The internet is making the world smaller day by day. International communications and transactions that were once impossible twenty years ago are taking place regularly in 2008. One example of this took place in Guthrie Friday when Iceland On Track, a tourism operator and travel agency in Iceland, bought a custom 4X4 Ford Excursion from Cars and Parts by Tim, Inc.

“We take these trucks and give tours of our country,” said Omar Sigurdsson, co-owner of Iceland On Track. “We needed a truck that is dependable and is converted to our needs. This company has outstanding service.”

Sigurdsson said that a friend in Iceland recommend that he look at Tim Huskey’s customization service, since the friend also went online and bought a truck through the company.

“We had our first talk with them last December,” said Martin Blaney, online salesman for Custom Autos By Tim. “The order was confirmed in February and it took about a month to build the truck, which was finished yesterday (last Thursday).”

Sigurdsson said that Huskey’s crew did such a great job on the truck that they plan on being repeat customers. 

“It’s difficult to find custom 4X4s in Iceland,” said Sigurdsson. “In addition to that, we have really nitty-gritty requirements for our vehicles. The team has been willing to adjust to our standards, and they have been really hospitable. It’s like they have known us for ages.”

Sigurdsson’s company gives tours of Iceland in the custom automobiles, which can travel on multiple types of terrain.

“We are actually going to take the regular wheels off and put 46” inch wheels on,” said Sigurdsson. “What we like to do is take these large vehicles, drop the tire pressure to around two or three PSI, and drive on snow and glaciers. We can actually leave a larger footprint for more driving stability this way.”

While Huskey has been working in the automotive business for 24 years, he has been working on customization for the past eight years. Huskey said that business has been steadily coming in over the past couple of years, which has allowed him to work exclusively with customizing automobiles.

The 11-passenger, six-door SUV is actually a converted 2005 Ford F250 which was modified into the Excursion with a 7.3-liter diesel engine. Huskey also hopes that with the international connections he is making, potential vehicle buyers in Oklahoma and Logan County will take a second look at his business.

“This vehicle is the only one I know that can allow 11 people to stay out of the summer heat while riding in a 4X4 at the same time,” Huskey said.

Sigurdsson’s journey to get the truck was a long one. After flying to New York from Iceland, he then flew to DFW Airport before finally landing at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. He then had to drive the truck to a shipping port in Virginia Beach, VA before flying back to New York and Iceland, where he would then pick up the truck. 

But, after arriving in Guthrie and getting a first look at the truck, Sigurdsson plans on making future purchases from Huskey’s company.

“I am impressed with the work, and plan on making more purchases from Tim in the future,” Sigurdsson said.

UPDATE!
The crew at Iceland On Track have their X jacked up on 46" tires and giving tours!

Story by Michael Stewart