Chip Foose Redesigns Classic Toyota Land Cruiser, Adds Muscular Fender Flares

After decades of designing vehicles and building a reputation as a hot rodder and customizing legend, not least via the Overhaulin' TV show, most aficionados are familiar with the work of the American penning master. While some of his design are outlandish, splitting opinions among enthusiasts, others are more restrained. And you don't need styling experience on your resume to notice the category this Land Cruiser redesign falls into.

Thanks to the video below, you'll see the designer adding (or substracting, for that matter) a few simple elements to the FJ40 Land Cruiser. The video is part of a series coming from insurance specialist Hagerty, an adventure that has previously seen Foose remastering machines ranging from the Fox Body Mustang to the Volkswagen Beetle.

Bringing the muscular front fender design to the rear of the off-roader is the most significant change, with this clearly setting the sketch apart as a custom proposal.

Much to nobody's surprise, the color scheme applied to the vehicle also deserves credit for the appearance transformation. It sees most of the real estate being covered in Burn Orange, while the Cream top reduces the vehicle's perceived height. That's an element Foose has had to deal since his pen first touched the paper for this sketch.

While we're talking about the FJ40, we'll also remind you of the FJ Cruiser inspired by it. Despite having been pulled off the U.S. market back in 2014 (it's still available on certain markets outside Japan), the growing popularity body-on-frame SUVs enjoy these days means aficionados lust for a replacement. And, once Toyota expands its all-electric vehicle range, we might just get one, with independent artists having already imagined such a model.