00:00I wanted something alternative but imperfect. We get a lot of grief from people, I don't really care.
00:11Each build is a singular high-functioning sculpture.
00:20Chatsworth, California. This may look like a parking lot full of rusting junk.
00:28But don't be fooled by the scruffy shells.
00:32The vehicles that lead the Icon Workshop are unique reimagined classics.
00:41Derelicts will never repeat the same build twice.
00:49Each one is a singular high-functioning sculpture.
00:54But why the unorthodox finish?
01:09And this vehicle is an epic two-car mash-up.
01:24Bolted the two together and then I was like, yes, okay, now we're on.
01:28Original car didn't have AC. All the knobs and the switches are still kinda sorta in the original position.
01:35For the modern AC controls, I could maintain the consistency.
01:39Like same with the gauges. I didn't restore them and make them all pretty.
01:42Everything down to the acrylic and the typeface is authentic.
01:45But behind the scenes, it's all video circuit board, state-of-the-art.
01:49And then the audio system, it's a Bluetooth-dependent digital sound processor interfaced amplified audio system with bass.
01:58Meaning I just control it from my phone and there's nothing visual that you have to interface with in the vehicle.
02:06This was a 3,000-hour build for Jonathan and his team.
02:10And it comes complete with some quirky touches.
02:14It's just fun to add a little bit of tongue-in-cheek, have a little sense of humor in these builds.
02:18With this one, I went to a really cool old aircraft surplus place and bought some vintage hardware that's used throughout the vehicle.
02:27There's a cool before-flight release safety pin that I used as the hold-down on the air filter enclosure.
02:35Overflow reservoir for the radiator. I scored a 1800s whiskey bottle.
02:41And then with all of our vehicles, everything has our mascot, the icon, Lizard, on them.
02:47Fun thing with the derelicts is he's never in the same place.
02:50And it's always responding to the shape of the car.
02:53Just feels natural, like he would sun himself there.
02:57He's right there up front on the hood.
03:02Jonathan's company started out as a land cruiser service center.
03:06And he wasn't prepared for the impact the DeSoto build would have on his business.
03:11For a little pinch, is Thursday or Monday good for you?
03:17When I built this wagon, it was like a nights and weekends personal project.
03:22But then within like a week or two of finishing it, it started getting all sorts of love and attention.
03:29And next thing I know, it's on the cover of Hot Rod magazine.
03:31It won some design awards and it was like, oh, I guess I can keep building these.
03:36Let's call them derelicts.
03:38And now the Icon team are producing 10 of these one-off customs a year.
03:43It starts with generally either a client has an appreciation for our antics.
03:49And they come and say, I just love the concept.
03:51What do you want to build that you haven't built yet?
03:54Or it's hyper-specific.
03:56Something that the client already has a deep emotional relationship with.
04:02Then I'll get kind of down and dirty with the client to understand a great number of things, including what's their style?
04:09What materials do you find appealing?
04:12How obnoxious do you want it to be?
04:14Do you want it to be fast or do you want it to be stupid fast?
04:18But despite business booming, not everyone shares Jonathan's vision.
04:22We get a lot of grief from people with the derelicts where they think we're idiots for putting all that time and energy into it,
04:29but leaving it looking as if it's left in the barn.
04:33You know what, though? I don't really care.
04:36It's stuff that excites me.
04:39And the fact that it's not for everyone kind of makes it better to me.
