Suspension pumped up, V8 ready to pump out the power, interior pumping up the style: you’re looking at a 1975 Ford Bronco like no other. Icon of Los Angeles, California, made their name by meticulously hand rebuilding Toyota Land Cruisers - before moving on to classic Broncos, like this Icon New School 1975 Ford Bronco. If it looks like it means business, wait until you see what’s underneath that matte finish. Old school, it isn’t.
You’ll have noticed the suspension is just a little higher than on the average car, so let’s start there. Because Icon’s process is more than a quick tighten of bolts and a smart new matte green wrap. Their mission is a complete rebuild and reimagining of Ford’s hugely popular little pick up, originally built for a utility expressed by flat screens and identical doors left and right, until augmented with glazing and appropriate hardware. Icon start again from ground up: chassis is custom, with coil over suspension, proudly exposed so that onlookers will be left in no doubt that this is effectively a brand new 1975 Ford Bronco.
Would production line workers recognise this 1975 Ford Bronco if Icon’s New School rebuild time-travelled to the Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan in the 1970s? Flat glazing has been replaced but is faithful to original, likewise those doors. But then there’s that suspension - and the wheels are unrecognisable. They’re bespoke forged 18-inch aluminium pieces with floating centre caps and fitted with chunky BF Goodrich All-Terrain K02 tyres. And then there’s what’s under that matte green bonnet.
There’s power aplenty available. While the standard 1975 Ford Bronco could be specified with a 200 bhp V8, Icon have shoe-horned into their New School car a more contemporary V8. Their power unit is taken from a Ford Mustang, a 5.0-litre V8 producing 440 bhp, driving those tailor-made wheels through a five speed Aisin-Warner manual gearbox with Atlas twin-stick transfer case for off-road duties and Dana 44 and 60 axles front and rear.
Then, again, there’s what’s inside Icon's New School 1975 Ford Bronco. Seating in zero sheen black leather is complemented by headlining in black Alcantara. Dashboard is gloss powder-coated. Carbon fibre heating systems warm the front seats in chilly conditions, whether you’re high on a mountain in your Icon New School 1975 Ford Bronco or just simply waiting for the Concours lawn to open early on a Goodwood show day.
Built-to-order never comes cheap. So while, adjusted for inflation and at today’s prices, a 1975 Ford Bronco would have cost you around £25,000, you’ll need a little more when you commission yours from Jonathan Ward and the LA team at Icon. Set aside around £210,000, depending on options and an Icon New School car can be in your driveway. It’s a lot of money, but then it does come with its own bespoke vegetable leather bag containing instruction manuals. We’re sold.
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