Work began in 2011 with RPM Speed Invention in Dubai, UAE. It was a labour of love – and the best part of $10,000 – to re-invent the Land Cruiser, a process that took several months. Now, as so many of his contemporaries can boast, Hamad has his very own ‘one of a kind’. Open the bonnet and you’ll find the 4.0-litre V6 now works alongside a new TRD supercharger kit and a custom exhaust system, while a polished block and new pistons and fuel pump have been added to the mix to give the GX.R, as Hamad puts it, “good stamina”.
Then there’s the stance and the modified suspension, the slightly left field TE37 alloys, and the fibreglass bonnet. A little bit beyond the typical UAE-DM, yet right on the money.
“I get a lot of people asking ‘how much?’ and ‘can I buy it?’ but I’m not interested. The Land Cruiser is a very cool car. It’s got the right look, and that’s important. I mean, it’s a daily ride.”
He makes a good point. Taking a look inside we find the interior is almost entirely stock (standard fair) aside from one gauge that says ‘Turbo’. Tempting certainly, but circumstances at the moment mean the needle is grounded. Temporarily.
“The OEM transmission can’t handle the extra power, and that’s a problem with my new generation model. I’ve already had to have the transmission repaired once. I’m thinking it might just be easier to swap the one I have for a Nissan Patrol gearbox. That will give my friends something to laugh about anyway!”
More on the to-do list for Hamad in the near future, though it doesn’t affect the Toyota’s main facet: causing a stir. Such is the case with motoring and motorsport in the region that this is unlikely to change, be it via the power under the bonnet or the look stencilled on it.
We’ve still a way to go to find out whether UAE-DM has the strength to find it’s own foothold in the world of ‘Looks’. We certainly wouldn’t bet against it though.
– Shots courtesy of Mohammed Al-Yassi
Specification
2009 Toyota Land Cruiser GX.R
Power: 422hp
JE Pistons
Crower connecting rod
TRD supercharger kit
Unichip Q+
GReddy V2 boost gauge
Fully polished engine block
Custom 3.5 inch intake with K&N filter
Tundra 5.7 throttle body
Custom manifold headers
Custom exhaust system
Additional Welbro fuel pump (alongside stock OEM)
2012 Land Cruiser (headlight)
2012 Land Cruiser (taillight)
Custom fibre bonnet
20-inch TE37 wheels
