In the 1970s, General Motors “cloned” the Chevrolet Nova across most divisions so they, too, could have an American-made compact. Pontiac was first with the Ventura II, then Oldsmobile soon followed with the Omega, and Buick with the Apollo. The latter car arrived in 1973 as Chevy had just given the Nova a facelift. The seller has a 1974 Apollo 350, which is a fancier sedan with a V8 engine rather than an inline-6. Located in Van Nuys, California, this Buick has been in the same family for the last 10 years. Maybe only needing a tune-up, the Apollo is available here on craigslist for $9,500.
Three body styles of the Apollo were offered, just like the Nova: a 2-door sedan, a 4-door sedan, and a 2-door hatchback. For 1973 and 1974, they all shared Apollo badging. For whatever reason, the 2-doors were rebranded Skylarks in 1975, with the Apollo continuing only as a 4-door. Apollo sales never came close to emulating its Nova cousin, and in 1974, 28,000 2-door sedans like this one were built.
We’re guessing the seller’s ’74 Apollo is stock except for the aftermarket wheels and air cleaner. The air cleaner is a distraction because it has a heavy amount of surface rust. If I were selling the car, I would have taken some water and a Brillo pad with it to make the chrome shine again. And changed out the filter element. The mileage on this Buick is 58,000, which we assume is accurate given the solid condition of the interior.
This car has Buick’s version of a 350 cubic inch V8 paired with an automatic transmission (TH-350?). The white paint looks good with just a touch of patina in some places. We’re told it’s a turnkey purchase that may only need spark plugs and other tune-up items. If you want to see the car in action, the seller can send prospective buyers a video. If you’re in the market for a nice 1973-74 Nova, don’t overlook this Buick. BTW, thanks for the cool tip, Jack M.!
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