Autoblog

Icon Derelict DeSoto cools its heels in Jay Leno's Garage

Zach Bowman — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Wagon, Videos, Chrysler, Celebrities, Specialty

Of all the shops turning out cool hardware these days, few get us as excited as Icon. And while their off-road beasts are heart-stopping in their execution and attention to detail, it's the company's Derelict line that really gets us grinning. Icon founder Jonathon Ward swung by Jay Leno's Garage to show off his latest creation: a 1952 Chrysler/DeSoto wagon with modern bones underneath. Ward started with a Chrysler Town and Country wagon before swapping over a DeSoto front clip for a little more style. The old Hemi V8 was then ditched for a 2010 6.1-liter fuel-injected lump, though Icon kept the original valve covers in order to keep the engine bay looking as period as possible.

As with all Derelicts, there's little on the underside of the '52 that hasn't been re-engineered by the Icon team. The car uses a complete modern running gear and a set of six-piston Wilwood brakes bring the family hauler down from speed. Check it out on the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage below.

Continue reading Icon Derelict DeSoto cools its heels in Jay Leno's Garage

Icon Derelict DeSoto cools its heels in Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jonathon Ward talks about his Icon Derelicts in latest eGarage video

John Neff — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Design/Style

There are very few things that get the unanimous approval of everyone here at Autoblog. One of them is Icon 4x4, which makes impossibly expensive yet worth-every-penny reimaginings of history's best off-roaders. For this year's SEMA Show, Icon debuted something new that had nothing to do with off-roading, yet still had our whole team salivating.

Christened a "Derelict" by Icon founder and designer Jonathon Ward, this 1952 Chevy Coupe looks like an abused artifact from a time not worth remembering. Knowing Icon like we do, however, it's anything but. The Derelict is fitted with a 6.2-liter V8 from General Motors producing 430 horsepower and an interior upholstered in gorgeous vintage briefcase leather, but the exterior is as original and rusty as it was when Icon found it. What we didn't know at SEMA is that the '52 Chevy isn't the first Derelict that Icon produced.

Our friends at eGarage have produced an excellent video about how the two Derelicts came to be, including how Jonathon Ward and his company made them. Spoiler alert: It wasn't as easy as dropping a new engine into an old car and redoing the leather. The Derelicts were meant to be high-performance yet reliable daily drivers, which requires more thought and engineering than we ever imagined.

Follow the jump to be one of the first to watch this latest video from eGarage.

Continue reading Jonathon Ward talks about his Icon Derelicts in latest eGarage video

Jonathon Ward talks about his Icon Derelicts in latest eGarage video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Icon Derelict 1952 Chevrolet Business Coupe looks even cooler in the flesh

Zach Bowman — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Classics, Coupe, Chevrolet, Specialty

Icon was kind enough to roll out two vehicles at SEMA 2011 including the company's latest Derelict project. We found this 1952 Chevrolet Business Coupe is a welcome sight among the flashy, polished-to-death SEMA masses. With its Art Morrison chassis, completely reworked suspension, CNC-machined steelie reproduction wheels and a 430-horsepower aluminum General Motors 6.2-liter V8 engine, Icon's latest Derelict is nothing short of a SEMA masterpiece. The level of execution and attention to detail on the vehicle, from the glass bottle burp tank to its buffalo and alligator seat covers, is phenomenal.

Icon has already produced a handful of Derelict projects; vehicles with original patina and reworked engine and chassis components. The company says that it can perform the same service on any vehicle from the 1930s to the 1970s. Judging from strong reader response to our earlier post on this vehicle, you've already gone gaga right along with us based on the press shots alone. Here's your chance to get a little closer to the restomod action with our in-person gallery.

Icon Derelict 1952 Chevrolet Business Coupe looks even cooler in the flesh originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Icon Derelict '52 Chevy Business Coupe is unassuming masterpiece

Zach Bowman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Specialty

Ladies and gentleman, this is what SEMA should be about. Behold the latest from Icon, the Derelict - a 1952 Chevrolet Deluxe Business Coupe hiding a full arsenal of modern engineering beneath over half a century of patina.

The vehicle uses a complete powder-coated Art Morrison chassis with a front independent suspension and a four-link rear. An all-aluminum, fuel-injected 6.2-liter General Motors LS3 V8 sits between the frame rails and cranks out 430 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 4L65E automatic transmission and a full set of six-piston brakes with anti-lock control ensures that the whole party can come to a stop in a timely fashion. Despite looking like junkyard relics, the wheels are actually custom CNC-machined pieces shod in ZR-rated BF Goodrich rubber.

If the Coupe's mechanicals and exterior aren't enough to flip your switches, take a peek indoors. Both seats have been recovered in a combination of wild-caught alligator and buffalo hides(!) that have been dyed to the same Hermes hue as John F. Kennedy's briefcase. The carpet is Rolls-Royce Wilton wool bound in buffalo as well, and an Aston Martin vintage mohair headliner finishes out the indoors. An array of tech is also tastefully hidden away as well, including Focal and Parrot audio components with Bluetooth capability.

This sort of execution is so far above and beyond the typical restomod and tuner fodder we typically see from the SEMA crowd that it serves as a breath of fresh air. If you like what you see, Icon says that the company can do the same for nearly any vehicle from the '30s to the '70s.

Gentlemen, start your imaginations. The Icon Derelict 1952 Chevrolet Business Coupe will be on display at this year's SEMA show.

Icon Derelict '52 Chevy Business Coupe is unassuming masterpiece originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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