Icon is known for producing obsessively rebuilt classics, that are reinterpreted for modern tastes. Shockingly, its latest project marks the first time it has ever worked on a Chevrolet Suburban, and it’s calling it the “1970 Reformer.”
“In the history of Icon, this Suburban has been one of my favorite truck builds for a variety of reasons,” said Jonathan Ward, Icon founder and CEO. “The Suburban allows our designers such a great canvas with tons of room to get creative with how we integrate our ICON engineering and parts. The sky is really the limit with our vintage Suburban template.”
According to Ward, the build was inspired by the work Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a European designer and architect, who worked with steel and glass, and took a “less is more” approach. Ironically, a look under the hood reveals that the Suburban’s performance is anything but minimalistic.
Read: Icon’s 100th Bronco Build Is A Restomod Work Of Art With A Coyote V8
Power comes from a Nelson Racing Engines twin-turbo Alien LS 427 engine, which produces 1,000 hp (746 kW/1,014 PS) and 900 lb-ft (1,220 Nm) of torque. Icon says that in addition to the power, it wanted bulletproof reliability. They claim that the engine is perfectly comfortable idling in traffic with the air conditioning on.
Power is routed through a 4L85-E automatic transmission with overdrive, and it’s handled by a one-off Art Morrison four-wheel independent chassis. It gets a Dana 60 nodular rear end to help it go, and high capacity Brembo brakes to help it slow.
Those brakes are contained within gray HRE wheels with ZR-rated tires that match the Suburban’s dark gray exterior, and its black highlights around the windows. At the front, the grille is a custom, one-piece unit made of machined 6061 billet.
As you would expect from Icon, nearly everything has been customized for this project. The door handles are custom and the driver’s open button features the initials of one of the client’s family members who worked on the line at GM at the same time as this truck was being built.
The customization went so far that this three-door Suburban now has a fourth door. Initially built with just one rear door (a safety measure intended to only allow kids to exit on the curb side of the vehicle), the customer asked for a fourth door, and they got it.
“This client also wanted us to stretch creatively, which resulted in more aggressive performance and styling than we typically opt for,” said Ward. “This build was an incredible experience because the client kept wanting us to push further and further from the traditional, which I really enjoy.”
As a result of all that work and creative stretching, the 1970 Reformer ain’t cheap. All in, the build cost $1.1 million. If you’re interested in seeing it in the flesh, it will be making its public debut at the Icons of Design showcase on November 19 at the Hagerty Garage + Social Van Nuys location.
