Hummer
Exclusive coverage on Hummer car manufacturer history with main facts, models review and company evolution.
HUMMER
The history of AM General began in 1903, after the Standart Wheel Company that produced bicycles decided to strengthen its position at incipient automobile market. For that purpose the Overland Automotive Division department was founded. The first motor car it produced was the Runabout model. In 1908 the company was purchased by John North Willys; in 1912 the Willys-Overland Company was formed. The firm started production of famous Willys-Knight series and later on presented the Whippet model. In 1953 Willys-Overland firm was purchased by Henry J. Kaiser, who renamed it to Willys Motors Inc. Soon after that the company won the state tender from Studebecker Corporation on producing military trucks.
Its independent existence didnt last long. Since 1970 it passed into the hands of American Motors Corporation and got a new title of Jeep Corporation. It consisted of two departments Commercial Products Division and General Products Division. In 1971 General Products Division, formally still being a department of American Motors, got a new name of AM General Corporation.
The history of Hummer roots in 1979. Exactly that year the US Army announced a tender in construction of a tactical vehicle that would be an alternative to the small CJ series jeep, known as Jeep Wrangler in its civic configuration. One year later, in July 1980, AM General started a new trial of its HMMWV prototype in the deserts of Nevada state. In 10 months they won all the rest contracts from their competitors General Dynamics and Teledyne, and AM General prototypes got their start in life. In March 1983 US Army ordered the firm production of 55 thousand HMMWV units in 5 years term.
Although the state contract guaranteed the firm an unclouded existence, in 80ies the firm owners changed twice; in 1992 it became the property of Renco Group Inc. The war in Persian Gulf served as some kind of a big promotion campaign of the basic AM General model HMMWV car that became a hero of numerous reports from battle fields.
The heightened public interest for Hummer led the management of AM General to a brilliant idea of producing a civic version of this car. This way Hummer, the biggest off-road, was born. Today the company offers six configurations of the car, the basic difference between them is body style. Nowadays one can see Hummers not exclusively at US army bases, but also in the streets of big world cities. These cars are usually used in such branches of industry, as building, mining operations, rescue services as well as in many state organizations.
Hummers have a frame structure; there are six body configurations available: two-seater pickup VLC2, two-seater pickup with extended cab XLC2, four-seated saloon-car pickup HMC4, four-seated universal HMCS, four-seated open-body pickup HMCO, plus a similar VLCO version with shortened doors. The appearance of this all-terrain vehicle is any but elegant, since this huge angular cross-country vehicle looks rather like a tank on wheels. But what is really special about it is its remarkable reliability and passability, outstanding performance and spacious interior. The cars saloon is divided in two sections with gearbox. The engine is located on its front part; as for the false-radiator fence takes an unusual place at the bonnet. This cars standard equipment is a 6.5-liter diesel engine making 170 horsepower. Another option the company offers is a petrol V8 engine of 5.7-liter volume making 190 horsepower. These engines go with a 4-stage automatic or 2-stage transfer gear-box. All the contemporary Hummer models are also distinct for a centralized on the move tire-pumping system, permanent all-wheel drive and an efficient climate system.
Low center of gravity and broad wheel track provide this vehicle with enormous steadiness; its high clearance and small front and rear overhangs determine its high cross-country ability. This car is capable of crossing 0.8 meter deep wades and 60-degree steep slopes.
AM General keeps on modernizing the big army trucks. In 1993 the American government ordered this company to upgrade 2400 tactical 2.5-tonn trucks of M44A2 series. According to the contract AM General was supposed to disassemble the cars completely, remove the obsolete details and replace them with new ones. Then the vehicles were assembled again, equipped with contemporary diesel engine, 4-stage automatic gear-box and radial tires compatible with a central tyre inflation system unit. As a result of restoration they got new 2.5-tonn trucks M35A3. The assurance provided for these upgraded cars is 16 years.
Its independent existence didnt last long. Since 1970 it passed into the hands of American Motors Corporation and got a new title of Jeep Corporation. It consisted of two departments Commercial Products Division and General Products Division. In 1971 General Products Division, formally still being a department of American Motors, got a new name of AM General Corporation.
The history of Hummer roots in 1979. Exactly that year the US Army announced a tender in construction of a tactical vehicle that would be an alternative to the small CJ series jeep, known as Jeep Wrangler in its civic configuration. One year later, in July 1980, AM General started a new trial of its HMMWV prototype in the deserts of Nevada state. In 10 months they won all the rest contracts from their competitors General Dynamics and Teledyne, and AM General prototypes got their start in life. In March 1983 US Army ordered the firm production of 55 thousand HMMWV units in 5 years term.
Although the state contract guaranteed the firm an unclouded existence, in 80ies the firm owners changed twice; in 1992 it became the property of Renco Group Inc. The war in Persian Gulf served as some kind of a big promotion campaign of the basic AM General model HMMWV car that became a hero of numerous reports from battle fields.
The heightened public interest for Hummer led the management of AM General to a brilliant idea of producing a civic version of this car. This way Hummer, the biggest off-road, was born. Today the company offers six configurations of the car, the basic difference between them is body style. Nowadays one can see Hummers not exclusively at US army bases, but also in the streets of big world cities. These cars are usually used in such branches of industry, as building, mining operations, rescue services as well as in many state organizations.
Hummers have a frame structure; there are six body configurations available: two-seater pickup VLC2, two-seater pickup with extended cab XLC2, four-seated saloon-car pickup HMC4, four-seated universal HMCS, four-seated open-body pickup HMCO, plus a similar VLCO version with shortened doors. The appearance of this all-terrain vehicle is any but elegant, since this huge angular cross-country vehicle looks rather like a tank on wheels. But what is really special about it is its remarkable reliability and passability, outstanding performance and spacious interior. The cars saloon is divided in two sections with gearbox. The engine is located on its front part; as for the false-radiator fence takes an unusual place at the bonnet. This cars standard equipment is a 6.5-liter diesel engine making 170 horsepower. Another option the company offers is a petrol V8 engine of 5.7-liter volume making 190 horsepower. These engines go with a 4-stage automatic or 2-stage transfer gear-box. All the contemporary Hummer models are also distinct for a centralized on the move tire-pumping system, permanent all-wheel drive and an efficient climate system.
Low center of gravity and broad wheel track provide this vehicle with enormous steadiness; its high clearance and small front and rear overhangs determine its high cross-country ability. This car is capable of crossing 0.8 meter deep wades and 60-degree steep slopes.
AM General keeps on modernizing the big army trucks. In 1993 the American government ordered this company to upgrade 2400 tactical 2.5-tonn trucks of M44A2 series. According to the contract AM General was supposed to disassemble the cars completely, remove the obsolete details and replace them with new ones. Then the vehicles were assembled again, equipped with contemporary diesel engine, 4-stage automatic gear-box and radial tires compatible with a central tyre inflation system unit. As a result of restoration they got new 2.5-tonn trucks M35A3. The assurance provided for these upgraded cars is 16 years.
Hummer History
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