Originally created for military combat, it returned from the battlefield unable to fit into civilian life, but suddenly through the strength of one man it finds redemption, becomes a movie star, and an icon for generations to come. Sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster, but it isn’t. Such was the life of the Humvee.
Military Training
The Humvee, Hummer, or its true military designation: the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), finds its roots in 1981 when the US Army gave AM General the greenlight to develop a new generation of combat vehicle since it determined that militarized versions of civilian transports could no longer do the job. Four years later AMG delivered the first of the 55,000 Humvees. It first saw combat in 1989 during the Panama invasion. Since then it became the US military workhorse with over 17 variants and constant use in military operations worldwide. It wasn’t perfect, but it did its job well, eventually attracting celebrity with its aggressive rugged looks and near unstoppable off-road performance. By 1992, with enough demand, AMG unleashed a civilian version upon the US public.
Why It Works
As polarizing as the Humvee was in civilian trim, there were constant complaints about its rawness and size, as a military vehicle it hit the marks dead on. Simple, reliable, a flexible battle platform and able to plough through the roughest terrain were all military design targets. The base Humvee, the M1165, tips the scales at a massive 6,550lbs. Motivating all this weight is a 6.5-liter turbo diesel V8 engine that puts out what seems a paltry 190bhp, but it’s the 380lb/ft of torque at 1,700rpms that pulls this machine around to its maximum speed of 70mph.
Fast it is not, nor fuel-efficient with only a 250-mile cruising range. However, being able to handle terrain from sand to mud is why the US Army loves the Humvee. With 18.2-inches of ground clearance, it has the ability to tackle grades of up 40 degrees all due to a unique two-speed, four-wheel drive system. Water is no problem, as the Humvee can swim through up to 30-inches of water; 60 when equipped with the proper accessories. Tires are run-flats, inflatable or deflated on command to deal with the surface type.
With such specifications, its little wonder the Humvee has had a great service record, and at prices starting at $56,400, why civilians consider it the world’s most serious 4×4.
Andrew Reay is well experienced in automotive and vehicle niche, currently writing on topics like used Hummer Engines. Find out Hummer Engines for sale by visiting us.