Being a statistical outlier, I drive a car with an engine designed in the 1930s.
Setting aside the whole Apollo 18 scenario; the beginnings are also interesting. Looking for a neutral voice on the subject I find:
Did Yugoslav space technology sold by Tito put America in space?
TLDR: Kennedy bought the Apollo program wholesale from Marshall Tito.
From my own recollection at the time, Yugoslavia was the most prosperous 'Soviet satellite' at the time, and the ex-Nazis
were blowing up American rockets left and right on the launch pad (to throw the race to Bolesheviks) until the program was taken away from them.
Back ontopic:
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/04/new-f-1b-rocket-engine-upgrades-apollo-era-deisgn-with-1-8m-lbs-of-thrust/