Apollo

Apollo was a German automobile marque produced in Apolda, Thuringia, first under the name A. Ruppe & Sohn AG between 1910 and 1912, and subsequently as Apollo-Werke AG from 1912 until 1927. The company had previously built the smaller Piccolo car, and the Apollo name was introduced when the firm moved to producing larger automobiles.

The new range was designed by engineer Karl Slevogt, who also took part in numerous competitions driving the cars himself, achieving several notable successes. The first model, the Typ B, featured a 960cc overhead-valve four-cylinder engine rated at 4/14PS. This was later joined by the larger Typ F, powered by a 2040cc engine producing 8/28PS.

Alongside these, Apollo also built bigger cars fitted with side-valve engines, including the 2612cc Typ K and the 3440cc Typ L, both manufactured between 1912 and 1914. Following the First World War, the smaller model was revived and remained in production until 1925, complemented by a 2597cc 10/40PS variant. The 4/14PS model was notable for reportedly being the first German car to use a swing axle at the front, and some examples were fitted with streamlined bodies designed according to Paul Jaray's aerodynamic principles.

In 1921, Apollo built a prototype 12/50PS V8 engine, though this design never reached production. The final models produced by the company were the 1221cc 5/25PS, developed from the earlier 4/14PS unit, and the 1551cc 6/24PS. The latter marked a departure for Apollo, as it was the first model to use a proprietary engine, a side-valve unit supplied by Steudel, rather than one developed in-house.