1965 Apollo 5000GT

The International Motor Cars in Oakland, California initially produced the Apollo from 1962 to 1964. It was designed by Ron Plescia and engineered by Milt Brown with handmade Italian aluminum coachwork by Intermeccanica. Frank Reisner founded Intermeccanica in Torino, Italy in 1959 and later moved to the United States, then to Candia. They initially made tuning kits with their first car being a Formula Junior single-seater powered by a Peugeot engine. In 1960, they built 21 aluminum-bodied Intermeccanica-Puch (IMP) 500 cc-engined cars. This was followed by producing bodies for International Motor Cars, from 1961 to 1965.

Body styles included a fastback coupe or convertible. Power was sourced from a 215 cubic-inch or 300 cubic-inch Buick engine fitted to a four-speed manual gearbox. The wheelbase measured 97 inches and had a length of 175 inches. Much of the drive train used GM components, mostly from the Buick Special.

The original body design was given slight styling modifications and enhancements by Italian designer Franco Scaglione and the first bodies complete with interior and electrical systems were shipped to the US in the fall of 1962. Once they arrived in the United States, they received the engines and drivetrains. The cars were upholstered in leather and rode on Borrani wire wheels.

Production reached 42 examples before being suspended due to financial difficulties. 40 were coupes with one spyder, including the alloy prototype. To raise capital, the remaining body and chassis were sold to Vanguard Motors in Dallas, Texas to be produced under the Vetta Ventura name. They produced 11 cars. A third attempt at producing the Apollo was made by attorney Robert Stevens at his Apollo International Company in Pasadena, California. 14 examples were made, with foreman Otto Becker finishing another six. Four body chassis examples were sold by U.S. Customs to Ken Dumiere.

Altogether 77 coupes (including the original alloy prototype and a 2+2 prototype) and 11 convertible Apollos were built between 1961 and 1965.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2019