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7 Classic 4WD’s You Can Buy New
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FJ40
Icon creates their own versions of the FJ40 with help from Aqualu Industries building a unique 4-door aluminium body.
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FJ40
The FJ45 is a particular favourite.
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Bronco
Unlike the FJ-Series, the BR-Series is a recondition of a real Bronco.
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Bronco
While the body is original, not much is left of the old Bronco.
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Samurai
Yes, that window decal reads “2015 Suzuki Farm Worker,” aka, Long Wheelbase Samurai.
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Samurai
The modern Sami’s still sport only the basics of creature comforts.
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Land Cruiser
With some slight updates, this 2015 70-Series Land Cruiser still has a lot in common with its ‘80’s equivalent.
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Land Cruiser
Although, they didn’t have a twin-turbo V-8 diesel back in the 80’s.
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Lada
These little 4WD’s were much better off-road than most would think.
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Lada
Even Putin himself owns a Lada Niva.
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Richard Pardon
Defender
Holding up Land Rovers off-road credentials.
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Defender
Unfortunately, the Defenders days are numbered.
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Mercedes
The Professional trim level G-Class was a back to basics G-Wagon based off the military version.
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Mercedes
While the Professional trim was axed, a G 350 is as stripped down as one can get without a government contract.
By Budd Stanley, photos courtesy of Toyota, Land Rover, Suzuki, Lada, Mercedes & Icon 4x4
Damn the modern 4WD, get a brand new version of a classic
I grew up bouncing along in the passenger seat of my dads International Harvester C-Series pickup, saved up for a 1983 Toyota Pickup when I was 17 and currently call a Suzuki Samurai my go-to mode of transpiration… if I ever get it running properly that is.
In my line of work, I have the pleasure of driving the latest and greatest offered from the auto manufacturers. With experience testing just about everything the manufacturers build, I am constantly asked what new vehicle would I buy with my hard earned money? The answer I inevitably give is, “an old Samurai,” or “an old Toyota Pickup,” anything but a new truck.
Other than a couple hardcore examples, many new 4WD are all watered down mass produced vehicles designed to be jacks of all trades, master of none. So if I’m going to buy a new 4WD, it isn’t going to be new, it’s going to be old, simplistic, full of character and soul.
Now, I can’t completely blame the manufacturers for building mundane 4WD’s, they are working with one hand tied behind their backs on this subject. I’ll often chat with marketing people and engineers at new vehicle launches and ask why a company couldn’t build a simple utilitarian 4WD like they sold three decades ago? The answer I always get back is a realistic one. There would not be enough profit to build such a vehicle, and even if they wanted to, crash, safety and emissions regulations simply say that they can’t legally. With that, I’ve relegated myself to be at the mercy of used 4WD’s and whatever neglect previous owners have inflicted.
Recently I found myself wandering onto a Suzuki dealers lot here in New Zealand to check out what Suzuki has been up to since they left Canada a couple of years back. The SX4 and Vitara look a little uglier; the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) Swift is a brilliant little tarmac terrorist and I love to drool over the Jimny’s (one of a few modern 4WD’s I would buy), of which they have a pickup version here.
However, what caught my eye was several very clean looking Samurai’s. Being the owner of said 4WD and missing her immensely, I wandered over to take a peek. All three vehicles were absolutely immaculate, fresh paint, clean wheels and not a scratch anywhere to be seen. Something wasn’t right here. Peering into the wheel wells and under the bodies, these things only had a couple of water spots tarnishing the frames. It couldn’t be! I wandered around to the passenger side of the Samurai to see the unthinkable – the Kiwi equivalent to a Monroney window sticker proclaiming this a “2015 Suzuki Farm Worker.”
I couldn’t believe my eyes, and immediately searched out a salesman to get the scoop on this 2015 model year Samurai. Yes, indeed it is a brand new Samurai that Suzuki is building for select markets that can sell vehicles that don’t meet modern day emissions and crash safety standards. Thus, it is called the Farm Worker and can only be driven on farms, ranches and backwoods trails.
