The C Modern Retro Series is one of ICON 4×4’s most ambitious restomod projects to date. Limited to only five trucks, the series pairs the iconic bodywork of a 1967 to 1972 Chevrolet C10 or C20 with the modern mechanical foundation of a new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4×4.
The result is not a conventional restoration, and it is not simply a classic pickup fitted with a newer engine.
ICON is effectively placing an authentic vintage Chevrolet truck body over a complete modern Silverado platform, retaining the newer vehicle’s V8 powertrain, four-wheel-drive system, brakes, safety equipment, infotainment hardware, climate control, towing capability, and electronic systems.
It is a costly approach, with pricing beginning at $450,000, but it addresses a problem familiar to classic-truck enthusiasts. Vintage pickups offer character that modern trucks often lack, yet they can feel slow, noisy, difficult to steer, and less confidence-inspiring on modern roads.
ICON’s answer is to preserve the visual identity of the old Chevrolet while making it drive, stop, and function much like a current Silverado.
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A Classic Chevrolet Body With a New Silverado Underneath
The C Modern Retro Series is built around the 1967 to 1972 Chevrolet C10 and C20, two of the most recognizable American pickups ever produced. Their clean body lines, wide front ends, simple grilles, and squared-off fenders have made them favorites among collectors, restorers, and custom-truck builders for decades.
ICON founder Jonathan Ward and his team approached the project differently from a typical restomod shop. Rather than modifying an old truck chassis with updated suspension and drivetrain parts, ICON starts with a brand-new Silverado 1500 4×4 V8. The company then engineers the classic body around the newer truck’s structure and systems.
That means the finished vehicle retains modern four-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, traction-related systems, contemporary towing capability, and factory-grade serviceability. ICON says the objective was to imagine what a Chevrolet pickup might look like if the C10 and C20 design language had continued evolving without interruption into the modern era.
The approach also makes this build different from many high-end classic truck conversions. Plenty of C10 restomods receive LS V8 engines, upgraded brakes, custom frames, and modern interiors.
ICON’s project goes further by using a complete late-model truck as the starting point, allowing it to preserve far more of the Silverado’s original functionality.
C10 and C20 Styles, but With Four-Wheel Drive
The original Chevrolet C10 was generally associated with lighter-duty pickup use, while the C20 was the heavier-duty version. Both have become popular foundations for custom builds, although the C10 has developed a larger following in the restomod world.
ICON’s project can use either body style, depending on the donor truck selected by the buyer. The company has not treated the donor body as a decorative shell. Each vintage cab and bed must be extensively restored, strengthened, adapted, and integrated with the modern Silverado platform.
The process requires far more work than simply lowering an old body onto a newer chassis. Modern trucks have different wheelbases, mounting points, safety requirements, electrical systems, cooling layouts, steering geometry, and cabin packaging.
ICON has developed bespoke engineering solutions to make the classic sheet metal work with the Silverado’s structure while preserving the proportions that make the 1967 to 1972 Chevrolet trucks so desirable.
The four-wheel-drive system is a particularly important part of the package. Many vintage C10 builds are designed mainly for street use, with lowered suspension, large wheels, and a performance-car stance.
ICON is giving its C Modern Retro Series a more versatile role. It is intended to work as a usable luxury truck that can handle highways, poor weather, dirt roads, towing, and regular driving without the compromises of a 50-year-old vehicle.
Modern V8 Performance Meets Vintage Design
Each C Modern Retro Series truck begins with a modern Silverado 1500 equipped with a Chevrolet V8 engine. ICON has not published full output figures for the limited run, but the Silverado foundation gives the project considerably more performance, towing strength, and drivability than an original C10 or C20 could offer.
The difference is not only about horsepower. A vintage pickup may require constant steering corrections at highway speeds, longer braking distances, and more physical effort in everyday traffic. Its ride quality, sound insulation, heating, air conditioning, and safety systems can also feel dated, even after restoration.
ICON’s version is intended to remove those weaknesses. The new truck beneath the body brings modern braking, steering, suspension, electronic controls, cooling, drivetrain calibration, and cabin technology.
The company also adds sound-deadening and thermal-protection materials to make the truck more comfortable during long drives.
That makes the C Modern Retro Series less like a museum-quality classic and more like a bespoke luxury vehicle wearing a historic Chevrolet body.
