ECD Reveals Its First Toyota FJ Restomod With Chevy V8 Power

Most of us are very familiar with the work produced by ECD Automotive Design, with several Jaguar, Land Rover, and Range Rover restomods produced over the years. Now, the Florida-based specialist in restoration and modification has turned its attention to the Toyota FJ with the same level of care and customization, and the personalization options reflect this, with ECD allowing even the needle tips to be specially selected by the customer. As Toyota’s equivalent to the Willys Jeep, there will undoubtedly be those who bemoan the alteration of the forebear to today’s Land Cruiser, but these things are so sought after that they’re rarely driven as originally intended anyhow. With this conversion by ECD, one has no excuse not to enjoy cruising in a classic.

LS Power, Naturally

To provide enough performance to keep up with modern traffic and to improve reliability, the ECD Toyota FJ is powered by the firm’s favorite power plant: a Chevrolet 6.2-liter V8, although which one exactly was not revealed. This breathes through a full stainless steel exhaust system and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with the fueling handled by an upgraded system of ECD’s own design with braided stainless steel PTFE lines. Cooling has also been upgraded, and ECD has fitted its own suspension and brake components. Don’t be surprised if an EV option becomes available someday – ECD has already electrified the classic Defender.

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ECD has a wide range of 16-inch wheels from which to choose and wraps these in BF Goodrich All Terrain rubber. There’s also a spare on the tailgate, while tubular sidesteps, and new DRLs in a slimmed front bumper further bolster usability and convenience. Of course, myriad paint options are on offer, and inside, the dashboard can be finished to match. This meets a Momo steering wheel in front of leahter-trimmed seats that are hand-upholstered in your chosen colors. Air conditioning has also been added, and heat and sound insulation improve everyday comfort and acoustics. A custom center console is also added to the rear.

Modern Conveniences

The FJ restomods offer Bluetooth connectivity, letting you play music through a four-speaker JL Audio setup connected to either a Sony or Alpine head unit. For more safety, you get a reverse camera displayed on a small screen that doesn’t look entirely out of place but will certainly be noticed as from a completely different era of automotive design. Four USB charging ports and a central locking system connected to a Viper alarm also feature, and there’s wiring in place if you need to tow a trailer.

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After working on British off-roaders and roadsters for so long, ECD introduced its first American build in the form of a 1967 Mustang restomod earlier this year, and now with a Japanese off-roader in its offering, the company is quickly becoming the go-to brand for those seeking outstanding workmanship and quality in a classically styled package. Unfortunately, that comes at a cost, and in the case of the FJ, ECD has not yet revealed pricing or how much power it produces, but CarBuzz has reached out for more information and will update this article once we receive a reply. In the meantime, we do know that production is set to begin late this quarter, with deliveries expected to begin in Q1 2025.