An Homage to the American Sports Car
If you’ve never heard of the U.S.-based firm Equus, you are probably not alone. However, if you are automobile enthusiast, and moreover, a CORVETTE enthusiast, then maybe its time for some introductions.
Based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Equus Automotive refers to themselves as a company akin to tuners such as Brabus and Alpina, but with a unique twist. They don’t modify cars –they create them – paying homage to the cars from which they draw their inspiration. In many respects, their designs fuse classic styling from the 1960’s and ’70’s with the most current automotive technology available.
Bass 770 Muscle Car
For those of you who remember their earlier efforts, Equus is the company behind the incredibly unique, yet strangely familiar Bass 770 muscle car. Their first iteration was an amazing bland of classic muscle from 1960’s era muscle cars including the Dodge Challenger, the Chevy Camaro and most especially the Ford Mustang. The Bass 770 boasted massive horsepower and modern handling. Better still, it enticed owners with a modern muscle car that paid homage to the classic lines of an era of automobiles that may arguably be one of
the best of all time.
As they introduce their second entry into the annals of automotive history, Equus has traded classic muscle-car prowess for supercar styling.
The Throwback
They call their new creation the Equus Throwback, and this time their car is a fitting homage to the ultimate American sports car, the Chevy Corvette.
At first glance, the Equus Throwback looks an awful lot like the seventh-generation Corvette Stingray. Critics of the car may argue that the Throwback isn’t a new car at all, but rather a glorified bodykit that simply augments the existing C7 Stingray platform. While it might be understandable where such a comparison could be drawn, making such a claim would be no different than suggesting that the new 2019 Corvette ZR1 is simply a base-model Stingray with a larger spoiler and some ground effects.
In both instances, nothing could be further from the truth.
It is true that the Throwback lifts design elements from the Chevy Corvette. However, it isn’t just the C7 Stingray from which the car’s designers drew their inspiration. Instead, they built the Throwback as an homage to all-generations of Corvette.
The overall shape of the car is a fusion of the seventh– and third-generation Corvette. The split rear-window design is a callback to the 1963 Corvette, and a fitting nod to the second-generation model. The side coves on the car are lifted directly from some of the late model first-generation Corvettes. Even the taillights, which are very reminiscent of those found on the C3 Corvettes, are a throwback to years gone by.
Moving to the car’s interior, it is again understandable how one might suspect that the Throwback is simply a C7 with some new trim, but again there is more here than meets the eye.
Equus’ baseline interior (standard interior) is the Stingray’s interior, albeit re-trimmed in alcantara, a high-end microfiber material, with diamond quilting on the seats and engine-turned aluminium trim on the center console and interior door grips. The seats and the steering wheel feature the company’s logo – a prancing horse (reminiscent of the company logo found on a certain brand of well-known Italian sport-cars.) Of course, Equus will work with owners to customize the interior of the car to meet the demands of even the most discerning customers.
“The Throwback can be personalized for the design orientated drivers or for the fastest paced performance centric customer, always emphasizing the original love of an icon, desire for innovation and uncompromised quality.” – Press Release, Equus Automotive
While Equus hasn’t announced (yet) which engine platforms will be offered in the Throwback, they do state that there will be a number of engine options available, with claims that the most powerful Throwback’s will include a 1000 horsepower, 822 pound-feet of torque engine that can launch the car from 0-60 in just 2.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of more than 220 miles per hour! Considering the power to weight ratio of Equus’ Bass 770 model – which included a 640 horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine and a total curb weight of just 3,640 pounds – then the Throwback may truly be something to behold.
Equus claims that the Throwback will be limited to a total production run of just 25 cars. Their belief is such exclusivity will elevate the car’s value amongst collectors and make it more desirable to anyone who is considering adding a Throwback to their car collection. Equus states that the Throwback’s base price will start at $130k.
