- A 1975 Jeep Cherokee serves as Icon's latest Reformer series restomod
- The SUV's based on a 1975 Cherokee and a 1965 Jeep Gladiator pickup truck
- A 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 producing 485 hp sits beneath the hood
Icon is a prolific modifier of Toyota Land Cruisers and Ford Broncos, but the California-based restomod specialist isn't wedded to those classic SUVs, as shown by this newly rebuilt 1975 Jeep Cherokee.
Dubbed Safe Flight, the Cherokee is part of Icon's Reformer series. These are one-off builds that incorporate modern features aimed at improving drivability, while trying to keep the appearance period-correct. In this case, Icon founder Jonathan Ward also tried to address some of the more problematic design features of the original Cherokee, an Icon press release explains.
Jeep didn't consult with the Cherokee Nation when it chose the name and accompanying design aesthetic for this SUV. Ward sought to rectify that by consulting with tribal leaders and researching Cherokee art to ensure authenticity and respect for tradition.
Icon Safe Flight 1975 Jeep Cherokee
The name Safe Flight comes from a pattern used on water vessels and blankets when tribe members set out on perilous journeys, according to Icon. The pattern appears along the sides of the vehicle and on interior bits like the gauges and door trim.
In addition to the Cherokee pattern, the exterior wears Porsche's Chalk gray with a Bentley black roof. The interior is upholstered in two kinds of leather (in place of the original vinyl), with German wool square-weave carpets and an Alcantara headliner. Like other Icon builds, Safe Flight also has an up-to-date climate control system and audio system, as well as power windows and door locks.
The vehicle itself incorporates pieces of both a 1975 Cherokee and a 1965 Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, but rides on a customer chassis with coil-over suspension and Fox Racing nitrogen-charged shocks.
Icon Safe Flight 1975 Jeep Cherokee
A 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 producing 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque maintains the Mopar DNA, although it's connected to a General Motors 4L85E 4-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive. Brembo brakes stop the rotation of 18-inch wheels wearing BF Goodrich All-Terrain K02 tires.
Safe Flight is one-of-a-kind, but that's just another day at the office for Jonathan Ward and Icon. Ward is the one who thought it would be a good idea to stuff the supercharged V-8 from a C6 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 into a weathered Mercedes-Benz 300SEL, after all.
