1965 APAL GT Coupé

Chassis No. 115873790

Mention the name APAL to a room full of petrolheads and you may be met with puzzlement, but any Belgian within earshot is likely to know exactly what you're talking about. Belgian's homegrown sportscar company, APAL was founded by Edmond Pery, a car enthusiast, mechanic, and trade school instructor. Pery had ties to the local Volkswagen/Porsche importer D'Ieteren, and he leveraged that relationship by experimenting with rebodying Volkswagen chassis as early as 1957.

In 1961, Pery and Bruno Vidick (a student of Pery's) founded Application Polyester Armé de Liège, or APAL, focused on using lightweight fiberglass in car bodies and other products. At the Brussels Autosalon in 1962, they debuted a VW-based GT coupe with a fiberglass body and gullwing doors. Production models quickly followed, with conventional doors and styling heavily influenced by the Italian-designed Porsche 356 B GTL Abarth. Officially, road cars came equipped with Volkswagen power, while racing cars carried Porsche engines, with most of the primary VW and Porsche underpinnings being supplied by D'Ieteren. In all, approximately 150 of these rare GTs were built between 1961 and 1965, before APAL changed tack toward dune buggies and other creations.

At just 650 kg, the APAL GT was considerably lighter than a standard 356 Coupe and cost much less than Porsche's exotic competition models, making it quite attractive to club racers and rallyists. This silver 1965 APAL GT Coupé proves that point, having been used to good effect on historic rallies around Europe.

Finished in silver and riding on period-correct chrome wheels with exposed brake drums, and first registered in Belgium on 24 August 1965, the APAL GT looks purposeful and eager. Period-style improvements include Porsche 356 VDO instrumentation, bucket seats with blue tartan inserts, a Nardi steering wheel, and a roll bar. Power comes from an uprated 130 PS 2.0-liter Type IV engine, said to be sourced from a Porsche 914 and fed by twin Weber carburetors and outfitted with Aeroquip braided stainless steel lines.

Past custodians have enjoyed this APAL GT with much enthusiasm, taking part in events including the 2007 Route Nationale Historique, 2012 Grossglockner Grand Prix, Schloss Dyck Classic Days on multiple occasions, and many other events. Undoubtedly a conversation starter; this rare and fascinating Porsche-powered APAL GT delivers.