Championship Discipline. Timeless Steel.
“If you cut corners in the ring, you get caught. If you cut corners on a build, the steel knows. True mastery requires absolute, relentless execution.” – Fabiano Iha, Founder
Every custom, one-of-one truck that rolls out of the Scout Club CA studio carries a distinct DNA: elite structural integrity, timeless visual curation, and an uncompromising work ethic. That standard is driven entirely by our founder, Fabiano Iha.
Born in Florianópolis, Brazil, Fabiano’s entire life has been defined by a singular, obsessive pursuit-taking raw, chaotic elements and refining them into world-class masterpieces, whether in the automotive garage or on the global athletic stage.
The Early Fuel:
An Automotive Obsession
Fabiano’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t begin in a corporate boardroom; it began in the grease and dirt of a mechanics bay. In 1987, at just 17 years old, he built a fully functional gas station from the ground up in Brazil. Recognizing that true automotive enthusiasts demanded performance over placeholder parts, he established a specialized speed shop directly within the station dedicated to importing and installing high-performance Garrett Turbochargers.
By 1992, his sharp business acumen led him to scale operations. He transitioned into the luxury automotive space, launching a premier import brokerage that sourced, vetted, and delivered highly sought-after American vehicles straight to the South American market. He didn’t just sell cars; he studied their architecture, panel lines, and engineering limits.
The Heart of a Champion:
The MMA Legacy
In 1996, seeking a monumentally different type of challenge, Fabiano relocated to the United States and pivoted his fierce work ethic into professional mixed martial arts.
Applying the exact same microscopic attention to detail required in high-performance engine building, he rose to become an absolute legend in the combat sports world. Over an elite career, he captured seven World Championships and earned the iconic moniker “The King of the Arm Bar” for his flawless technical precision. In a world where a millimeter of miscalculation meant defeat, Fabiano solidified his legacy on a foundation of absolute focus, physical durability, and high-pressure execution.
Featured in the Press
“From a legendary career under the bright lights of the UFC to the meticulous, thousands-of-hours grid of high-end vintage truck restorations, Fabiano Iha has traded the armbar for 18-gauge original American steel. MMA Fighting goes inside his high-stakes mission to resurrect the iconic International Harvester Scout…”
The Return to Iron: The Genesis of Scout Club CA
When his championship athletic chapter drew to a close, Fabiano naturally returned to his lifelong obsession: resurrecting vintage American metal.
What began as an intimate, hyper-focused project inside his own California garage quickly evolved into a premium lifestyle brand. In 2020, drawn to the rugged utility, historic Americana silhouette, and structural potential of the International Harvester line, Fabiano directed 100% of his studio’s energy toward rebuilding International Scouts.
Today, as the lead visionary behind Scout Club CA, Fabiano pairs his world-champion work ethic with elite California design curators. Every frame-off restoration and modern V8 upgrade is personally inspected and signed off by Fabiano himself-ensuring that your vintage investment drives with the heart, precision, and soul of a champion.
A California Legacy: The Current Chapter
Today, Fabiano lives in Los Angeles with his family. While his days of fighting under the bright lights of global arenas are in the past, that same world-championship fire is channeled entirely into his family, his community, and the timeless vehicles he builds by hand.
When he isn’t in the studio inspecting crisp panel gaps or mapping out 18-gauge original steel restorations, he’s embracing the classic California lifestyle with the people who matter most. For Fabiano, building a legacy isn’t just about the machines that leave the shop-it’s about the family and community you build along the way.
