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Toyota and Baja racing have become synonomous thanks to one man, Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, who has won the Baja 500 a record 17 times in Toyota's trucks. Despite Ford's obvious interest in wrestling away some of the dune jumping glory with its upcoming F-150 "Raptor", Toyota still dominates in the desert. The Japanese automaker is apparently celebrating that fact and the man who made it all possible with an Ivan "Ironman" Stewart Signature Series Tundra that will be available sometime this Spring. While not a whole lot of details are available from Motive Club where we found the story, we can tell you the truck gets big tires with deep treads, new alloy wheels, a tuned exhaust, lots of limited edition numbered badges and, get this, a shifter made from billet and carbon fiber that's modeled after Ivan Stewart's own grip. Very cool, and a little creepy, too. The truck also features a number of other upgraded components that are being supplied by Stewart's own sponsors, though they weren't listed in detail. It doesn't appear that power from the 5.7L i-Force V8 will be much improved, which means it should be no match for the "Raptor", whenever that truck arrives. But Toyota's got the backing of Iron Stewart himself behind its trucks, which is worth something in this game of one upsmanship.
[Source: Motive Club via Pickuptruck.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
polar @ Apr 10th 2008 5:36PM
Factory TRD Supercharger Option Package anyone?
Red Star @ Apr 10th 2008 5:40PM
Tundra will stay ugly no matter what you do.
geo.stewart @ Apr 10th 2008 5:44PM
as my dad taught me; beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes clear to the bone, or 1/2-built chassis as the case may be.
Temple @ Apr 10th 2008 6:22PM
You would look less bias without the Ford logo in your avatar.
Red Star @ Apr 10th 2008 7:54PM
Maybe I should put Toyota logo as my avatar.
Alon @ Apr 10th 2008 6:26PM
"Despite Ford's obvious interest in wrestling away some of the dune jumping glory with its upcoming F-150 "Raptor", Toyota still dominates in the desert."
Dominates in the desert how? Ford and chevy dominate heavily over toyota in the desert. Most trophy trucks and race trucks are running built chevy and ford motors.
Also, putting some "Deep tread" tires does not classify the tundra as desert worth...there is no comparison to the f150 raptor
sw @ Apr 10th 2008 9:34PM
Of course there is no comparison, you're attempting to compare two trucks that no one asides from the companies respective engineers and test drivers have driven.
chuck @ Apr 11th 2008 1:37AM
well, consider that a base 2009MY F150 FX4 has a rear differential locker for off-roading and Tundra TRD does not. Tundra is already starting from a losing position. Exhaust tuning, lots of badges, and a new shifter aint gonna help.
Matt @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:45PM
I will say this much, not having much of a preference for either model and thus considering myself un-biased:
I wouldn't compare the Raptor, a RACING truck, against the "Ironman Edition" Tundra, clearly built for UTILITY over SPEED, to begin with.
That being said, neither is available, so I agree with others when I say you should stop the senseless bickering. :)
Also, while I usually hate most things Toyota, aesthetically alone, the new Sequoia (spelling?) as well as some of the larger new Tundras just plain LOOK COOL.
But given user reviews of the Tundra itself, I'd probably not purchase one from this gen. Good thing I'm no where near in the market for one, huh? :P
James Hubert @ Apr 10th 2008 6:33PM
If anyone here thinks those tube frame toyota racing trucks have anything to do with the production Toyota trucks, you must also think Nascar Fords, Dodges and Chevys roll off the showroom floor onto the track.
Toyota has been doing this for years...Ivan Stewart's Toyota Baja ride is about 11% Toyota factory parts...89% custom built. I'll also add that the Toyota engines he uses are completely redesigned by American crews, before installation.
American car makers do this too, but the old "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" rule has become a joke. Modern racing cars are pretty much scratch built for whatever racing form they do, with even the ALMS cars being extensively rebuilt.
So for god's sake, don't buy a Toyota cause "Toyota" trucks win Baja. You'd be smarter to buy a Kia because it's red.
SHF @ Apr 10th 2008 6:41PM
Well put
MKIV @ Apr 10th 2008 7:11PM
Like you said, Ford or a GM for that matter.
Stefani @ Apr 10th 2008 7:16PM
There are lots of trophy trucks and other custom machinery at the Baja. But that is only a small part of the entrants.
Obviously you have never been to the Baja. Anyone who knows Baja knows how much stock machinery actually run and finish the race. And a predominate number of entrants are Toyotas.
caddy dave @ Apr 10th 2008 7:15PM
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday is the norm.
However, when it comes to Tundra,
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday, break on Tuesday and recall on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is reserved for tailgate replacements.
Stefani @ Apr 10th 2008 7:14PM
The worse that you can say about this truck is that its ugly. Not so bad. I'll take anything that works over looks anytime.
I've been to the Baja 500 three times now. Toyotas and Toyota engined vehicles are everywhere. Truth is in the competition.
oby @ Apr 10th 2008 7:15PM
"Tundra will stay ugly no matter what you do."
True, but then the same is true of the F150 and the ChevyGMC Whatchamacallit! Why?
cos ALL TRUCKS are UGLY period!
tuna @ Apr 10th 2008 8:07PM
Never mind that Ironman Stewart raced trucks with American V8s. Toyota's involvement was no more than funding and the shape of the outer skin on a tube frame.
Matt @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:16PM
And Toyota's further involvement for this Tundra package is funding to Ivan Stewart in the form of royalty checks for being able to use his name... your point being?
Dennis @ Apr 11th 2008 11:04AM
Doesnt matter! Toyota is profitable and Ford is not. Unless all of you Pro Ford Idiots have tons and tons of $5 Ford stock, Id quit whining and get to investing in foreign makers, thats where the dividends are at and thats all that matters. Drive your junk, I cash in on mine. "Buy American" ha!, spoken out of ignorance!
Matt @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:23PM
Ignorance of what, you incoherent, foul-mouthed jackass?