Friday 8th November 2019

Icon reimagines Land Cruiser FJ40 with 6.2 V8

California firm adds muscle, amenities and power to Toyota's classic off-roader - for a price

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Nobody anywhere has ever described Toyota's FJ40 Land Cruiser as too road-biased, but thanks to the demands of today's burgeoning explorer market one Californian company has found reason to really turn up its off-road capabilities. Los Angeles-based Icon - best known for its work with Ford Broncos - is reengineering Toyota's legendary Land Cruiser with modern creature comforts and a honed focus on getting mucky. Since this is America, it's added a whacking great 6.2-litre V8 to the engine bay for good measure as well...

The remade model's newfound extremeness is visible from the removal of its doors (we're not sure whether you're allowed to keep them as souvenirs), thicker suspension struts and beefed-up locking differentials, as well as chunky off-road tyres and accompanying underbody bracing. Icon claims to have shed weight from the body with its changes (as well as by ditching the air-con), although the mass of that 430hp GM small block might counter those efforts somewhat. Those desperate for lightness can, if they want, go for a smaller diesel.

In contrast to the hardened exterior, the cabin does get some creature comforts, with heated leather seats, a modern audio system with an Apple CarPlay-compatible tablet and a more modern dash. But by and large, Icon's work is an example of pared-back engineering intent on creating a vehicle fit for adventure in the SoCal sun. Given how great this FJ40 looks, we suspect it'd do just as nicely trundling through mud under dramatic Lake District skies, too.

As is often the case with these uber cool retro off-roader things, Icon's FJ40 doesn't come cheap. It retails for $185,000 in the US, which is presently about £144k. Then again, that's £30k less than Hennessey charges for its Gladiator Maximus, and even though that gets 1000hp and actual doors, we suspect the little FJ40 is no less capable at tackling the rough stuff - or tugging at the heart strings...

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Search for an FJ Land Cruiser here

[TheOrangePeril]

While FJ40s are achingly cool, I can't get my head around the price...
Targeted as a toy to show off for those with more money than sense. Many will sadly end up parked illegally outside Harrods with the Defenders and G-Wagons that never get to see a drop of mud.

[fernando the frog]

i'd rather just have an original

[bobtail4x4]

another grand or so,would buy better tyres than the castor ones on it.

[pb8g09]

Obviously a bit less polished but wouldn’t it be a lot cheaper to just get the original and do your own crate engine swap?

[chelme]

fernando the frog said:

i'd rather just have an original

Ditto, and for a fraction of price!

Whist I admire what Singer has achieved with restomodding Porkers, these cars are just an excuse for ripping rich (note: not wealthy) idiots off.

[irocfan]

a quick point to make here - the Chevy small block isn't actually that heavy, it could well be lighter than the original FJ lump

[seefarr]

Meh, if it's not a BJ40 with a twin turbo v12, I'm not interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Q4RJAYiw4

[vetrof]

seefarr said:

Meh, if it's not a BJ40 with a twin turbo v12, I'm not interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Q4RJAYiw4

Turbo Yoda was my first thought when seeing this thread too.

[sutts]

Those must be really expensive wood screws holding the instrument cluster in.

[SturdyHSV]

irocfan said:

a quick point to make here - the Chevy small block isn't actually that heavy, it could well be lighter than the original FJ lump

Good to know the stereotypes keep on truckin' eh? Yes let's get rid of the tiny aluminium smallblock and put in a 'smaller diesel' to save weight. That 'small' diesel presumably being an iron six cylinder DOHC motor that weighs 100kg more whilst making fk all power

But no, it's a big old 'murca lump. I bet if they'd put the more expensive and bigger and heavier and less potent BMW S65 in there they'd not be able to stop going on about how lightweight and high tech it was

[aggielawyer]

To be fair, while this gets a donor Toyota FJ VIN, and looks like a Land Cruiser, in reality it's a completely all-new, custom chassis, all-new and custom suspension, drivetrain, even all-new body. Literally every single part and piece is new and most are custom fabricated by or for Icon. That's why is $185K. The owner of the company, Jonathan Ward, has been very up front about knowing what he builds are insanely expensive but, for the quality and attention-to-detail, he doesn't have a huge built-in profit margin.