Jump to content

eBay tat volume 3.


Ross_K

Recommended Posts

14 minutes ago, garethj said:

Do you want to have a moustache, a horrible sneer and be terrified of white Volkswagens?  This could be your lucky day, build your own Thorndyke Special 

40B58D16-7F51-4692-94EE-F2C5263CDA13.jpeg.2154d870abdc33432fae60d32ad3a0a3.jpeg

image.thumb.png.c84c88ccfcf8c6469c0f091c29e64c27.png

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/952519069247191/

The first Apollo 3500 GT cars were powered by the all alloy Buick 3.5 V8, that became the Rover V8.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

The first Apollo 3500 GT cars were powered by the all alloy Buick 3.5 V8, that became the Rover V8.

Hell yeah!  This is what I wrote when I created a model kit 

image.jpeg.ec4d9cef4e225715abd0d00b12edf19c.jpeg

Ferrari 275?  Jaguar E Type?  Cox Cheetah?  Kellison J6??

No, it’s an Intermeccanica Apollo, the bodyshells were styled and built in Italy then shipped to California to be fitted with the Buick V8 engine, the one that was to become the Rover V8 a few years later. The company founders reasoned that while the looks of a Ferrari were very desirable, the fact that a set of carburettors cost more than an entire American V8 engine was uncomfortable for some owners. Wouldn’t it be great, they said, if you could get European GT looks and still get it serviced at your local garage for Buick prices? And there was the question of reliability too; European sports cars of the time weren’t at their best in the traffic of the West Coast, American cars were made for this kind of punishment. Milt Brown, Ron Plescia, and Ned Davis must have been giddy with excitement at this idea, it couldn’t possibly go wrong!

They approached Carrozzeria Intermeccanica in Italy with some sketches of a car that looked like a Ferrari but with E Type proportions, underneath they planned to use the 1961 Buick Special with its sophisticated four link trailing arm suspension which used coil springs instead of the more common leaf springs. Reports of the time compared it favourably with the Corvette and even the much more expensive Aston Martin DB4 and Ferrari.

image.jpeg.d2451420fbb2192ec985b72354275c88.jpeg

Sales were steady at 2 cars a month, but the demon of small companies everywhere – cash flow and lack of investors – was soon causing trouble. Production lurched to a new owner in Texas which soon failed and went back to California to a different owner. Sadly the whole operation folded after just 88 cars were made.

In 1967 Disney Studios had contracted Max Balchowsky about preparing two Apollo GTs for their forthcoming film “The Love Bug”, he worked with Carey Loftin (as they worked on the Mustang and Charger for Bullitt) to get the cars ready for filming. Balchowsky made several modifications to strengthen the car for its high speed work. You know the final stunt in Bullitt where the Charger crashes and explodes? That was done with Carey Loftin’s “tow and release” system where he drove the Mustang towing the Charger then released the cable letting the driverless Charger crash. Exactly the same system was used with the Apollo releasing the VW here

image.thumb.jpeg.599b1dd5c5936cea6192396b5b2a984b.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Ah yes thanks - the 'B' was used  in the J4 up to '74, Landcrab up to '75, the Marina to '78 and even the Sherpa to '78. MGB used the engine up to the end in 1980.

Looking on t'web the diesel version of the B hung on even longer and built under licence in Turkey - and there was a marine version too - popular in narrow boats apparently.

Possibly still in production in some remote factory 😂

Don't forget the Princess till '78 as well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

Shame about the cats. Still not too terrible of a price for a 740i Sport, they certainly command a premium but also have so many more expensive issues.

Do you think it's a real sport? I think it's been off the road for a while as the plate is now on a 730d who's MOT has also expired.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

52 minutes ago, cort16 said:

Do you think it's a real sport? I think it's been off the road for a while as the plate is now on a 730d who's MOT has also expired.

The lack of chrome on the bumpers usually indicates it's a sport in the UK when it's a facelift afaik. Shadow line and style 32s (if original) would be another indicator. You'd also get the m tech steering wheel and probably a few other things, maybe even the black headliner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...