Icon 4×4 reworks a classic Chevy Thriftmaster with a modern V8, keeping the retro look while upgrading the chassis and interior details
3 hours ago
- LS3 6.2-liter V8 powers this restomodded Chevy with 440 hp.
- Icon 4×4 added modern Brembo brakes and four-corner suspension.
- The interior features dark leather trim and wool floor mats.
As we’ve come to learn from recent builds, no classic car is truly off-limits in the world of restomods. For its latest project, Los Angeles-based Icon 4×4 has taken a vintage Chevrolet Thriftmaster and reworked it with a modern powertrain, all while keeping the truck’s timeless exterior design intact.
Read: You’d Never Guess A New Chevy Is Hiding Under This Rusty Old Truck
This particular truck marks the 30th Thriftmaster build by Icon 4×4, and as with the others, it doesn’t come cheap. In fact, a custom commission like this starts at $225,000, a price that reflects the extensive craftsmanship and updated tech hiding under the weathered skin.
Nostalgia may be part of the appeal, but affordability clearly isn’t.
Each Thriftmaster gets an upgraded chassis with fully independent suspension and an adjustable rear sway bar. Brembo brakes replace the originals for serious stopping power, while a rack-and-pinion steering system brings precision the old setup could never match.
The truck now rolls on forged 18-inch aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tires, a quiet giveaway that there’s some serious performance going on underneath.
V8 Power, Minus the Electronic Nannies
The original engine has been pulled out and replaced by a modern LS3 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 making 440 horsepower. It’s paired with an upgraded automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. No performance figures have been released, but with that kind of output and no traction or stability control to keep it in check, it should be a riot behind the wheel.
Although the original design has been retained, the truck has been repainted in a distinctive shade of green and has had all of its chrome parts refinished. There’s also a new bedliner trimmed in White Oak with stainless steel rails, including several tie downs.
Retro Inside And Out
The cabin has also seen a full overhaul, though Icon wisely kept the look era-appropriate. There are no digital displays or touchscreen distractions. Instead, a Bluetooth audio system has been discreetly tucked away, and modern speakers have been quietly integrated into the cabin. Overhead, a rich dark brown Alcantara headliner adds just the right touch of understated luxury.
Other refinements include brown leather upholstery on the seats, door panels, and steering wheel, along with custom wool floor mats that complete the interior without clashing with the vintage theme.
