For this year’s SEMA show, Toyota has decided to remind us about a restomod called Retro Cruiser, which racing driver Rod Millen built for himself in the early 2000s based on a Land Cruiser 100 chassis and FJ45 bodywork dating back to the model year 1967.
Millen started the project in 1999 after securing the original manufacturer’s assistance. The idea was to remind everyone that Toyota had a history of building off-road vehicles going many decades into the past while also advertising the latest Land Cruiser 100.
The project necessitated stretching the original frame by around 250 mm (9.8 inches) and cutting the bodywork accordingly. The entire suspension system has been overhauled as well with modern components and a per-wheel design at the front axle. With 300 mm (nearly 12 inches) of travel, it did a lot to make off-road driving easier and more comfortable.
17-inch wheels were put inside the arches with 35-inch tires, and a 4.7-liter V8 slotted in under the hood. It sent 230 PS (227 hp / 169 kW) to the wheels through a four-speed A/T and transfer case.
Many interior parts were also borrowed from the Land Cruiser 100, including the seats, the dashboard trim and the transmission tunnel cover. A satellite phone, a navigator and a roll cage were added to the standard equipment.
For this year’s show, the SUV was disassembled, all worn parts repaired or replaced, and the body resprayed in its original color. According to Mike Tripp, one of the company’s Vice Presidents, the goal was to highlight the iconic status of the Land Cruiser and inspire the modern LC fan community.