For collectors, that distinction matters. A fully restored C10 may be beautiful, but it can still demand regular specialist attention. ICON is offering a truck that can be serviced more like a modern Silverado while retaining the visual appeal of an old Chevrolet pickup.
Two Different Exterior Directions
Buyers will be able to choose between two distinct visual styles: Old School and Derelict. The Old School version is the more traditional choice. ICON restores the vintage Chevrolet body to a clean, finished appearance, with fresh paint and a carefully refined presentation.
It is aimed at buyers who want the truck to look like an exceptionally well-preserved or fully restored C10 or C20 while hiding its modern mechanical foundation underneath.
The Derelict version takes the opposite route. Instead of repainting every panel, ICON preserves the donor truck’s weathered paint, scratches, faded surfaces, and visible age. The body is still structurally restored and protected, but it retains the appearance of an old working truck that has survived decades of use.
This patina style has become a signature part of ICON’s work. It allows the vehicle to look authentic and understated while concealing the fact that it is a six-figure modern machine with contemporary capability.
Pricing starts at $450,000 for the Derelict build and $500,000 for the Old School version. Those figures include the new Silverado donor vehicle but do not include the vintage C10 or C20 body. Final pricing can rise depending on the condition of the donor truck, selected materials, and custom details.
The Cabin Blends Analog Style With Modern Functions
The interior is one of the most challenging parts of the project because ICON must integrate the Silverado’s modern controls without making the cabin look like a current pickup covered in vintage trim.
The company uses custom-machined aluminum dashboard panels designed to preserve the visual character of the original Chevrolet cabin. At the same time, those panels incorporate the newer truck’s controls, displays, and functions.
ICON has also developed power-window controls that are disguised as traditional analog window cranks. The doors can be locked and unlocked with the modern Silverado key fob, while the seating is redesigned for better ergonomics and comfort than the original truck could provide.
This type of detail explains the project’s price. The company is not simply installing aftermarket seats and a touchscreen. It is attempting to make modern equipment feel as though it belongs inside a 1960s Chevrolet truck.
The cabin should offer a far more usable daily-driving experience than a conventional classic pickup. It can provide modern climate control, audio, safety functions, and convenience features while keeping the dashboard and seating environment visually connected to the vintage body.
Only Five Trucks Will Be Built
ICON will build only five examples of the C Modern Retro Series at its Southern California facility.
Each one will be individually commissioned, allowing buyers to select donor-body style, exterior finish, interior materials, and other personalized details. However, ICON says it will maintain strict design and engineering standards rather than allowing unlimited customization that could compromise the project’s central concept.
One of the five trucks will be reserved for an especially exclusive Omakase ICON build. In that case, the buyer gives Ward broad creative control over the truck’s design direction, materials, finishes, and details. The Omakase version is expected to start at $550,000 and will be a one-of-a-kind interpretation of the C Modern Retro idea.
The limited production number makes the project less about volume sales and more about creating a handful of collector-grade vehicles. At this price point, ICON is competing less with ordinary custom trucks and more with high-end restomod builders, boutique luxury brands, and rare collector vehicles.
Why This Project Matters
The C Modern Retro Series reflects a larger shift in the collector-truck market. Classic pickups have become highly desirable because they combine simple, recognizable styling with strong nostalgia value.
Yet many buyers want the look of an old truck without accepting old-truck compromises. They want dependable starting, modern brakes, comfortable seating, usable air conditioning, highway stability, and the ability to travel long distances without treating every drive as a mechanical gamble.
ICON has built its reputation around solving that problem with vehicles such as vintage Toyota Land Cruisers, Ford Broncos, and older American trucks. The C Modern Retro Series takes the idea to a new level by using a complete modern Silverado 1500 as its base rather than upgrading an old truck piece by piece.
The project will not be affordable for most C10 enthusiasts. A starting price of $450,000 puts it far beyond even many high-end custom builds. But the price reflects the scale of the work: a new truck, a vintage donor body, custom engineering, handmade interior components, restoration labor, and low-volume production.
For the five buyers who secure one, ICON’s latest creation promises something rare: the visual charm of a classic Chevrolet C10 or C20 with the comfort, capability, and confidence of a current full-size pickup.
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