Toyota Retro Cruiser - a modern SUV in retro style (20 photos)
The prototype was built more than 20 years ago, but for the SEMA tuning show it was pulled out of the archives. Toyota recalled one of its long-standing tuning projects, to which the famous athlete Rod Millen had a hand in back in 1999. The Retro Cruiser is a powerful SUV that combines a 1967 body with a relatively modern chassis. 
In 1999, the management of the American division of Toyota and Rod Millen, famous for his victories in the “Racing to the Clouds” on Pikes Peak, had the idea to tell the public about the merits of the then new Land Cruiser 100 and at the same time remind about the off-road heritage of the brand. The best way that the partners managed to come up with was to create a restomod based on the FJ45 Kruzak.
The donor was bought for only 5 thousand dollars. The frame was lengthened by 250 millimeters, the track was widened by another 100 - inevitably the body had to be seriously altered, the rigidity of which was increased due to the developed internal frame. The chassis was deeply modified using parts from Sotka, and during construction the Retro Cruiser received an independent rear suspension. Wheel travel has increased by 30%. For example, the rear ones can move in a range of 300 mm. The car is shod with custom 17-inch wheels with 35-inch General Tire tires.
A 4.7-liter V8 with 230 horsepower was installed under the hood, retaining the 4-speed automatic transmission, transfer case and differential locks standard for the Land Cruiser 100. The only modification to the engine is a Borla stainless steel exhaust.
The interior was also borrowed from the Sotka, adding expensive leather, a satellite phone, navigation and, oddly enough, a 70-liter water tank. In this way, the creators of the restomod showed at the same time both the spaciousness of the interior and the car’s readiness for travel. The “hundredth” Land Cruiser was then considered the most comfortable Toyota car on the American market.
In preparation for the current exhibition, the Retro Cruiser was slightly restored: it was completely disassembled, cleaned and repainted in its original color. 
