Custom TLC FJ43, The One That Started It All

Come along as we test drive one of our first custom builds that would turn into our ICON ethos. Can you believe this truck was finished in the early 2000s!
www.icon4x4.com

[@felixspiess]

Thanks for sharing this special story, and the inspirations that come with it. I owned an 85 Bandeirante of the same body style in the 2010s, your video brings back fond memories of fixing its rusty body.

[@idiOTytinflUnceRs]

This episode needs to be stored in the Library of Congress. A historical account that cannot be forgotten. Thank You for sharing! 👍

[@terra_fogo_agua_ar]

Love it! I'm from Brazil and I own exactly the same model, year 74, Merc engine, 4x4. It become rare to see the cruisers around. I think collectors are realizing the potential of this machine. It was a great choice of color, details, rims. Even it was restored over 20 years ago.

[@kingofanything8074]

Wonderful video and terrific history lesson. I hope you got enough Bandeirante bodies to keep building for years to come. The quality and style of your builds is second to none. I also appreciate the simple, relaxed pace of your storytelling. Thank you, Jonathan for all the excellent work you do and thank you for sharing. You are truly an inspiration to up and coming builders.

[@ICON4x4Design]

Thank you. Unfortunately we ran out of them quickly and devised a new plan…

[@cyrilhudak4568]

I am the proud owner of a '22 Bronco 2 dr. I also feel like part of the Icon family now. Thanks for all you do.

[@dadgarage7966]

There's only one ICON. It's Jonathan. He never talks about his past successes.

[@RafaelSilva-oh1tx]

That's just amazing! Good you kept on trying with the Brazilian factory!

[@matticusmac6452]

Got to see an Icon FJ44 on a truck carrier here in New Hampshire last week, was awesome to see!

[@canalrotasedestinos]

Greetings from Brazil! The Bandeirante was an icon among framers and country people who needed a heavy duty daily car for decades and still wanted, now by 4x4 people. Thanks for sharing.

[@canalrotasedestinos]

@H K Sure!

[@canalrotasedestinos]

@H K sky high prices... :(

[@bernardbarbour]

I live here in Colombia and had the opportunity to buy one (Banderiante), that someone imported from Brazil. It had the Mercedes engine etc and honestly I didn't realize at the time what is was. After purchasing an FJ43 here in Colombia and then going down a rabbit hole to find out more about all the models of Land Cruisers here, I was stunned to find out about the Banderirante I could have bought. Thank you for this very interesting story. Now I know if I run across another I'll surly buy it. Cheers!

[@PhotonHerald]

Awesome look back at your early work! Thanks for sharing it!

[@islandblacksmith]

such a lovely looking machine! so sad that the tooling is gone...everyone wants old school now!

[@Palfaro48]

Wow you sir are a legend can’t wait to finish my fj40 now thank you for bringing back my motivation for my truck

[@johnjoseph911]

It’s remarkable that Toyota broke the original tooling (bad day) yet you geared up to make everything in the USA - a lot of work and investment. All credit to you Jonathan for almost creating the market - you deserve your success.

[@jasonlemuel5078]

I think toyota intentionally done as it would've compromised their fj70 sales as most people would stick just buying spares made from this tools consequently lowers the demand of the newer fj70s Case in point they still made those

[@avmelidor]

Great truck. You were ahead of the times

[@gabyherrmann9894]

Simply great and simply the best, only six words !!!

[@martinmurphy3868]

Absolutely Awesome great to see your first Icon I would keep it Not only that I would kill for it What a fantastic piece of Machinery

[@georgiafan6618]

Love your descriptive drives. Never long winded with all the necessary details. 👍Demolishing the tooling was an inexplicable decision. Your attention to detail is unmatched and few build at your level. The new frame/coil suspension is unmatched and I’d love to have one even though I’m a pickup guy. When I come across perfection, I just have to see it and perhaps own it. Yours is a Great American success story with the proud Toyota anecdote. Pats on the back for that. Much luck and I hope you stay in this market for many years to come. Love the FJ. Thanks for sharing!

[@topreview3791]

Great video, and wear whatever sunglasses want because “you are a rockstar” ❤

[@G3516dude]

Greetings from Australia. Thanks for the amazing video/story. What an Awesome rig! I’d love to have that.

[@louisel.sinniger2057]

Wow sir, I commend you for what you have done. I miss my 1971 FJ40. I wish that they still made them. I would buy one in a heart beat but then again if this were a possibility it would probably be out of my financial ability. I am semi retired and I would want nothing more than to have one for my last vehicle. Finally, now I have a great garage to keep one in. Oh well, I can only wish. I still have my pictures and memories to keep me happy.