So it got me thinking, if you can buy a brand new Suzuki Samurai, what other classic old 4WD’s out there are still being built? Well, here is a quick list of 4WD’s built during the “good ‘ol days” that are still for sale somewhere in the world as 2015 models.
Suzuki Samurai LWB
As it was the Samurai that tipped me off to this phenomenon, lets just continue on here. I don’t need to tell you how much these little 4WD’s are loved by the Zuk Nation. Cheap, economical to run, and small enough to fit around obstacles that hang up even the best built Jeeps, the Samurai was taken from us all too soon as the stigma of dangerous handling was forever imprinted on the little wheeler. Here in North America Suzuki replaced it with the Sidekick (even if both were available for several years at the same time), while the Samurai lived on elsewhere in the world as the Suzuki Jimny.
As I have already mentioned, and still can’t quite believe, Suzuki are still building the iconic mini 4WD. Now called the Farm Worker from Suzuki New Zealand, these modern 4WD’s are nearly identical to the LWB (long wheelbase) Samurai’s sold in Canada up until 1995. The only difference is that they use a multi-port fuel injected, 16-valve version (B13BB) of the B13BA 1.3L engine in Canadian spec Samurai’s. They also have the grille from the parent company Maruti.
Maruti is an Indian subsidiary of Suzuki that builds many Suzuki models in India for southern Asia. One of which is the Maruti Gypsy, aka the Suzuki Samurai, which is still built today. New Zealand has very stringent licensing laws for public highways, but at the same time, very lax laws for vehicles that keep to ranches, farms, wilderness areas and anywhere the law can’t see them. As New Zealand relies heavily on its agricultural industry, Suzuki saw a need for a cheap simplistic 4WD, and thus imports the Maruti built Samurai’s to be legally sold to Kiwi’s who will not drive them regularly on public streets. What a novel idea.
Where can you find one: New Zealand and India
Cost: $11,828 – $17,410 (priced in New Zealand)
Icon FJ Series
Toyota built 40-Series Land Cruisers by the millions, and by no means were these legendary 4WD’s hard to come by. However, built from melted down beer cans, the 40’s have had somewhat of a reputation for developing the red cancer that has wiped out the great majority of these trusty off-roaders, even as their drivetrains live on.
While not a factory built vehicle, Icon 4x4 lovingly bring the spirit of the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 back to life with their FJ-Series models. Built from scratch based around the aluminium bodies fabricated by Canada’s own Aqualu Industries, Icon compliment the body with Fox off-road suspension, Dynatrac Dana 60 and 40 solid axles, an Atlas II transfer case and Aisin-Warner 5-speed gearbox. Power can be derived from a 1.9L VW TDi turbo diesel producing 260 lb-ft or a 350 hp 5.3L LS series V-8.
However, with Icon, the devil is in the details. What makes these Land Cruiser recreations special is the sheer amount of CNC machined billet panels and trim, high quality surface coatings and all the little details that go into the creation of one of these vehicles. It’s easy to see why the prices get so high.
Where they come from: Los Angeles, California, USA
Cost: $151,723 – $236,762
Icon BR Series
Along side the Land Cruiser, Icon also build the equally… iconic… Bronco. Unlike the FJ-Series, the BR-Series is more a case of restoration rather than retro replication. With every BR-Series, Icon starts out with an original Ford Bronco and completely rebuilds it to Icons specifications and the customer’s personal taste.
Starting with a reconditioned body, Icon then lump in a Ford 5.0L Coyote V-8 good for 412 hp and mate it to 5-speed Aisin-Warner AX15 gearbox. Power is sent through an Atlas II transfer case to Dynatrac Dana solid axles front and rear. Everything is held up with Fox suspension, and much like the FJ-Series, the BR receives a great amount of attention to all the little details, featuring a massive amount of precisely machined billet.
Where can you find one: Los Angeles, California, USA
Cost: $182,032 - $242,748
Toyota 70-Series Land Cruiser
Yeah, we’ve been talking a lot about the modern day 70-Series that can still be bought brand new in Asia, Africa and Australia… and any other nation starting with the letter “A.” But in our minds, this was one of the greatest 4WD’s to ever roll off the assembly line and the fact that you can still buy one new, 30-years after Toyota first designed it after the venerable 40-Series, blows our minds.
