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.
02:19With 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 and it's always responding to the shape of the car.
02:54Just feels natural, like he would sun himself there. He'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.
03:12We're a little pinched. 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. It won some design awards.
03:34And I was like, oh, I guess I can keep building these. Let'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. What do you want to build that you haven't built yet?
03:54Or it's hyper-specific.
03:58Something that the client already has a deep emotional relationship with.
04:05Then I'll get kind of down and dirty with the client to understand a great number of things, including what's their style?
04:11What materials do you find appealing? How obnoxious do you want it to be?
04:17Do you want it to be fast or do you want it to be stupid fast?
04:20But despite business booming, not everyone shares Jonathan's vision.
04:25We 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.
04:32But leaving it looking as if it's left in the barn.
04:36You know what though? I don't really care.
04:38It's stuff that excites me.
04:41And the fact that it's not for everyone kind of makes it better to me.
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