferrari, who were still using rear live axles and leaf springs. Despite the solid performance, company was plagued by strong demand and poor finances, and only 86 were made. Only five Spiders still exist, and the 3500 GT Spider pictured here is the first one built and has been owned by George Finley, head of sales for Apollo, since new. The car is absolutely mint and is one of the most unique cars to come from America, when a dream and some know-how went a long way.
