Green Machines: Biodiesel: The Iconoclast
April 1, 2007
Jonathan Ward noticed that clients of TLC—the shop he founded to restore and
customize Toyota’s rugged FJ40 Land Cruiser—kept asking for the same thing. “The
common theme for our customers was an affinity for original aesthetics and
modern technology,” he says. “A lot of people are still concerned about using a
restored vintage vehicle.” This mix-and-match ethos inspired the Icon concept: A
fresh interpretation of the original FJ40 built almost exclusively with new
components.
The TLC Icon looks like a vintage Toyota FJ40, but its aluminum
body, biodiesel-fueled engine and comfortable seats are all new. (Click images to enlarge) ; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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An Icon starts with a reconditioned FJ40 frame that Ward
reinforces and powdercoats. The TLC-crafted body closely follows the vintage
truck’s design prec-edent, but features unique dimensions and materials. Says Ward, “There are
major differences in body construction, size and positioning, but they’re
difficult to identify.” Finished in a scratch-resistant polymer/Teflon hybrid
powdercoat, the high-strength aluminum assembly weighs a full 150 pounds less
than an original FJ40’s steel skin; an available carbon fiber hardtop and doors
further reduce the Icon’s tonnage.
Though the ubiquitous Chevy V-8 powers
most Icons, this truck sports a 4-cylinder International diesel unit producing
about 135 hp and 278 ft lbs of torque. (The diesel option adds $5,200 to the
Icon’s $96,500 base price.) Power might be scarce by drag strip standards, but
this Icon has the torque to pull itself out of almost any situation, and to
return a credible 25 mpg to 30 mpg. It also runs on biodiesel, the
environmentally sensitive fuel obtained from virtually any fast-food fryer—and,
in some cases, from your local gas station “Buying Bio”.
The
updated leaf spring chassis relies on off-road standard bearers, like
super-heavy-duty Dana 60 axles and an ARB “air locker” front and rear
differential. A limited slip in the rear axle is standard. Calibrated for
serious off-road use, the suspension is necessarily stiff to keep the heavy
axles in contact with terra firma. Slow steering facilitates maneuvers over
rough terrain, and the short wheelbase—a boon for rock crawling—can be
identified as the reason for an Icon’s bouncy ride.
TLC clearly considers
diminished on-road performance a fair trade for off-road excellence. And that’s
just the way Icon owners want it. According to Ward, they often use their sturdy
off-roaders to navigate ranches and large estates, in locales as diverse as
Hawaii, Montana and North Carolina’s Outer Banks. “I’ve got one or two guys who
might only parade them around on the weekend,” he says, “but most of my owners
beat the piss out of them.”
TLC
818.785.2200
www.tlcicon.com
SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2.8-liter turbodiesel 4-cylinder
Power: 135 hp at 3,800 rpm
Torque: 278 ft lbs at 1,400 rpm Zero-to-60 mph: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 95 mph Average fuel consumption: 30 mpg
Pro: Eco-friendly, go-anywhere 4x4
Con: Unrefined on-road performance
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