This 1970 Chevy Suburban Costs More Than Most Supercars

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

Icon’s vehicles have never been cheap, but its latest vehicle goes above and beyond. The company has long offered custom resto-modded SUVs with deep-six-figure price tags, and it’s now set its sights on the Chevy Suburban. Called the Reformer, the updated, hand-built SUV sports 1,000 horsepower and a $1.1 million starting price.


That’s a shocking number, but this is a one-of-one vehicle commissioned by a well-heeled Icon customer. Company CEO Jonathon Ward said. “This client wanted us to stretch creatively, which resulted in more aggressive performance and styling than we typically opt for.”

Icon will reveal the wild 1970 Suburban in the flesh on November 19th at a charity event in Southern California. The SUV started as a bone-stock factory three-door and got an NRE twin-turbo Alien LS 427 motor making 1,000 horsepower and 900 pound-feet of torque. Icon said it aimed for reliability with the setup, noting that the driver can idle with the AC on in traffic at 900 rpm.


Icon employed a custom four-wheel independent chassis for the build, and power reaches the wheels through a 4L85 automatic transmission. Brembo brakes, HRE custom wheels, and performance tires keep the SUV on the road and stopping safely. Interior touches include several hand-made bespoke touches, and Icon said it went over every button, knob, and dial as part of the project.

[Image: Icon]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • Carson D Carson D on Nov 10, 2023

    I don't have a million dollars extra to put into a custom truck, so I suppose my opinion doesn't really matter. That thing looks like twenty-five thousand dollars poorly spent to me anyway.

  • Abraham Abraham on Nov 11, 2023
    1. Sits kinda low.
    2. Bumpers are just wrong, they should have jazzed those up and integrated them into the body a little.
    3. 1.1 million dollars? Okay…
  • MaintenanceCosts 308/311 is just the rating of the gas engine by itself. The full powertrain power rating, taking into account both power sources is 483/479. The car will do 0-60 in under five seconds. Frankly, I find the idea of that being "underpowered" bizarre.Also, "understated" has never been less fashionable within my lifetime. We are in a moment where everyone wants to make a Bold Statement with everything they do.
  • 28-Cars-Later @PoskySo here's some interesting data, Manheim's Used Car index is still 28% higher than shortly before the Plandemic (155 on chart) after declining from a height of 39% (roughly 215) in January 2022, yet interest rates are now more than double on average. Maybe the White House should focus on some deflationomics instead of mucking up everything?
  • Dale Had one. The only car I ever bought because of a review in a guitar magazine.Sure was roomy inside for such a small car. Super practical. Not much fun to drive even with a manual.Sent it to college with my stepson where it got sideswiped. Later he traded it in on an F-150.
  • Bd2 Hyundai's designs are indeed among the most innovative and their battery technologies should allow class leading fuel consumption. Smartstream hybrids are extremely reliable.
  • 28-Cars-Later So now H/K motors will last longer in between scheduled replacements. Wow, actual progress.
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