Vehicle designer ICON 4×4 has just unveiled its first Old School Edition Thriftmaster, a completely bespoke, fully-customized 1950’s era truck.
ICON 4×4’s newest hand-built Thriftmaster combines the original vehicle’s timeless bygone-era styling with modern state-of-the-art engineering for the ultimate truck driving experience, the builders said. The Old School Thriftmaster is the newest addition in a series of ICON 4×4 Old School editions, which feature restored trucks equipped with modern performance and engineering while maintaining the vehicle’s retro look.
“This is the very first of our Old School Thriftmaster builds, so we had the opportunity to completely redesign the visual elements as well as the chassis for a much smoother, really enjoyable ride, that also creates a wholly different personality, when compared to our New School version” comments ICON 4×4 Lead Designer and Founder Jonathan Ward. “At ICON 4×4, our passion is in celebrating timeless designs and giving them new life with increased performance, handling, and comfort. Originally, this was a farm truck, so working with the client to restore a workhorse like this was such a fun, rewarding process.”
The ICON 4×4 Old School Edition Thriftmaster features an emissions-certified LS3 V8 engine producing 430 horsepower, mated to a 4L85-E automatic transmission. Implementing independent front and rear suspension, this truck is capable of hauling light loads while possessing the performance characteristics of a modern-day sports car, the builders say, resulting in an unforgettably timeless retro design that drives like nothing else out on the road today.
The ICON 4×4 Old School Edition Thriftmaster incorporates a light vintage green two-tone paint job and each exterior component of the Thriftmaster build was given significant attention, ICON 4×4 says, and the old school style the continues throughout the interior with more period correct design with a distinctively ICON 4×4 twist.
ICON 4×4 retained the original vanilla-hue Thriftmaster dashboard to highlight the saddle leather seats, steering wheel and roof. One of the many unique features of the truck is the Saint Francis badge located in the rear of the interior cabin. The badge inside the Thriftmaster signifies safe travels for all, ICON 4×4 says, was sourced in London for the client. The Thriftmaster’s interior also incorporates custom leather, including made-to-order matching green suede piping.
Other modern-day updates that have been implemented into the vehicle include ICON Brembo brakes, as well as an African teak bed, complemented with stainless rails and custom removable cargo hold down pins. A Bluetooth dependent audio system feeds sound through a digital sound processor controlled by two design-era appropriate dash knobs, a new A/C unit and several further interior upgrades on the original components further add to the Thriftmaster’s design. More than 22 specific items are unique to this new Old School Package.
