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FIRST DRIVE: Toyota Retro ... (continued)
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The grille and hood were widened only three inches in the interests of preserving the classic FJ-45 look, so the fenders had also to be extended and raised to match the vehicle's increased track. The rear gate was widened by acquring a second rear gate, then cutting and joining them. While installing the new engine, Millen situated the V-8 eight inches rearward of where it would normally be, requiring a longer front driveshaft, and a shorter rear one. As in the current Land Cruiser, the rear diff is lockable via a driver-controlled button, and the Retro Cruiser gets a center diff-lock switch too. Custom made control-arm suspension pieces are found front and rear, with torsion-bar springing at the front, coil-over-shock units in the rear, and remote-reservoir Bilstein shocks at all corners.

Since a modern Land Cruiser cowl now lives behind the engine (allowing air-conditioning), Millen designed a new dash panel to house a contemporary instrument panel and switchgear. While he was at it, he added a GPS navigation system and satellite phone. Inside the Retro Cruiser, you find a higher floor than normal, with seats (also from a modern Land Cruiser) lowered to maintain adequate headroom. With five inches of length added to the rear doors, ingress is much improved, and space inside the Retro Cruiser is quite generous.

It is also surprisingly comfortable, especially over rough terrain, where its body motions are better controlled than in a modern Land Cruiser, allowing a quicker pace through the boonies with much less jolting and bouncing. Compared with a 1999 Land Cruiser, Millen's redesign has reduced front and rear overhang (by 7.2 and 6.1-inches respectively), and increased the break-over angle (28 vs 24-degrees), the approach angle (48 vs 31), and the departure angle (32 vs 24 degrees). Add an 11.25-inch ground clearance (2.45-inches greater than the Land Cruiser's, only some of which due to the 35-inch BFGoodrich prototype tires on custom-made 17-inch Budnik wheels), and you have a retro-wagon capable of serious off-road work.

But in case all that still isn't enough to prevent you from getting stuck, there are twin 9,000 lb Warn winches. The front hitch is hidden under a panel, and the rear unit hidden under the floor near the rear diff, feeding its cable via guiding rollers to an aperture in the aluminum rear bumper. If they don't help, well, at least there's a 10-gallon freshwater storage tank to keep you going until the helicopter arrives.

Okay, the Retro Cruiser is just a one-off project commissioned by Toyota Motor Sales' vice-chairman Yale Gieszl and Lexus's general manager Brian Bergsteinsson (the same guys behind the Lexus street rod we saw at various car shows). But it's a convincing showcase of off-road capability and an evocative celebration of Toyota SUV heritage in one package. How much is the Retro Cruiser worth? Don't even ask.

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