When was the hummer introduced

The Humvee gained considerable publicity during Operation Desert Storm. However, the operation's active phase lasted hours, and smaller ground vehicles including the Humvee saw limited engagements with Iraqi forces. Thus they were not designed to withstand small arms fire and their utility on the front lines was limited.

Even the unarmored design did not offer much ballistic protection against small arms or shrapnel. The high casualty rate demonstrated the need for armored versions that could operate closer to the front lines or in areas with armed insurgencies. The M, the armored version, was developed after the battle in Somalia, and would be the first of several armored variants, like the later BAE M seen here.

Arnold Schwarzenegger played a key role in the emergence of demand for privately owned Humvees. The first civilian version did not go on sale until spring, , marketed as the Hummer H1. Several different versions were offered including a four-door pickup, a four-door station wagon, a four-door slantback, a two-door pickup, and a four-door pickup with a convertible soft top.

Engines under the hood of the civilian H1 included a turbocharged 6. A gasoline 5. Transmissions were automatics, and included an Allison five-speed toward the end of production, as well as a three-speed and a four-speed earlier on in the product cycle.

The civilian H1 was able to ford 30 inches of water, had a central tire inflation system allowing the driver to decrease or increase pressure with a press of a button as an option and also had an available leather interior. But the H1 was also not particularly roomy inside and not very tall given the height of the floor.

The civilian H1 spent 14 years on the market, from through the Sales were actually quite modest in proportion to its popular image. In total, 11, H1s were sold during the year run. A concept shown at the Detroit auto show previewed the Hummer H2, aiming to take the brand mainstream given the rising popularity of large SUVs in the U. The Hummer H2 debuted for the model year, keeping the H1's general design direction while using a GM truck platform, along with beefy V8 engines.

The H2 was also offered as a four-door pickup, even though the H2T's usable cargo room was quite limited. The SUV and the pickup versions were both lifestyle vehicles, so on-road ability and luxury features took priority over many other considerations, including fuel economy and advanced off-road ability.

Sales were the strongest during the second, third and fourth years of production, but tapered off significantly toward the end of the decade. During the Iraq War, the vast majority of the Humvees deployed to the country were initially unarmored, and only received improvised armor Army mechanics created later on.

Even by the end of , the U. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. A Hummer in Arnold Schwarzenegger arrives at a movie premiere in the year in a Hummer.

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Yes, you read it right, this was the last one to come out of the production line, certified by AM General; never titled! This iconic piece of Hummer history came to us with all the proper documentation of a new vehicle and a Hood made specially for the occasion, painted to match the vehicle superb color, Mystic Green, and signed by everyone that work in the H1 Project!

In mid Hummer introduced the Hummer H3.