1973 Buick Apollo

Description

It's time for you to choose your own adventure. Do you want to be part of the Nova crowd that's around at every car show? Do you want to be a standout on your own? How about both? This 1973 Buick Apollo has all the fastback style of the GM X-Body crowd, but in a package that is much more unique and affordable.

The smooth elements in the correct, resprayed shade of this aptly monikered Apollo Yellow coupe really brighten up in the sunlight, especially in concert with that unique white side molding. The paint is in great shape, body gaps are straight, doors close flush, and the bright work shines wonderfully. And most of the minor imperfections that could be found in the finish could easily be negated by a quality cut-and-buff detail job in the hands of a professional. The Apollo has the same silhouette as the now-legendary compact and fast Chevy Novas, but the front end has an aggressive look that Buicks always brought to the table in forgone eras. Light and muscular, the Apollo gets all the Buick design cues right, from the vertical grilles in the hood and bumper up front, to that cool taillamp design that would later inspire several generations of Buicks. The Rally II wheels are another great visual link to Buick's muscle car tradition, allowing for fat rubber on this crouched fastback. They have a stylistic flair with the Buick emblem center cap that gives them a hint of indestructible industrial design. Heavy-duty chrome bumper fore and aft have rubber inserts incorporated, per the federal regulations of the era, and the iconic side molding includes three 'vents' on the front fenders, just like the classic Buicks of old.

Step inside this Apollo, and you'll see even more Buick performance car touches that make this car so cool, with a mixture of some new but mostly original components working together to make a very comfortable cabin. The Saddle tan interior is also correct for this car, and it matches nicely to the vivid yellow exterior. Everything is comfortable and looks great, with original plush tan carpeting against matching vinyl seats and door panels. Every place that the stock vinyl touches is nice and tight, shows very well, and is built for durability, and despite a reputation as an economy car the cabin feels much more upscale. The driver gets a soft touch original Apollo steering wheel atop a tilt column along with a few cabin comforts thanks to the stock AM/FM radio, cold factory A/C, and a column-mounted shifter for easy-to-reach shifting for the automatic transmission below. The backseat area barely looks used and an appropriately-sized trunk is nicely preserved and includes a factory original spare.

The strong Buick 350 V8 under the hood is a remanufactured long block that was installed in 2007, and it's plenty torquey to make the Apollo feel quick around town. The red engine enamel advertise that this is indeed a Buick motor, and it's essentially the same corporate powerplant used down the street at the Bowtie factory, although many argue that it's much more reliable. The engine bay is tidy and local car show-ready, and a weekend of cleaning and a little paint would pay big dividends if you wanted to use it for preservation class judging. The original black air cleaner and a 4-barrel Quadrajet carburetor are up top, and it's very responsive thanks to an HEI ignition system, firing right up and running great with a quickly flick of the key. Reliability is bulletproof and parts are still easy to get, making this a great choice if you like to drive, and with the TH350 automatic transmission spinning a 10-bolt rear end filled with highway-friendly 2.43 gears, it's easy to handle on modern roads. Power steering and power brakes drastically improve the driving experience, making this Apollo the top choice in the garage for a cruise of any distance. Buick Rally II wheels add a sporting touch and sit on a set of 225/60/15 radials with plenty of life left in them.

Honest, solid, and affordable, this Buick Apollo is a great choice for the "dare to be different" crowd. It's the perfect way to have something a little unique that still fits in with any car show crowd, and with only 79,278 believed actual miles and a strong drivetrain, it's bound to be cruising for a long time to come. Call now!!