Headquartered out of Southern California, ICON 4×4 has been a major pioneer in the emerging restomod space, spearheading a movement that sees already-iconic cars and trucks transformed into custom creations that juggle retro looks and contemporary performance capabilities. And while many of today’s most reputable custom vehicle operations aim to marry period-correct looks with modern components, ICON’s latest limited build series bucks this trend in favor of a thoroughly modernized aesthetic that still comes backed by ICON’s usual brand of top-shelf componentry, world-class build quality, and meticulous attention to detail.
Introducing the ICON 4×4 New School Edition Bronco.
A Ford Powertrain
When selecting an engine for the New School Edition Bronco, ICON opted to keep things in-family, ultimately selecting a 5.0-liter V8 borrowed from the Blue Oval’s Mustang GT. In addition to being markedly more reliable than the stocker’s original motor, the BR’s new V8 is also much more powerful, with the 5.0-liter mill cranking out a respectable 440hp and 440ft-lbs of torque. The engine comes bolted to a five-speed Aisin & Warner AX15 manual transmission with an Atlas II twin stick, two-speed, shift-on-the-fly transfer case.
Chassis & Hardware
Starting out as a 1975 Ford Bronco, the New School Edition BR sees the donor’s stock framework jettisoned in favor of a full custom chassis that’s been fitted with a modern suspension setup with coil-overs at all four corners. The entire build rides on a set of ICON New School forged 18′ Aluminum rims with floating center caps, signature ICON lizard etchings, and BF Goodrich All-Terrain K02 Tires.
Exterior Tweaks
The ’75 Bronco has been cloaked in a two-stage gloss livery that now sits beneath a custom 3M satin green vinyl wrap. The military-inspired wrap has been complemented via a blacked-out powder-coated trim package complete with a murdered out grille, front and rear bumpers, axles, and wheels. Set in the donor’s original headlight housings is now a pair of modern circular LED units positioned directly above a custom steel bumper with embedded LED auxiliary lights and an integrated winch. Rounding out the outside of the build is a rear-mounted swing-out full-size spare and custom blacked-out ICON BR blades.
Interior Excellence
The inside of the Bronco has also received a major update. Noteworthy additions to the cabin include a plit-spoke three-arm steering wheel, an all-black Alcantara headliner, custom seats trimmed in black sueded leather, carbon fiber front seat heaters, a folding and removable rear bench seat, power double tap windows and power door locks, factory style smoked glass, military aircraft-inspired Rosen Charcoal tinted Lexan shade sun visors, Dynamat-lined removable rubber-backed wool square weave carpeting floor liners, and laser cut stainless steel interior cargo door panels with powder coated volcanic black bezels. Also installed was the latest generation of Vintage Air’s air conditioning system which has also been treated to anodized aluminum in-dash vents.
Additional Upgrades
Further modernizing the donor’s performance — and bolstering its go-anywhere capabilities — is a host of contemporary upgrades including manually-activated ARB locking differentials front and rear, an ICON-specific Dana 44 high-pinion front axle assembly, and a Dana 60 high-pinion rear axle assembly. This elite restomod build has also been fitted with a set of top-shelf Brembo brakes.
Included Extras
Alongside the truck itself, ICON has also included a custom ICON-branded Redoxx recovering gear bag, a custom leather registration and document folio, and a bolt-action Boker pen with ICON Lizard etchings that’s affixed to the center console.
From The Horse’s Mouth
“ICON largely started by throwing the old way of restoring cars to factory condition out the window along with the original engine and outdated suspension,” explains ICON founder Jonathan Ward. “Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, everyone called our builds ‘kit cars’ and associated what we were doing with hot rodding. Our contribution to the culture was adding world-class craftsmanship, modern production efficiencies and processes, CAD based engineering and testing, and artistic appeal to the interiors and exterior designs of all of our Ford Broncos, Land Cruisers, and Thirftmasters along with a host of one-off custom builds. Since that time, many have tried to emulate what we’ve created but they’ll always and only just be imitations of the original.”
Spec Sheet
Class: Restomod
Donor: 1975 Ford Bronco
Shop: ICON 4×4
Series: New School Bronco
Engine: 5.0L V8
Power: 440HP & 440FT-LBs
Starting Price: $275,000
Pricing & Availability
ICON 4×4 is currently accepting commissions for New School Bronco series builds. Offered with a wide range of customizable options, the New School Bronco line starts at $275,000.
Recap
1975 Ford Bronco New School Edition By ICON 4×4
ICON 4×4 deviates from the period-correct formula in order to deliver a contemporary take on a classic Ford Bronco with the New School BR.
