At the intersection of rugged and practical is the Toyota FJ. When war erupted in Korea, the US Army asked Toyota to build Jeeps since it would be easier than shipping them from the U.S. After improving the design, the Land Cruiser would evolve into a prolific 4WD. It is still in production, but it has evolved in a giant luxury SUV. That is why “CruiserHeads” prefer to restore classic examples like the FJ80 (1990-2008). To realize its full potential, ICON has unveiled Joe Rogan’s 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser.
The straight six engine struggled to accelerate because of full-time 4WD. Mr. Rogan chose the Chevrolet LSA V8, the beating heart of the Camaro ZL1 and Cadillac CTS-V. It was treated to a few upgrades to make 560 horsepower and 580 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by a 4L85 transmission, the only 4-speed automatic capable of handling such power. The stock transfer case sends power to the stock axles because Toyota really built them to last. After adding ARB lockers front and rear, the entire body and chassis was taken down to bare metal. Every bolt was polished or replaced with stainless, and fabricated bumpers add to the aggressive looks. Jonathan Ward and his team have raised the bar for all classic Toyotas, so click the link below to find your Land Cruiser!