Icon has completed construction of its 500th Toyota Land Cruiser, the California restomod specialist recently announced.
Icon’s 1964 Land Cruiser FJ44 New School Edition follows the same model as the 499 versions that preceded it. The exterior remains largely stock, with some subtle updates like LED headlights, power side steps, and new wheels.
The interior, however, features heated seats, a modern audio system, and a rearview camera. Folding rear seats allow access through a double rear door, while a roof rack and ladder give the Land Cruiser that classic expedition look.
The mechanics have also been updated. Power comes from a 6.2-liter V-8 connected to a 5-speed manual transmission and four-wheel-drive system with locking differentials. The brakes and suspension have also been upgraded, and a ceramic-coated exhaust system ensures any passerby will know what’s under the hood.
Icon New School Edition 1964 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ44
Icon founder Jonathan Ward was inspired to start working on Land Cruisers after seeing them in action during an African safari in the 1990s. Impressed by the reliability of Toyotas compared to the Land Rovers also used for safaris, he returned to California and founded TLC 4×4, a company focused on restorations rather than restomods.
Ward then strayed from factory-correct restorations with a 1965 FJ43 that added some more modern touches, including a custom leather interior and Audi gray paint. The reaction to this updated Land Cruiser was overwhelmingly positive, laying the groundwork for Ward’s founding of Icon in 2003.
Since then, the Icon has branched out from Land Cruisers with restomods of other classics like the Chevrolet Thrift Master truck, as well as Skated abandoned restomods. But the company will probably always be best known for the Toyota restomods that started it all.