The best part about the 70-Series is that Toyota really hasn’t messed with a good thing. As these are bought by honest to goodness ranchers and tradesmen, Toyota knew they needed to keep this a simple utilitarian 4WD, only upgrading the engines to be more powerful and fuel efficient along with a couple design tweaks to keep things interesting.
Where can you find one: Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Asia
Cost: $57,778 - $69,499 (priced in New Zealand)
Lada Niva
Yup, the symbol of communism here in Canada is still alive and kicking, stubbornly holding on to power much like Russia’s current government. Despite our political differences, Canada was the largest market for the Lada beyond the Iron Curtain, before being forced out in 1998 due to poor build quality and not being able to compete with the Korean manufacturers. Despite all its shortcomings, the Niva has turned into a bit of an off-roaders cult classic so to speak.
So, Niva lovers, you’ll be happy to know that your little unibody 4WD is still being built and really hasn’t changed much in the last 38-years. Although I think they put some shiny new hubcaps on now – those elitist pigs. Regardless, 2015 Niva’s can be found in the standard short wheelbase, stretched wheelbase and even a 5-door now. Parent company, AutoVAZ are even building modern vehicles on the old Niva platform – such as the Chevrolet Niva. How creative.
Where can you find one: Russia, Eastern Europe
Cost: $8,771 - $9,052 (priced in Russia)
Land Rover Defender
Technically, Land Rover has been building the same version off their original 4WD since 1948 when they first showed the Series I to the public. Since then the Series I has morphed into the Series II and III, and is now known as the Defender. While a Roverphile will happily point out the differences, the original Land Rover has followed a similar path as the 70-Series Land Cruiser – updating drivetrains to more powerful and efficient (maybe not more reliable) modern equivalents and adding the odd interior feature to keep it more weather tight than a side-by-side. However, the Defender is so commonly related to the Series Land Rovers that a great number of parts are interchangeable and still provides the same driving experience you get with a Series Land Rover, albeit with slightly more sound deadening.
Unfortunately, Land Rover Canada graced us with the Defender for only a short time in the early years, all 25 of them, then decided they could make more money off of snobby socialites rather than farmers and loggers. The good news, Land Rover has continued to build the Defender since it was taken from us, despite the entire company deciding to go all hoity toity. The bad news, they have since killed off the Defender and are only weeks away from shutting down the assembly line. Unfortunately, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Defenders replacement, whether it even comes to fruition is yet to be seen. If it does, you can bet it will have nothing in common with the original Series Land Rover as governmental standards and regulations have simply outgrown the old girl.
Where can you find one: Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Cost: $36,472 – 42,666 (priced in Germany)
Mercedes Geländewagen
We have to give an honourable mention to the Mercedes Geländewagen or G-Class. In all honesty, todays Canadian Spec G-Class doesn’t have a whole lot in common with the original G-Wagon that was designed for military duty in the deserts of Iran 35-years ago. Other than sporting the same iconic boxy shape of the original G-Class, Canadian spec vehicles have been plastered with a facade of chrome and over sized wheels, while the interior is overflowing with quilted leather, electronics and digital readouts. Then there are the engine options, you can have the gas guzzling 5.5L V-8, or if you happen to own some property in northern Alberta, you might be able to feed the G 63 AMG.
However, in Europe, particularly Germany, you used to be able to purchase the “working mans” version of the Geländewagen. This was a civilian version of the military vehicle that came with 125 hp 2.3L gasoline four banger and a 3.0L V-6 turbo diesel that produces 208 hp and 398 lb-ft. On top of an engine package that just makes sense for someone who may enjoy heading into the wilderness on a regular occasion, these G-Wagons are stripped void of all the useless luxuries that clutter the higher echelon trim packages. They ditch the low plastic bumpers for higher metal examples and can even be had with a real gear stick and third pedal. How common. Unfortunately, Mercedes just put the axe to this “Professional Line” of G-Classes, however a much more efficient and usable G 350 Diesel is still available.
Where can you find one: Plentiful in Europe, Germany in particular
Cost: $104,770 - $316,919 (priced in Germany)
All prices posted in Canadian dollars.