Cedo's FTE 80 Series LandCruiser

This is the car that made me understand the hype around the 80 Series. They're undeniably iconic, and Cedo's 80, finished in Dark Emerald Pearl and powered by a factory FTE, is a fine example.

When Cedo dropped it off, his brief was words to the effect of, 'Go for gold'. So we did.

A big part of this fit-out was making everything feel like it belonged in the vehicle. The original brown interior gave us a classic colour palette to work with, so we carried that through the door trims, floor console and custom-trimmed RECAROs with two-tone chocolate brown upholstery.

Car Consoles

Front and Rear Door Trims with Speaker Door Pods

We designed, manufactured and installed upholstered ABS plastic Door Trims and Speaker Door Pods for the front and rear doors. Unlike a conventional speaker spacer mounted to the door trim, our pods are bolted directly to the metal door frame. This provides a much more rigid mounting point, helping reduce unwanted movement and vibration while giving the speakers a solid foundation.

Full Length Floor Console

The Full Length Floor Console accommodates a Bushman 15L Roadie fridge with a padded armrest.

We incorporated twin cup holders, USB and 12V charging outlets, an RJ45 outlet for the UHF and a Rocker Switch Panel. Two additional switches control the heating pads fitted to the RECARO seats.

Centre Roof Console

Overhead, the Centre Roof Console adds storage on both the driver's and passenger's sides, with elasticised netting to keep stored items secure. This is a product we designed and have been manufacturing since the mid-'90s.

It incorporates front and rear directional LED map lights, an upgraded dome light with a three-way switch, USB and 12V charging outlets, and provision to re-fit the factory gauges.

The console is upholstered to complement the factory roof lining in our DeluxeTrim Roof Vinyl.

RECARO by Ergodrive

The factory front seats were replaced with a pair of RECARO Expert M seats, custom trimmed in brown leather to complement the original interior.

Both seats were fitted with air lumbar support and carbon fibre heating pads with low, medium and high heat settings.

We also re-trimmed the factory rear bench in matching leather. The result ties the front and rear seating together and makes the RECAROs look like a factory option.

Audio

Good audio was high on Cedo's priority list, so we started with a Kenwood DMX9724XDS head unit.

We went with Morel for the rest of the system. Hybrid component speakers take care of the front stage, with Hybrid coaxial speakers fitted to the rear doors.

The front and rear speakers are powered by a four-channel Morel amplifier, while a dedicated Morel mono amplifier powers a 12" Morel PowerSlim subwoofer integrated into the drawer system and positioned forward-facing behind the rear seat.

The amplifiers and crossovers are mounted neatly behind the rear seat, keeping the installation ventilated but protected and out of the main cargo area, while still allowing access when required.

Loaded Drawers

The rear of the 80 received a customised version of our Tourer System, incorporating dual Gullwing Compartments. The Gullwing Compartments make use of the rear side-window openings, providing externally accessible storage without needing to open the rear doors.

Inside, an ARB ZERO fridge is installed on the passenger's side, with a double-stacked drawer setup on the driver's side.

Cedo opted for our RAW Hexa finish on the drawer fronts, with exposed birch ply edges and custom CEDO engraving. A full-width sliding table is integrated beneath the driver's-side drawers, providing a large work or food-preparation surface that disappears back into the system when it isn't required.

We also incorporated the smaller details including a cable track to control the fridge wiring and prevent the cable from being caught or pinched as the fridge slide operates.

The Finished Fit-Out

We're stoked with the end result. The vehicle retains its original classic styling while adding all the creature comforts, practical storage and accessories Cedo needs for the trips he has planned. My personal favourite part of the fit-out would have to be either the Gullwing Compartments or the high-fidelity stereo. The stereo is seriously powerful, but still incredibly well balanced. It sounds unreal.

It was a pleasure getting to know you, Cedo. Thanks for trusting us with the 80. We genuinely appreciate your support, and we're looking forward to the next project!