The Apollo was Buick’s badge-engineered version of the popular Chevrolet Nova. By 1973, the only small cars Buick had to sell were imported by Opel. So, Buick followed Pontiac (Ventura) into the compact car space by “cloning” the Nova (Oldsmobile would also get into the game with its Omega). The seller has a glow-in-the-dark orange ’73 Apollo for sale, with few details provided to encourage a sale. Located in Lake Butler, Florida, this flashy sedan is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $10,000. And it’s a tip brought to us by Jack M.
Borrowing Chevy’s X-body platform, Buick began selling the Apollo in 1973. Just like with the Nova, choices were a 2-door sedan, a 4-door sedan, and a 2-door hatchback. Also like the Nova, the body was the same, but the front clip and taillights were different. After the 1974 model year, the 2-door Apollos were rebranded as Skylarks while the 4-doors kept the Apollo moniker (why?). In ’73, Buick produced just under 33,000 Apollo’s of which nearly half were 2-door sedans like the seller’s car.
Details on the seller’s Buick are few. The car has 107,000 miles on it, but has anything been rebuilt (100k miles was about when things started to fall apart in those days)? There may be a 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood (350 insignia on the front fenders?), carburetion likely via a 2-barrel. We’re told that an automatic transmission is in play (column-shifted?). At least the car is said to run and shift “good.”
Buick sold a lot of sedate-looking automobiles in its day, so a bright orange paint job seems a bit flashy. Perhaps it was a factory color that you could get with white stripes – or maybe they were added later. The interior is black vinyl and – like most Novas – could be fairly sedate. If you have a not-so-good truck, the seller might trade for it if you add some cash.
Well…at least a driver won’t fall asleep looking down that hood.
Oh man, I love this one! Nice one, Russ, somehow deciphering that iffy listing and those iffy photos.
Russ. When you commented on the glow-in-the-dark orange, I was tempted to look up the original name, but why bother yours is a much more accurate description. You’ll have no problem finding this in a parking lot……. That is…….. Unless you’re at a Home Depot!!!!
Great write up Russ, thanks!!!
Of the Nova, Ventura and Omega. This has the ugliest front grill area of the three.
Ha, I meant to say that this is by far my favorite grille of the Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo series. It’s weird that people can be 180 degrees apart, or maybe it isn’t in 2025.
$10k?? Oh boy, I don’t think so. I had an Apollo that was puke green and piss yellow. Must have been something with Buick and paint colors during this time. For what it was it was not a bad car for a teenaged boy.
Who knows, when our grandkids are on Barn Finds commenting about the 2025 (fill in the blank current car or truck), might they say “can you believe that almost all the vehicles back then were those boring monochromatic whites/silvers/grays/blacks?”
My ’22 Bronco is a bright blue and I get so many compliments on the color, yet I’m lucky if I’ve seen 5 or 6 other ones that color. Weird.
What is it with pets in pictures? I can’t take a photo without one of my dogs hamming it up.
Perfect for large displacement LS. Great sleeper possibilities.
another overpriced nova
N-O-V-A — N – Nova, O – Omega, V – Ventura, A – Apollo. Always loved the way that worked out.
I bought s 1976 Pontiac Ventura in 1978. It was a 4dr tan on the outside and buckskin tan vinyl on the inside. I was hoping for a 250 CID 6 with a 3 on the tree. Instead it had a 350 CID. A Buick 350 !!! Backed by a THM 350. A Pontiac engine was not available on the car. A Chevy 250 CID 6 cylinder , an Oldsmobile 260 CID V8 and the Buick 350 CID.
Might better look at motor to see what it actually is . A co-worker had one of these in the eightys and it had a V 6.
not in 1973 , its either a Chevy 250 , or a Buick 350
I want to know why people don’t lose their minds over the Apollo “GSX” the way they do over the ‘74 Pontiac GTO? Where’s the outrage??
Wow! I forgot those even existed. Incredibly rare at this point.
Nice color. What’s up with those headlights? Something about them looks off.
Car has the Buick 350. I just baught it. I live in central Florida and plan to slowly do the body work myself and paint it a more reasonable color. I’ll try to check back if anyone has any questions about it.