Founded by glassfibre specialist, Edmond Pery, the Belgian manufacturer APAL (Application Polyester Armé de Liège) started producing cars in 1961 and is mainly known for its beach buggies and Porsche Speedster replicas. APAL's first model was a coupé inspired by the 1959 Porsche Carrera Abarth and built on a Volkswagen 'Beetle' chassis, 150 examples of which were produced between 1961 and 1965.
Most also used the VW powertrain but this particular car is one of only 30 which were equipped with original Porsche mechanicals - engine, gearbox, wheels, brakes - and other items such as the seats and dashboard instruments. The Apal coupés enjoyed success in racing and rallying, and in the Liège-Sofia-Liège Rally proved faster than the contemporary Porsches thanks to their much lower weight.
This example was built in 1963 using a 1957 VW chassis and has a 1,600cc 90bhp Porsche 356 engine (type 616/7). The APAL has had only two registered owners from new, the first being a Mr Quoibion from Liège, the city where it was made. The car is in original condition part from the engine, which is newly rebuilt, and the interior, which has new carpets, while the electrical system has been up-graded to 12 volts.
It should be noted that the car has been driven only some 250 kilometres since the engine was rebuilt and is still running in. There are invoices on file totalling some €28,000, of which €25,000 relates to the engine work. Accompanying paperwork consists of a French Carte Grise de Collection, a photographic record of the engine rebuild, some service history, and original APAL documentation. This rare piece of automotive history is a 'must have' for the serious Porsche collector.
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