Tatra T815 "The War Rig"

The War Rig

"You're sitting on 2000 hp of nitro-boosted war machine..."

-Furiosa

The Tatra T815, aka the "The War Rig", is a custom vehicle driven by Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max Fury Road.

Technical spec.

"Apart from the actors, this is the thing we're most going to be looking at in the movie, so let's make it as beautiful, in its own way, as it can possibly be." - George Miller

The War Rig Production Design

The vehicle commonly referred to as "The War Rig" is a 78 foot 18 wheeler based on a Tatra T815, an all-wheel drive truck manufactured in Czech Republic. It has undergone heavy modification, however. The originally placed cab was moved from over the engine to the middle of the chassis. A custom front was fabricated and additional passenger space was added to the back of the cab, built from a widened 1940's Chevrolet Fleetmaster Sedan. The cab doors are rear-hinged (aka. "suicide doors").

The original Tatra engine proved to be underpowered so it was replaced with a 600hp racing engine. It is air cooled with a massive turbine fan hidden behind a custom front grille. There are two dummy (non functional) Holley superchargers protruding through the bonnet to give the apperance of being powered by two engines. Two pairs of exhaust stacks are installed, presumably one for each engine. The truck has a fully functional hydraulically operated plow.

Three identical "War Rigs" were created for the movie.

Tanker & Fuel Pod

Three tankers on set

"The War Rig" hauls a tanker and a fuel pod, both of which act as a platform for the War Boys to carry out attacks and defend the vehicle. The main tanker has two turrets, the rear one made of a chopped Volkswagen Type 1 (aka. VW Beetle). Both front and rear turrets are armed with harpoon guns. The rear turret has two swing arms that allow for War Boys to move around the tanker quickly and mount the pod. The sides of the main tanker are protected by spikes and slanted sharp pieces of metal combined with circular saw blades that are running around the tanker. The main tanker is decorated with skulls and doll heads placed in the lower section of the tanker.

Appearance on screen

"The War Rig is probably, after the human characters, the next most important character." - George Miller

The War Rig is driven by Imperator Furiosa and bears various markings signifying its belonging to Immortan Joe's vehicular fleet. A familiar burning skull motif is scattered all across the vehicle, both on the exterior and the interior. There is a skeleton arm painted on the side of driver's door indicating that it is in fact Furiosa's vehicle as she is missing her left arm. The tanker carries water and breast milk, pumped from Joe's mother milk production plant. The pod at the back carries 3000 gallons of guzzolene.

The War Rig has a kill switch preventing it from being driven by unwanted individuals. The kill switch sequence was set by Imperator Furiosa herself. The ignition sequence consists of toggling seven switches as follows: 1st switch - 2nd & 3rd simultaneously - 1st switch, red switch, black switch and ignition switch. Trying to drive the War Rig without engaging the correct sequence will halt the flow of fuel to the engines, allowing the driver only a short jaunt before the engines burn up what remains of the gas within the throttle body. The cabin is also equipped with a variety of weapons both exposed and hidden. A hidden door is in the floor of the cabin allowing for people to hide and travel to and from the tanker.

Original design

The War Rig concept art by Tony Wright, 1999

War Rig Concept Art by Peter Pound, 2001

The original design of the War Rig was conceived by Tony Wright in 1999. Unfortunately the artist had to leave the project early on, but his original concept was used and refined by Peter Pound in 2001. That version of the War Rig was ever so slightly adjusted for the movie.

Notes

Although Mad Max: Fury Road is set in Australia, the steering wheel is on the left. Manufactured in the Czech Republic where left drive is standard, Tatra trucks are found in both left and right drive in Australia.

There is a set of kill switches with a sophisticated launch sequence that is only known by Imperator Furiosa, later by Max Rockatansky, and presumably Nux.

Gallery

War Rig sunset

Early version of the War Rig tested in Australia