Belgium
Sports Cars
1960s

Apal Coupé 

Apal Coupé car history

Production period:

1961 to 1964

Class:

Sports car

Body versions:

Coupe

Engine:Air-cooled 1200/1300cc
Wheel base:94.49 in, 2,400 mm
Overall width:63.78 in, 1,620 mm
Overall height:49.21 in, 1,250 mm
Ground clearance:7.09 in, 180 mm
Dry weight:1,543 1b, 700 kg

 

The Apal Coupe was a small Belgium sports car from the 1960s

History

Apal (Application Polyester Armé de Liège s.à.r.l ) an Automotive manufacturer of Belgium produced the Coupe from 1961 till 1965 and featured a glass-fibre body for more rust resistant than steel fitted on a VW Beetle chassis with 2 doors and 2 seats This was a factory-built car not just as a VW kit conversion. These APAL conversions as the basic Apal 1200 coupe the 1200S with twin carbs. Also, the more powerful the APAL 1300 TVS Okrasa and APAL Porsche.

The VW Beetle and Porsche air cooled engines from 1200cc up had various HP ratings and in VW Porsche fashion were rear mounted with rear wheel drive. to increase power 2 Solex 32 PIBC downdraught single barrel carburettors fitted to the air-cooled engines.  The chassis using VW backbone platform has front suspension as independent, twin swinging longitudinal trailing arms, transverse laminated torsion bars, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers at the rear independent, swinging semi-axles, swinging longitudinal trailing arms, transverse torsion bars and telescopic dampers. Still with Drum brakes front and rear. These early cars still came with the 6-volt electric system.

PERFORMANCE:1300 TVS Okrasa

  • Engine capacity: 79.08 cu in, 1,296 cu cm
  • Fuel consumption: 31.4 ml imp gal, 26.1 ml US gal,
  • Max speed: 91.3 mph, 147 km/h
  • power- weight ratio: 30.9 lb/hp, 14 kg/hp
  • speed in top at 1,000 rpm: 18.3 mph, 29.5 km/h.
  • max power (SAE): 50 hp at 4,250 rpm
  • max torque (SAE): 72 1b ft, 10 kg m at 3,000 rpm
  • max number of engine rpm: 4,500
  • specific power: 38.6 hp/l

Apal Coupe Technical details and specifications

Categories
Apal
Title
Apal Coupe (1961-1965)

Description

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Vehicles launched in 1961 | VW Beetle based | Sports Cars

Technical

Technical

  • Apal Coupe Technical details and specifications (1961-1965)

     

    ENGINE: 1200
    Number of cylinders 4
    Cooling air
    Capacity 1192 ccm, 72.4 cu-in
    Bore 77.0 mm, 3.031 in Stroke 64.0 mm, 2.52 in
    Compression ratio 7.0:1
    Valve Gear OHV
    Valves per cylinder 2
    Fuel system carburator, 1 x Solex carb

    ENGINE: 1300
    location rear, 4 stroke
    cylinders: 4, horizontally opposed
    bore and stroke: 3.03 x 2.74 in, 77 x 69.5 mm
    engine capacity: 79.08 cu in, 1,296 cu cm
    compression ratio: 8.1
    cylinder block: cast iron
    cylinder head: light alloy
    crankshaft bearings: 3
    valves: 2 per cylinder, overhead, push-rods and rockers
    camshafts: 1, at centre
    lubrication: gear pump, filter on by-pass, oil cooler
    lubricating system capacity: 5.28 imp pt, 6.34 US pt
    carburation: 2 Solex 32 PIBC downdraught single barrel carburettors
    fuel feed: mechanical pump
    cooling system: air-cooled.

    TRANSMISSION
    driving wheels: rear
    clutch: single dry plate
    gearbox: mechanical; gears: 4 + reverse
    synchromesh gears: 1st, 3rd, 4th
    gearbox ratios: I 3.800, II 2.060, III 1.320, IV 0.890, -rev 3.880
    gear lever location: central
    final drive: spiral bevel
    axle ratio: 4.375.

    CHASSIS
    VW backbone platform
    front suspension: independent, twin swinging longitudinal trailing arms, transverse laminated torsion bars, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers
    rear suspension: independent, swinging semi-axles, swinging longitudinal trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, telescopic dampers.

    STEERING
    screw and nut.
    turning circle (between walls): 36.1 ft, 11 m

    BRAKES
    drum
    lining area: total 96.12 sq in, 620 sq cm.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
    voltage: 6 V
    battery: 66 Ah
    dynamo: 180 W
    ignition distributor: Bosch

    DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
    wheel base: 94.49 in, 2,400 mm
    front track: 50.79
    overall width: 63.78 in, 1,620 mm
    overall height: 49.21 in, 1,250 mm
    ground clearance: 7.09 in, 180 mm
    dry weight: 1,543 1b, 700 kg

    © Motor car History

Service

  • Apal Coupe Maintenance and Service Guide (1961-1965)


    fuel: 85-90 oct petrol
    engine oil change: 4.40 imp pt, 5.28 US pt, 2.5 1, SAE 10W-20 (winter) 20W-30 (summer), change every 3,100 miles, 5,000 km
    gearbox and final drive oil: 5.28 imp pt, 6.34 US pt, 3 1, SAE 90, change every 15,500 miles, 25,000 km
    steering box oil: 0.18 imp pt, 0.21 US pt, 0.1 1,SAE 90
    greasing: every 1,900 miles, 3,000 km, 9 points
    tyre pressure (normal load): front 16 psi, 1.1 atm, rear 20 psi, 1.4 atm.
    tyres: 5.90 x 15
    fuel tank capacity: 8.8 imp gal, 10.6 US gal, 40 1.
    carrying capacity: 353 1b, 160 kg

    © Motor car History