[@sadubone]

What a perfect vehicle. I love the variance of this unique build. It's such an interesting perspective in your company's time line to see how you've progressed. I think it's one of my favorites because of it's uniqueness. A truly old school feel. Those seats stand out, that style looks good in there, remind me of an old Lancia rally car. Large opening rear door. And the style lines in the quarter panel stand out, really eye catching. I enjoyed the history and your immersion into Toyota. Thank you for sharing. I like some bits of this better and some of the newer designs better. It would be fun to be able to build one and utilize components from both ends of the build spectrum. Some day...

[@totoiza17581]

Amazing story !!!!!!!!!

[@nolakirk3357]

Really enjoy your videos and your style. In the event I ever win a lottery which is not likely because I don’t buy tickets Icon would be my first choice for my dream vehicle. Keep the content coming.

[@iammaximus614]

…. Top Quality & Amazing work

[@frankmartinez4856]

Such a Great Story, from a Great Man 😮You & your Team!! 😊

[@garrettheapy7254]

What a beautiful rig!

[@KBrogger]

I love that back door.

[@mkmsphere3800]

Great 👍 love your land cruiser, I wish to have one .I love the quality and condition of your beautiful beast

[@frankr111th]

Beautiful truck wish I could afford it. I love the FJ 43 hard tops.

[@evandromendonca2868]

what a beauty. Cheers from Brazil!

[@burningmanmike]

After winning the PowerBall, my first purchase, an ICON FJ40.

[@geraldkarl642]

Amazing, thank you. Take care.

[@jakeofallterrains9048]

If Joe Nathan believes in the nomenclature, then I'm thankful to be a bishop.

[@mjfromla]

That was great recollection... I didn't know about the Brazilian variant of the Land Cruiser. Didn't know anything about your involvement with Toyota - always wondered what they thought about what you've done with their vehicles. Another excellent video.

[@MrDieselOnly]

What are the sunglasses? Looks like a matte finish on the outside of those lenses.

[@marcelo_rcosta]

5:41 Um abraço de São Paulo- Brasil 🇧🇷 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@uliwehner]

very cool car. brazil was such an interesting market, for VW, for Opel, for Ford, etc. I guess Toyota did the right thing with the FJ cruiser, they built a couple of hundred thousand, with warranties and everything, while ICON built more in the hundreds. Icon trucks are certainly cooler, but also not nearly as affordable as the FJ Cruiser.

[@sampieters4382]

Saya senang sekali melihatnya dan saya penggemar TLC, terima kasih

[@rafaelgomez1284]

The one that started the 4 x 4 enviroment for all audiences was...Land Rover, precisely the 1948 series I.

[@MalcolmDesigns]

Super Cool Truck!

[@el_micha]

@ICON What a great story! Thanks for sharing it with us, the whole history of ICON is so inspiring! Please also never stop doing the shop tours! Bytheway, nvm the sunglasses. They look supercool. Did you get them custom made?

[@ICON4x4Design]

Nope, from Dillon Optics, The Drake. They work great too

[@marcionogueira7617]

An American Bandeirante? Gee.. that's was unexpected. Nice to see our monster out of the jungle.

[@michaelmiller1109]

You are a rock star!

[@anthony1968]

merry chrismas ro you

[@garyseaton4619]

Is that your "little monster"? Sometimes you just have to keep the best for yourself...

[@dennispeery5166]

What an incredible unicorn, shame that Toyoda demoed the old Brazil factory.

[@wuttmodel3232]

So nice so much sir

[@terryholman8036]

Love the story - thank you for sharing! ALSO Love the paint color - any chance you can share the paint code?

[@jeffreyaward]

If it’s an Audi TT color, as he indicated, to my eye it looks like Dolomite Grey Pearl. A fantastic color, for sure.

[@JuanMartinez-qu6pn]

Fj 40 mod 1978 para la venta en cali colombia

[@paulsthormes251]

Thanks for sharing awesome video as usual.😎 today's Toyota is not what it used to be. still making good product not great.

[@kylepruitt2465]

What did it sell for?

[@Brian-os9qj]

Special

[@georgesaraamonette1782]

Are you going to try and do the same with the China supplier, import new bodies?

[@ICON4x4Design]

Not planned but considered

[@wartable]

Eventually 3D scanning and printing will allow for duplications

[@tacticalwarriorviking5089]

Do you have to adapt that with a 3rd brake light? Don't most states require it?

