Fans of the “Halo” video games have long lusted after the possibility of getting a real-life version of the “Warthog,” a vehicle featured in the games. A real-life Warthog is heading to the SEMA show for custom autos, which is full-scale and drives.

Creators mum about details of real-life Warthog

Most people have likely heard something about the “Halo” video game series, or at least are aware of its existence. It’s one of the most popular video games in recent history, revered especially for multi-player games through online gaming services such as Xbox Live.

Granted, of course, it isn’t quite as good as the ultimate multi-player game, which most people know damn well is “Goldeneye 64.” Protestations to the contrary are merely from Philistines.

At any rate, part of the game series is a four-wheel-drive jeep-ish vehicle called the “Warthog,” or in “Halo” parlance, the M12 Force Application Vehicle or M12 FAV Warthog. Many have dreamed of having a real-life Warthog and, according to AutoBlog, just such a vehicle is headed for the SEMA show. It actually drives, but the creators aren’t being forthcoming about the details.

Basically a dune buggy

The creation of a real-life Warthog actually isn’t as complicated as it sounds, as people have been doing the same thing with kit cars for decades. All one needs to do is get a donor vehicle chassis and power train and install a body on it. In short, it’s just like dropping a Meyers-Manx dune buggy kit on a VW bug.

However, the company that made the Warthog, Aria, of Irvine, Calif., haven’t made a peep about any of the kit. They aren’t saying what the top speed or the donor vehicle is, but based on video footage of the build, the chassis is rear-wheel-drive and looks like it came from a truck. It’s completely custom, for the press tour for the pending release of “Halo 4,” so it isn’t like one can get a Bank of America car loan and buy one.

The car is being shown at the Specialty Equipment Marketers Association or SEMA show in Las Vegas. They built it completely to scale and even brought a driver in a full “Halo” Master Chief costume, who stands 7 feet tall in his get-up, so it isn’t entirely practical unless one is tall enough to look Shaquille O’Neal in the eye.

Not the first

There actually was a full-working real-life Warthog built before, which some press outlets picked up on several years ago. Back in the late “noughties,” “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson was working on a “Halo” movie, according to Engadget, and part of production included making a Warthog. It was built by Weta Workshop, according to Jalopnik, his production and special effects company.

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The Peter Jackson Warthog was created using the chassis from a Nissan Patrol, a light pickup sold internationally, including four-wheel-drive power train and a six-cylinder diesel engine. It was modified to have four-wheel steering. The body was custom made by Weta and installed over the top, including a working prop machine gun.

If only someone could make a body kit for this.

Have a peek

MCDE Editorial