Built on the chassis of a Hummer H1, this real-life "Halo" Warthog is almost 8 feet tall, more than 8 feet wide and more than 17 feet long.
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Halo 4 Warthog

Built on the chassis of a Hummer H1, this real-life "Halo" Warthog is almost 8 feet tall, more than 8 feet wide and more than 17 feet long.

Built on the chassis of a Hummer H1, this real-life “Halo” Warthog is almost 8 feet tall, more than 8 feet wide and more than 17 feet long.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The body matches exactly the proportions of the Warthog in the game and rides on immense 49-inch tires. A brief test-drive put the driver of a UPS truck at eye level.

The body matches exactly the proportions of the Warthog in the game and rides on immense 49-inch tires. A brief test-drive put the driver of a UPS truck at eye level. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The vehicle is essentially a pickup, with two conventional seats in the cabin and a truck bed. There are no doors, just a low sill. Mounted in the bed is a fake 50-caliber machine gun.

The vehicle is essentially a pickup, with two conventional seats in the cabin and a truck bed. There are no doors, just a low sill. Mounted in the bed is a fake 50-caliber machine gun. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Underneath the hand-assembled skin is the chassis, transmission and engine from a 1996 Hummer H1. It has a 6.5-liter diesel V-8 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.

Underneath the hand-assembled skin is the chassis, transmission and engine from a 1996 Hummer H1. It has a 6.5-liter diesel V-8 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

has four-wheel steering, which would have cost far too much to build from scratch. Second, the real version is 12 percent smaller than it would have been had Aria made it on a 1:1 scale.

has four-wheel steering, which would have cost far too much to build from scratch. Second, the real version is 12 percent smaller than it would have been had Aria made it on a 1:1 scale. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Ferrara'’s team spent six months creating a Warthog body identical to the video version, down to the smallest detail. These include fake rivets on the industrial-grade foam or plastic reinforced fiberglass body panels, hand-holds to get into the vehicle...

Ferrara'’s team spent six months creating a Warthog body identical to the video version, down to the smallest detail. These include fake rivets on the industrial-grade foam or plastic reinforced fiberglass body panels, hand-holds to get into the vehicle... (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

...and the gauges in the Warthog’'s interior with static readouts. Even the horn has been lifted from the game and attached to a speaker.

...and the gauges in the Warthog’'s interior with static readouts. Even the horn has been lifted from the game and attached to a speaker. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The true size of the Warthog isn't evident until a person is shown in it. Here, David Undercoffler pauses during his drive.

The true size of the Warthog isn’t evident until a person is shown in it. Here, David Undercoffler pauses during his drive.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

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