Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles—As I tear up and down the canyons of this tight and twisty slice of film history, I can’t help but be amazed at the almost comically competent manner in which the TLC Icon dispatches the cliff-lined challenges thrown our way.

Based on the classic FJ40 Land Cruiser, this confection of 350hp V8, shoehorned into a shortwheelbased ladder frame and suspended by leaf springs, live axles, and narrow, offroad-spec BFGoodrich tires, seems tailor made to spit me over one of the precipices.

Yet the Icon doesn’t merely survive, it actually seems to thrive on the absurdity of this sort of mayhem. Despite lacking antisway bars, roll is well contained; the cornering stance is near neutral (credit 50:50 weight distribution, a lengthened wheelbase and increase in track), and the modern brakes are strong, modulate well, and are unfazed by hard charging.

The only thing that betrays the age of the design is the play in the antiquated recirculating-ball steering. While a significant improvement over the stock FJ’s, its on-center vagueness initially limits my confidence.

Once acclimated, I find the Icon capable of outpointing Angelinos in their SL500s and 750is. This revitalized beast will also embarrass a vast assortment of more mundane cars in the stoplight grand prix. Even the smaller displacement 5.7-liter in my tested feels good for mid-six second 100kph runs. The accompanying exhaust broadside is aural bliss, and the crate-motor’s instant throttle response and quick-revving nature only reinforce the raunchy rod nature of the machine.

This surreal amalgam of time-tested offroad indomitability and newfound onroad prowess is the essence of the Icon, and a direct result of its genesis. Toyota Land Cruiser is a firm so respected for its work at restoring and upgrading the classic FJs that Toyota tapped their expertise for the prototype development of the all-new FJ Cruiser. To company founder Jonathan Ward the Icon was the next logical step: a reimagining that would wed cutting edge tech, the SoCal hotrod communities talents, and the simple and proven strengths of what is almost certainly the toughest truck ever built.

Stationary and fully clothed, the Icon is a work of art: the classic FJ proportions updated with the finest of 21st century detailing: engine-turned instrument surrounds, billet aluminum switchgear, architectural-grade clasps and hinges; even multi-axis sunvisors sourced from Lear jet. The finish work is exemplary; the custom-built aluminum body goes through over a hundred hours of handwork before being finished in a Teflon nanocoating. Every aspect of the production is orchestrated to be as environmentally benign as possible as well.

Shorn of its body, the Icon is still captivating; TLC starts with an original FJ40 donor frame, which is stripped, magnafluxed, reinforced and upgraded beyond its already heady OEM heritage. The custom powder-coated exhaust, Aero-quip lines and fittings, Baja-rated Atlas transfer case, and monster-truck sized, custom Dana Dynatrac axles bespeak the Icon’s stupendous abilities in the wild.

After a lengthy drive and tour of the production process, what stood out for me was the singular nature of the Icon: not only does it have the static appeal of a modern rod, but it has the prowess—on road and off—to please its owner in a much more diverse manner than most other expensive toys.

Send article as PDF to