Iceland is full of surprises.
For the final couple of years, I’ve unintentionally managed to coincide visits again house with native drifting occasions. So the final time I travelled to Iceland, I made certain to take my digicam gear with me.
Drifting doesn’t have an enormous following in Iceland, however those that compete are a passionate bunch. Rear-wheel drive BMWs are by far the most well-liked vehicles within the Icelandic Drift Championship, however there are at all times diamonds within the tough. The diamond I selected to highlight was rougher than most.
I noticed the 1980 Toyota Cressida within the All Out Racing pit, whereas it was being labored on by its proprietor Sigurbergur Eiríksson, and needed to go in for a better look and a chat.
Sigurbergur defined to me, that on a whim again in 2013 he bought two X40-series first-gen Cressidas with an concept to make use of them for enjoyable actions a while sooner or later. On the time, Sigurbergur owned a 1996 Volkswagen Golf as his important automotive, so all of his vitality was tied up in that construct – till it wasn’t.
Only a month after finishing the Golf, one other motorist ran a pink mild and T-boned Sigurbergur’s Volkswagen good and correct. Fortunately, Sigurbergur lived to inform the story, however sadly his automotive didn’t. Among the aftermarket engine elements he had fitted to the VR6 mill had been salvageable, so these had been eliminated and put apart, and the remainder of the Golf was despatched to scrap.
So Sigurbergur had a spare VW VR6 engine at house, these salvaged efficiency elements, and a few Cressidas. Are you able to see the place that is going?
After his restoration from the accident, Sigurbergur rolled the most effective X40 of the 2 into his storage and set to work home-building a drift automotive.
Because it sits now, the two.8L 12-valve VW VR6 motor produces 417whp and 508Nm. Every thing you see within the engine bay has been added with the pondering: use it till it breaks. The fantastic thing about that is that Sigurbergur gained’t cry over elements that fail. Most of them are low-cost to restore or substitute, and he actually isn’t afraid to get his arms soiled.
Modifications within the present setup embody a Holset HX40 turbo from a snowplow, {custom} made consumption and exhaust manifolds, and Bosch 2,200cc injectors.
Underneath the automotive you’ll discover a combine and match of elements, from a custom-modified Ford 8.8-inch rear finish pieced collectively from two ’96 Ford Explorer drivelines, to Driftworks CS2 coilovers initially designed for a Nissan S15 and Toyota AE86 caster arms.
Because of few wall faucets and the physique twisting attributable to driveshaft issues, security issues began to current themselves. So in 2020, Sigurbergur tube-framed the rear of the Cressida, and pieced collectively a brand new gas system round a {custom} aluminum cell.
The stripped inside includes a full roll cage, a pair of Lico Hurricane bucket seats with TAKATA Racing harnesses, Sparco steering wheel with a 10cm spacer, a {custom} made hydraulic handbrake and a PMC gear shifter. The middle console and the cage had been custom-made by Sigurbergur. The unique sprint got here from the opposite X40 Cressida, and was apparently one of many few objects salvageable from that automotive.
Sigurbergur says that the one single greatest enchancment he’s made to the automotive since constructing it, was including energy steering in 2021. Previous to that, it was just about handbook steering and a great deal of tennis elbows.
Aside from the universal-fit bolt-on fender flares and no matter wheels might be discovered, the Cressida’s exterior has been saved largely inventory. The unique bodywork and paint has positively seen higher days, however that doesn’t concern Sigurbergur within the slightest. Because it stands, he doesn’t have to fret about it, and every new dent or scrape gained within the warmth of battle solely provides to Cressida’s character.
I requested Sigurbergur if he had any future plans for the automotive, and on the high of the checklist is extra steering angle and extra energy. The physique panels will finally be molded and replacements produced from fiberglass too, however with this construct perform most positively comes earlier than kind.
Plans to take the automotive overseas are afoot although, and you may ensure that Gatebil appearances are positively on this Icelandic Cressida’s future.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa