TEXT: Chris Hunter ART: Make Haste Corp.
cout® trucks have always been good to go, straight from the factory. They rolled off the Fort Wayne production line and headed to work on farms, ranches, and trails across the country.
Human nature being what it is, though, there are a fair number of modified Scout rigs out there. They’ve become race trucks, campervans, and even EV-swapped restomods. But we’ve never seen a custom design quite like The Vanguard before.
It’s the work of friends Ash Thorp and Carlos Pecino, a pair of prodigiously talented digital artists who run an automotive design studio called Make Haste Corp. Ash lives in California and Carlos is based in Spain, but magic happens when the two join forces.
RENDERING COURTESY OF MAKE HASTE
“Due to our time zone differences, we’ve developed a tandem workflow that keeps momentum going around the clock,” says Ash. “While one of us is resting, the other is working, ensuring that each day starts with updates and surprises to build upon.”
Chances are you’ve enjoyed Ash’s work before. He’s the man behind the stunning graphics in blockbuster movies like Ant-man & The Wasp: Quantumania® and the iconic video game Call of Duty: Black Ops®. He’s also teamed up with the late Ken Block on jaw-dropping vehicle concepts and helped design the Batmobile®, Batcycle, and Drifter bike featured in the 2022 film The Batman™.
RENDERING COURTESY OF MAKE HASTE
“The challenge lies in balancing innovation with respect for the original design—preserving what makes the vehicle special while introducing a fresh perspective.”
Most Make Haste creations have been based on road cars, so Ash and Carlos decided to challenge themselves with a truck. And when Ash showed Carlos some images of a Scout II, it was a lightbulb moment.
“I have a deep personal connection to the Scout brand,” says Ash. “It was a significant part of my childhood. To me, the Scout [brand] represented an indestructible force—not the fastest, but one that would reliably get you to your destination.
RENDERING COURTESY OF MAKE HASTE
“Its simplicity and pure functionality continue to inspire my design philosophy to this day.”
The Vanguard concept is beautifully simple, but also aggressive and unapologetically over-the-top. “The entire exterior of the truck has been reimagined,” says Ash. “Every panel has been reconsidered and refined to align with the new proportions.
“The challenge lies in balancing innovation with respect for the original design—preserving what makes the vehicle special while introducing a fresh perspective.”
That means the signature short front overhang is even more prominent now, accentuated by the cutaway, flared wheel arches. The oversized mud terrain tires reflect the Baja influence, and the spare tire on the back door pushes the visual weight to the rear.
In short, it’s a Scout truck on steroids. “It was a pretty straightforward concept with a clear goal,” says Carlos. “Go as fast as possible over dunes and rocks.”
RENDERING COURTESY OF MAKE HASTE
“We both admire the Baja scene and the incredible dedication of the people behind these races,” Ash tells us. “Like the original Scout [SUVs], Baja trucks are designed with a singular purpose—and this clarity of vision results in vehicles that are endlessly fascinating and inspiring.”
Make Haste’s custom Scout II was rendered in software more commonly used for cinema graphics and architectural design, to maximize the hyperrealistic effect.
“When beginning a design project, we often look for a base or stock model of the vehicle,” Ash reveals. “Starting with a stock chassis mirrors how one would work with a real vehicle.
“If no model is available, we recreate it from reference images, which is a meticulous and time-intensive process.” For the graphics nerds reading this, Make Haste’s software stack includes Autodesk® 3ds Max, Maxon® Cinema 4D, and Chaos Corona® Renderer.
The Vanguard concept didn’t stop with the sheet metal, though. Make Haste have added two different paint treatments—one a classic throwback, and a second that would cause coronaries at your typical vintage car show.
The first treatment is an homage to the paint color from the first Scout 80™ and the new Scout Terra™ pickup truck concept. Carlos also added a modified Rallye™ livery design from the late ’70s early ’80s Scout Traveltop as a nod to the classic graphics package.
The second livery design turns the volume up to eleven. “The hand-drawn illustration was inspired by classic heavy metal band covers, and just fits perfectly on this brutal machine,” says Carlos.
RENDERINGS COURTESY OF MAKE HASTE
“I can easily say this is the most enjoyable car I have ever built … and it’s not even a supercar.”
While we’d love to see this turned into reality, for now the Vanguard is relegated to the dunes of Baja in our imagination.
See more creations from Make Haste Corp. here.
*Scout, Rallye, Scout 80, Scout II, Terra, and Traveler are registered trademarks and trademarks of Scout Motors Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The logos and trademarks displayed in this article are the property of their respective owners. Their inclusion is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement or partnership with Scout Motors Inc.
