Rare Apollo trio lead 200-strong US auction

Seldom-seen Italian-American GTs among the many treats on offer in Texas

The Apollo GT is not a common car: just 88 were built, and not all of them have survived the decades since production started in 1962.

To find one at an auction is, therefore, a rare treat – so the fact that three of them will be up for grabs at Worldwide Auctioneers’ sale in Corpus Christi, Texas, later this week is utterly unprecedented.

Not that they’re the only interesting lots on offer: in total 200 cars will be auctioned across Friday and Saturday (4-5 October) and they’re a fascinating mixture of American and European classics spanning more than 80 years of automotive history. And what’s more, they’re all being sold with no reserve.

Fancy a browse? Here are our favourites.

1. 1963 Apollo 3500 GT Spider

Let’s start with our top pick from the entire catalogue, the Apollo 3500 GT Spider.

Apollo was a short-lived marque founded by Californian Milt Brown in 1960. His GT – designed by schoolmate Ron Plescia then refined by Bertone's Franco Scaglione – matched a body crafted by Italian Carrozzeria Intermeccanica with a Buick V8 engine. 

1963 Apollo 3500 GT Spider (continued)

Of the 88 Apollo GTs produced, a mere nine came in open-topped Spider form, and of those only five are known to have survived.

This is the first built and is the only one to be fitted from new with a lightweight all-alloy 3.5-litre Buick V8, as opposed to the 5-litre iron-block used in later cars.

1963 Apollo 3500 GT Spider (continued)

The car was originally sold to Hayden Gorden, a nuclear physicist and early investor in Apollo, then was later bought by the marque’s sales director George Finley and restored by Milt Brown himself.

It’s since been shown several times at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, placing second in class in 1999. Expect it to command a pretty sum when it’s auctioned on Saturday.

Want more info on it? We took it for a drive recently, and you can read the full feature in the November issue of Classic & Sports Car, out tomorrow (3 October).

2. Apollo 3500 GT Coupe

The second Apollo GT crossing the block on Saturday is possibly even more important than the Spider – it’s the very first production coupé built following the creation of two prototypes.

Sold new in 1963 to John R Niven of California, it was later bought by George Finley and fully restored with help from, among others, Milt Brown.

Apollo 3500 GT Coupe (cont.)

It’s since been exhibited at the August 2013 edition of the celebrated Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California and is likely to command plenty of attention when it goes under the hammer.

Want more Apollo? A third car, this time a 5000 GT Coupe, will also be offered on Saturday; if we had the money we’d probably just snap up all three of them.

3. 1928 Hudson Super Six Series O Convertible Sedan

Coachbuilt American classics have been around for a lot longer than the ’60s, of course, and our next pick is a very different beast from the Apollo GT – namely a Hudson Super Six Model O.

The Model O was Hudson's range-topper in 1928 and was offered in a range of body styles. The most exclusive type were those handbuilt by Murphy Body Works in California and this is one of fewer than five known to still exist.

1928 Hudson Super Six Series O Convertible Sedan (cont.)

Each of the Murphy Model Os was different, with this Convertible Sedan being the only one known to have a three-piece hood including removable side panels and a fixed top.

Other unique features include individual polished stainless-steel strips attached to the body panels, running the length of the hood, cowl and body. 

Expertly restored this century, it was named Best of Class at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and has picked up several other prestigious awards in recent years.

4. 1964 Studebaker Avanti R2

Something of an acquired taste, the Avanti was a last-gasp attempt by Studebaker to reinvent itself for a new decade.

And what an attempt it was! With a quirky glassfibre body, aircraft-style cockpit and a 4.7-litre V8 engine that could be supercharged to produce more than 315bhp, it was certainly like no other Studebaker.

1964 Studebaker Avanti R2 (cont.)

Many consider it the first true American GT and it’s shame that due to production issues and the demise of Studebaker two years later, only around 5000 were built. 

This rare 1964 ‘R2’ version is one of the supercharged varieties and looks like a great buy, having been fully restored and with a mere 23,600 miles on the clock.

5. 1986 Mercury ASC McLaren Prototype

Now this really is a rare car – in fact, it’s a genuine one-off.

ASC – then the American Sunroof Company and later renamed American Speciality Cars – was a customisation company that teamed with Ford and McLaren to produce a few thousand drop-top Capris and Mustangs in the ’80s. 

This car was originally a Mercury Capri and was used as a prototype to develop the ASC/McLaren treatment.

1986 Mercury ASC McLaren Prototype (cont.)

The car gained several visual modifications, both inside and out, including heated Recaro sport seats wrapped in fine black leather, polished hardwood dash trim and a Kenwood audio system.

There’s also an original Haartz/Cambria cloth top, Italian Campagnolo honeycomb alloy wheels and even a period-correct Cobra CB radio. 

6. 1958 Porsche 356A/1600 Speedster

The 356 is one of the most important cars in Porsche’s long history and the Speedster is one of the most popular varieties.

Designed as an ‘economy’ model to take on British sports cars, it features a removable windscreen, simple bucket seats, a cut-down windscreen, and only a small top and side curtains.

As well as keeping the cost down, the shedding of that weight improved its handling and increased its speed, and it soon began dominating on the track.

1958 Porsche 356A/1600 Speedster (cont.)

This late-series ‘T2’ model may need a bit of work to return it to full glory, but it’s in full running order and most importantly, it retains its original 1600cc engine. And let’s face it, restoring it would give you plenty of enjoyment in its own right…

7. 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300a ‘Adenauer’

A quick history lesson: Dr Konrad Adenauer was German chancellor between 1949 and 1963 and helped lead the country’s startling economic recovery following WW2. 

Adenauer didn’t build the Mercedes-Benz 300, but he did own six of them during his tenure and his name is today often applied to these stately classics.

1953 Mercedes-Benz 300a ‘Adenauer’ (cont.)

This first-generation 1953 example looks stunning today with its two-tone paintwork, twin fog lamps and steel wheels with Mercedes-Benz ‘Star’ hubcaps, and whitewall tires.

Inside there’s a premium leather finish plus all mod cons (for the time) included air-conditioning, a dash-mounted clock and rare Becker ‘Nürburg’ radio, while under that shapely bonnet there’s a 3-litre engine.

8. 1968 Intermeccanica Italia

Cast your mind back to the start of this slideshow and you’ll recall that the Apollo GT was built by Italian carrozzeria Intermeccanica.

Well, Intermeccanica also created its own cars – and the Italia is one of its finest.

Styled by former GM designer Bob Cumberford and powered by a Ford V8 engine, it offered outstanding performance at a fraction of the price of a contemporary Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini.

1968 Intermeccanica Italia (cont.)

Around 500-600 are thought to have been made over a six- or seven-year period until 1973, making them very rare – and very desirable – things today.

This convertible example has just 33,380 miles on the clock and should make its new owner very happy indeed.

9. 1974 Citroën 2CV Camionette

And now for something completely different…

About as far from an Apollo GT or Intermeccanica Italia as it’s possible to get, this Citroën 2CV Camionette is a charming example of one of the most quirkily attractive commercial vehicles ever produced.

1974 Citroën 2CV Camionette (cont.)

The example on auction in Texas rolled off the production line in 1974 and looks fantastic in its Dove Grey finish. And while it may not hit 150mph, it will almost certainly sell for a lot less than one of those three Apollo GTs.

Worldwide Auctioneers’ Corpus Christi Old Car Museum sale takes place on Friday and Saturday. You can view a full lot list here.