Nestled in the heartland of Belgium, Apal emerged as a distinctive small-scale automobile brand in 1961. Originally named as APAL - s.à.r.l., which stands for Application Polyester Armé de Liège, the company was the brainchild of glass-fibre specialist Edmond Pery. Situated in Blegny-Trembleur, Liège Province, the company made its debut with a captivating GT coupé model at the Brussels Autosalon in 1962. Equipped with gull-wing doors, the car could be powered by either Volkswagen or Porsche engines, signaling a new phase in automotive innovation.
By 1965, diversification was embraced with the introduction of a Formule V single-seater. A defining moment came in 1968 with the limited production of the Apal Horizon GT, a mid-engined sports car that resonated with aficionados of speed and style. Between 1968 and 1981, approximately 5,000 glass-fibre bodies were crafted for an array of buggy models. Names such as Apal Buggy, Apal Rancho, Apal Jet, Apal Auki, and Apal Corsa dotted the landscape of automotive choices. Especially intriguing was the Apal Jet, molded from a design originally developed by Glassco Inc. of the USA.
Further diversity was witnessed in the form of the Apal 1200 Saloon. This attractive vehicle showcased a thrust-forward nose and a divided front bumper, all built on a Volkswagen Beetle floorplan. The air-cooled rear-mounted engine had cooling air being exhausted through a grille in its rounded tail, complementing the well-sloped, curved one-piece windshield.
The pinnacle of Apal's success could arguably be attributed to the Apal Speedster. This model, a stunning replica of the Porsche 356 Speedster, was manufactured on a VW Beetle floorplan. Between 1981 and 1994, a total of 700 units were produced. By 1984, Apal ventured into a two-seater sports coupé, named the Francorchamps. Crafted with Mercedes-Benz W201 underpinnings, the car was developed in collaboration with an American company. Despite its potential, currency fluctuations led to the project's discontinuation, with only two units ever seeing the light of day.
Apal's last hurrah came in 1992 with the unveiling of the Apal Sport One, based on the Pontiac Fiero. Beyond automobiles, founder Edmond Pery lent his expertise to all-road prototypes, working on projects for DAF in 1974 and Volkswagen in 1992. Though production and sales numbers have always been limited, the influence of Apal on the automotive industry remains noteworthy.
Throughout its journey, Apal epitomized the fine balance between innovation and aesthetics, often stepping out of the conventional mold to explore untapped potentials in the automotive sphere. Despite its small scale, the brand made its mark by delivering vehicles that combined functionality with elegance. Each model from the Apal lineup is a testament to the company's unwavering commitment to quality and unique design.
