My Car Quest

December 9, 2024

The Thorndyke Special Was An Apollo GT In Disguise And It Is A Barn Find!

by Mike –

It was a brilliant decision to use an Apollo GT as the “Thorndyke Special” race car in the 1968 Disney movie “The Love Bug”.

Why? Because the Apollo GT looked the part and virtually no one would know what car model it really was.

Thorndyke Special - Apollo GT

The “Thorndyke Special” barn find story is told on “Barn Finds” and is an interesting read.

The beautifully restored Apollo GT, aka the “Thorndyke Special”, was at Concorso Italiano in Monterey in August 2013. Here are my photos from that day.

Thorndyke Special - Apollo GT

Thorndyke Special - Apollo GT

Thorndyke Special - Apollo GT

Thorndyke Special - Apollo GT

Thorndyke Special - Apollo GT

There is something missing from the restoration of the “Thorndyke Special” – if you see it let us know in the Comments.

Thorndyke Special - Apollo GT

Summary
The Thorndyke Special Was An Apollo GT In Disguise And It Is A Barn Find!
Article Name
The Thorndyke Special Was An Apollo GT In Disguise And It Is A Barn Find!
Description
An Apollo GT played the role of the "Thorndyke Special" in the 1968 Disney movie "The Love Bug".
Author

Comments

    • Correct!

      • John B. jr. says

        To quote my father, John B Sr., (duly mentioned in the Barnfind article as the accidental discoverer, resurrector and current custodian of this very very fine, and trust me when I say it’s FINE, automobile), as he was explaining to Milt Brown, the creator of the Apollo, why he didn’t paint the black stripes on the car;

        ” Putting stripes on this beautiful car, would be like painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa!”

        And while I myself even asked, “why not put the stripes for the show Dad?”… His response was simple… it’s beautiful the way it is, why would he want to change anything about it.

        (Just a note, the “14” racing number decals on the side and trunk are actually magnets that he had made up just for Concorso that he takes off and puts on when he wants).

        cheers

        Jb Jr.

  1. Chrome roll bar is missing, too.

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