TLC Icon
I’ve always been a fan of the original FJ 40 series Land Cruisers, since they made no apologies for being a stout, well built truck that would get you anywhere you needed to go. Need to check the cows in the back pasture, but three feet of snow is in the way? No problem for the Toyota FJ. Want to climb the third Flatiron in Boulder, Colorado, but you’re out of shape? No worries, just make sure your FJ has a winch (for safety) and drive it up the face from eyebolt to eyebolt.
Sadly, the FJ 40 gave way to today’s bloated luxobarge Land Cruisers. Original FJ 40s remain in demand, but time has not been kind to their ungalvanized steel bodies. Original, unmolested examples are as rare as honest politicians, and prices for used FJ 40s in any condition reflect this.
Enter TLC, Inc., and their line of Icon 4×4 trucks. Jonathan Ward, founder of TLC, is considered to be the guru of all things FJ. Starting with original CAD files from Toyota, Ward has created a modernized version of the venerable FJ 40, with no expenses spared. Every component and material used has been chosen for its premium quality and durability. Paint is replaced by powder coating for scratch and chip resistance off road. Several engine options are available, including both gasoline and diesel variants. Suspension travel is a full twelve inches at each corner, ensuring that the Icon will get you anywhere you’d ever want to go.
All this capability comes at a price; $105,000 is what it takes to get in the door, with typical customer builds running between $125k and $140. Check all the option boxes on the order form, and you’re looking at $170. Steep? Sure, but TLC has built nearly sixty to date.
Source: Autopia