[@ICON4x4Design]

We often do them when clients request them, but it is not required because of the year of manufacture.

[@tacticalwarriorviking5089]

@ICON4x4Design Oh I see. Well thank you for getting back so quickly. Great videos and great stuff! I've been watching for years.

[@jimmym02]

is this for sale ?

[@jimmym02]

asking because i got my lotto ticket right here!

[@juanquiros8934]

Since Toyota Brasil destroyed everything, your next best option is to go Saudi Arabia and bring back all those cruisers sitting in the desert and give them a second live.

[@fatso5131]

Always a pleasure…. Slick truck.

[@Jawad_Muhammad]

Are those BMW front seats?

[@ICON4x4Design]

No, they were aftermarket. If my memory serves me correctly, they are from pro car.

[@Jawad_Muhammad]

@@ICON4x4Design Wow. That’s interesting. I like it. Well bolstered a little stiff but a solid choice. The interior looks mint. Thanks for posting these videos and thank you for the history lesson I never knew the details of the South American Toyota history. Fascinating.

[@matticusmac6452]

Really wish Toyota would bring u back in to the equation for a land cruiser return. Ford crushed it with the Bronco.....100 series owner with 328k miles

[@wilburpost7977]

With all the Wranglers and now Broncos sold, you would think Toyota Corporate would get a clue......

[@kristineflor3108]

Wow can you pls give that to me

[@805gregg]

Jeep started it all, Land Rover came 2nd then Toyota copied the rest

[@ICON4x4Design]

Now live on our site! icon4x4.com/inventory/gallery/now/121

[@rodrigomoraes7633]

Great you shared the story...the Bandeirantes is such an Icon in Brazil. There were versions adapted by coach builders in the North of Brazil that were super super extended and would fit more than 10 people. Would love to see an Icon version of that.

[@MikeF055]

Interesting story that is quite parallel to my own on Toyota. I was in the sport compact modification scene in 1998, was contacted by them for what we didn't know at the time was to be the Scion brand line. My concept of the TC was closer to the prelude design of the mid-80s, and you see how it turned out, nothing close to my vision. The a and b weren't even discussed. I'm guessing that they didn't pay you millions either. Good video!

[@lylehsaxon]

Fascinating history! Always enjoy your videos, but this one I think I enjoyed more than just about any of them due to the history you explain! Great stuff! Keep on rockin'!

[@jonascap]

Love the sunglasses! Where do you get them? Also ,as always love the machine. The story with Toyota fascinates me every time. You are inspiring.

[@ICON4x4Design]

Thank you! They are called The Drake, by Dillon Optics

[@garyseaton4619]

That's an amazing story. Consider yourself an "Icon" of the Toyota brand. You've got to be one in a Million when it comes to your connections in that truly outstanding manufacturing conglomerate.

[@OpenRoadMotorCo]

What tire did you use in this set up. And what is biggest tires I can fit in these wheels please?

[@havardstle3788]

What a great storry! You've mentiond some of it before, but graet to hear it all! What a trip it must have been! Love what you guys do!

[@johnmilligan2964]

Love the truck and love the story behind it.

[@juliosalazar6492]

very nice but how can you get into the back seats?

[@timklassen421]

Ilike it a diesel engine would be nice

[@bryancook7541]

210 Thousand miles on my 2008 FJ! and still building it!

[@kidsnvans]

Hi! Did this sell?

[@ironhorse7601]

Please do a ICON G60 Nissan Patrol with a VK56 heart

[@danielbarbalho5945]

Great video and great job on the Bandeirantes. We would love to work together on a build one day.

[@cosmovet44]

Really looks great. With a look of Willys and Land Cruiser mix. Overall love all that you and your team have done with this vehicle!

[@bobdelano6746]

Merry Christmas From a 1970, fj 40 owner

[@youtubiefun]

wow

[@doingthatthang]

Hello, what sunglasses are those? they are super cool.

[@albatros1752]

Chevy engine in Toyota body .... Toylet ?

[@CrazyHungarian69]

Nimbus Grey from the Audi TT.

[@AFog86]

Great story! Thanks for sharing.

[@conservativeokie]

Merry Christmas!!!

[@garlic_starlet]

Wow really cool!

[@sayamasihprapto5195]

Very good

[@pedrofernando176]

🤙👍✌

[@GhostRider-ms1ep]

WHAT A PIECE OF ART 🎨.