Toyota Land Cruiser FJ44 by Icon 4×4
There are SUVs, off-roaders, real off-road vehicles – and the Toyota Land Cruiser. Hardly any other vehicle has reached as many regions of the world as this Japanese one. Even without good care and maintenance, many of them can withstand the toughest conditions. To the manufacturer’s chagrin, they then show up big in the news pictures, especially during civil wars or attempted coups in African or Central American countries. Ultimately, however, this only proves their durability and reliability. Early series cars are now among the sought-after classics.
Completely restored
At Icon 4×4 in the USA, a restomod is now being built based on the Land Cruiser FJ44. Within the company, the project is running in the Old School Edition. The first example received a complete restoration before conversion started. This was also necessary, as the car rolled into the workshop with around 780,000 miles (about 1.2 million kilometers) on the clock. Durable and reliable, as described above. After all body parts were either repaired or replaced, they received a powder coating in the color ‘eucalyptus green’. The sturdy ladder frame on which the cab sits also shines in fresh color.
Plenty of extra power from a V8
However, instead of simply bolting everything back together that was previously disassembled, Icon 4×4 provides new technology. Under the hood is a 6.2-liter V8 engine from General Motors, originally developed for the Chevrolet Corvette. The company gives an output of 321 kW/436 hp and 610 newtonmeters of torque. A five-speed transmission from Aisin and a two-speed transfer case from Atlas work together to transmit power to the permanent all-wheel drive system. A coil-over sports suspension from Fox Racing with significant ride height adjustment means 18-inch wheels now fit under the fenders. They are covered with all-terrain tires from BF Goodrich in the dimension 285/65. Behind the wheels are internally ventilated and slotted disc brakes all around.
Modern technology at a high price
New components are used not only on the outside and for the drive, but also in the interior. The seats, for example, are trimmed in fine leather. In the dashboard, Icon 4×4 invisibly integrates a modern infotainment system including Bluetooth telephony, navigation device, rearview camera and Apple CarPlay. The speakers are from Focal. A seven-layer, insulated canvas soft top that can be completely removed stretches above the passengers’ heads. In addition, the windshield can be folded down to enjoy a completely open-air feeling in summer. However, the price of the car has to be digested first. This is at least US$ 237,000.
Images: Icon 4×4
