Well, not exactly, but as close as you're going to get. This is the Icon, handbuilt and offered by the Land Cruiser specialists at TLC in Southern California. While TLC is best known for its restoration work, the Icon is not an immaculately restored or customized '40. This is an all-new vehicle, "a perfect balance of classic design and modern performance," say its makers.
The FJ40 look-alike body is made from steel and aluminum and is finished in a durable, textured, marine powdercoat with Line-X bedliner coating under the floor and fenders. The tub sits on a double C-channel boxed frame that's patterned after the original. Axles are beefy Dynatrac units, a 44 up front and a 60 in back, hung with ARB Dakar/Emu leaf springs and gas shocks. The powertrain is a GM crate 350-inch V-8 making 350 horses and 400 lb-ft of torque, backed by a heavy-duty NV4500 five-speed manual transmission and an Atlas II transfer case with a 3.8:1 low range (or optional 5.0:1 cogs). A second engine option-a 4.0L Iveco turbodiesel that's biodiesel compatible and makes 195 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque-is also available. The Icon rolls on either 16-inch American Racing Teflon-coated wheels or vintage Cruiser rims and a choice of 285/75R16 or 33x10.50R15 BFGoodrich A-T or M-T tires.
As each Icon is handbuilt, there's a long list of options to choose from, including the low-geared Atlas, ARB steel front bumper, Warn winch, ARB locking diffs, audio and GPS systems, and even fancy engine-turning on the dashboard. Prices start at $88,000, which, if you've checked the prices of resto '40s, isn't too bad. Contribute a used FJ40 to TLC to use as a core and the dollars come down somewhat.
We saw the Icon at the 2005 SEMA Show (parked among some very cool vintage Cruisers arranged for maximum impact by TLC) and were immediately overcome with lust. If you are too, visit www.tlcicon.com.
Jeep Jamboree USA's 2006 event schedule includes some new trail rides as well as a new way of classifying them.
The new events include the Top of the Ozarks Jamboree April 21-23 in Seymour, Missouri (where our 2005 Ultimate Adventure was held at the Southern Missouri Offroad Ranch); a Great Nevada Outback trail ride with Mark Smith May 17-20 near Fallon, Nevada; and a Ruby Mountains Jamboree September 15-17 in Elko, Nevada. The full event listing is available in The Jeep Jamboree USA Guidebook and on JJUSA's Web site (www.jeepjamboreeusa.com). We will also list all of JJUSA's events in our Calendar section.
This year, Jamborees will come in two types. "Classic" Jamborees feature full meal service for the entire trip-the traditional gut-busting cookouts on Friday and Saturday nights plus hot breakfasts before the 'wheeling begins and box lunches for the trail. The "Just Trails" events include the Friday and Saturday night family-style dinners, but leave the other meals to Jamboree attendees to fix for themselves. The reduced meal costs for these "Just Trails" trips are passed on to Jamboree attendees in the form of lower entry fees.
Off-road racer and NASCAR pilot Robby Gordon is heading up an "all-American" race team to take on what is considered the most punishing race in the world: the Dakar Rally. His ride for the race is a Hummer H3, his major sponsor is Jim Beam, and he'll roll on Toyo Open Country M-T tires.
Just a second, you're saying. Isn't Toyo a Japanese tire maker? Why, yes. Yes, it is. So what's with the "all American" moniker? Toyo announced it will build a 1.1 million square-foot manufacturing facility in Georgia that will produce some 2 million tires a year for the American market. So Toyo was feeling very American when this team was put together.
Gordon's Dakar Hummer isn't your garden-variety H3. Think of it more as a tube-chassis Trophy Truck with a custom suspension and a "production-based" GM V-8 race engine. As part of his deal with Hummer, Gordon will also race H3s in the Baja 500 and 1000 this year. And Toyo becomes his tire supplier for his Trophy Truck as well as his H3 efforts.