Arctic Trucks, the Icelandic automotive engineering firm known for converting standard four-wheel-drive vehicles into extreme polar explorers, built its first expedition vehicle and named it Pamela after Baywatch star Pamela Anderson. That initial vehicle—a Toyota Land Cruiser 80 AT44—participated in the company’s inaugural Antarctic expedition between December 7, 1997, and February 11, 1998. The journey proved that heavy-duty, modified wheeled vehicles outperformed traditional tracked vehicles in polar conditions by offering significantly higher speeds, improved passenger comfort, and better fuel economy.
Establishment and Fleet Expansion Since 1998
Following the success of those early polar trials, Arctic Trucks Norway was established in 1998. In the decades since, the company has sold more than 7,000 modified vehicles domestically, serving civilian customers alongside institutional clients such as the Norwegian Armed Forces, police departments, and emergency rescue services. While the company maintains official status as a vehicle manufacturer, modifier, tire workshop, and general car repair shop, the core of its operations involves upfitting four-wheel-drive pickups and SUVs produced by major manufacturers like Jeep, Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota, and Isuzu.
The firm’s nomenclature directly reflects the scale of its engineering packages. A designation such as AT32 indicates a 32-inch off-road tire conversion, with tire dimensions typically ranging from 32 to 44 inches. For extreme terrain, Arctic Trucks also builds multi-axle configurations, such as the AT 44 6×6, which utilizes three axles.
Antarctic Endurance and Speed Records
Since 1996, vehicles built by Arctic Trucks have accumulated over 420,000 kilometers of driving across the Antarctic continent. A notable milestone occurred in 2010, when a Kazakh-Icelandic expedition team set a world record for the fastest land trip to the South Pole using two Toyota Hilux AT44 trucks. The team traveled 2,308 kilometers from the Novo base in 108 hours. The return journey, which followed the team’s existing tracks, was completed in 84 hours—averaging 660 kilometers per day across polar terrain.
Transitioning to Electric Off-Road Conversions
Arctic Trucks has expanded its engineering portfolio to include battery-electric vehicles, adapting platforms like the Nissan Ariya for severe off-road environments. The Nissan Ariya AT39 e-Force features 39-inch off-road tires, a 110 to 120-millimeter suspension lift, and 17-by-10-inch wheels. Alongside these chassis and suspension upgrades, the Ariya AT39 includes specialized expedition equipment such as an integrated espresso machine, a deployable rooftop drone, and a towable wind turbine paired with solar panels for off-grid battery charging. The company is also developing conversion packages for utility vehicles, including an AT33 package for the Isuzu D-Max.
Arctic Trucks history and vehicle model designations
When was Arctic Trucks founded in Norway?
Arctic Trucks Norway was established in 1998, the same year the company’s converted vehicles completed their landmark proving runs in Antarctica and shortly after the debut of its first expedition vehicle, Pamela.
What do the model numbers like AT39 or AT44 mean?
The numbers in Arctic Trucks model designations represent the overall height of the specialized off-road tires in inches. An AT39 model features 39-inch tires, paired with corresponding suspension lifts and body modifications.
What types of vehicles does Arctic Trucks modify?
The company primarily modifies four-wheel-drive pickups and SUVs from brands including Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Jeep, supplying vehicles to commercial clients, rescue services, and military units.
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