Bob Lutz And Henrik Fisker’s feisty Michigan-based VLF Automotive is bringing the H1 back to the masses — provided they don’t reside in North America. Lutz has struck a deal with Humvee Export, a small collective of off-road enthusiasts and entrepreneurs in Saint Clair, Michigan to assemble the trucks using GM powertrains at VLF’s petite factory in Auburn Hills.
Even though General Motors abandoned the Hummer brand in 2010, and H1 assembly in 2006, AM General has continued production of the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for allied military use. It has also begun offering a C-Series kit to private citizens for $60,000 in 2013, which includes the HMMWV platform minus a powertrain. Seeing an opportunity, Humvee Export began ordering C-Series kits that same year — finishing them off for sale in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2017, they branched out to include export to China and are enlisting VLF in order to expand production.
“There’s a niche market,” Humvee president John Costin told Car and Driver. “There are people who want to have the most fun at 5 or 6 mph.”
Costin says Humvee plans to assemble up to 100 finished trucks by year’s end, with the majority going to wealthy buyers in China with a $150,00o starting price and loads of optional extras. The vehicles will be vintage Hummer in appearance and come in three trim levels: Bravo, Charlie, and Delta. Higher trims provide additional luxury, distancing the vehicle from the base model’s interior and its military roots.
There are also four engine options providing some of the worst fuel economy in the industry. Most models will be assembled with a 6.5-liter diesel V8 in three flavors — 190 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque; 205 hp and 440 lb-ft; or 250 hp and 440 lb-ft. General Motors’ 6.2-liter LS3 is also on offer with 430 horsepower and 424 foot pounds of torque, a higher price point, and the 4L85-E four-speed automatic. Humvee Exports did not specify what transmission the diesels would be using.
As stated earlier, you cannot get one in America. The Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, which allows kit-car companies to forego EPA certification and crash testing of replicas built at least 25 years ago, doesn’t apply here. While the Hummer H1 — first rolled out in 1992 — is technically old enough, is also still in production with AM General. Don’t like that? Write to your state representative.
However, if you have the means to purchase one, you may already own a home outside of the U.S. anyway. In which case, the problem resolves itself.
[Images: Humvee Export LLC]
Another car that not available in the U.S but it is made in the U.S.. LOL!
Nothing truly capable for the proles, we don’t want them prepping for resistance with military grade hardware.
“we don’t want them prepping for resistance with military grade hardware”
Guns don’t count?
Nah, the proles don’t have anything close.
Hellfires, Apaches, and MOABs oh my.
Explains the need to increase that military budget.
Against an Apache, the H1 may as well be GMC Terrain with a lift kit.
30-mile fetch – I just saw a video of what a Wart Hog can do to a Hummer.
“Don’t run away, you’ll just die tired”
As unpleasant of a thought as it is, but the thought of the US govt using airpower against its own citizens would not be very good optics in the case of some sort of mass civil insurrection. And its been proven time and time again that even lightly armed groups fighting tooth and nail for their homeland with enough support from the populace can send the US (and other military superpowers) packing.
I’ve always been disturbed by the folks in pro/anti 2A arguments that gleefully talk about the US government raining laser guided munitions down on fellow citizens when someone brings up the founders’ intent in keeping an armed populace for the purpose of overturning a potential future tyrannical government.
Good points, gtem. We can banter about it glibly because the chance of either armed revolt or iron handed government suppression is low here, although one should probably remember Kent State and the military’s willingness to irradiate the population of the West.
@gtemnykh – agreed. Even in situations where the populace has minimal weaponry, a well thought out coordinated effort to resist even at a less militant level will eventually succeed.
“you cannot get one in America”
Would that be “USA” America or “NAFTA zone” America?
150k doesn’t sound too bad since a pimped out HD diesel before mods is in the mid 90’s in Canada.
You can’t get Lutz’s version, but you can get the c-series, as mentioned in the article. Found these guys that’ll sell you one http://humveebuilder.com/ 60k before labor and powertrain.
caltemus – hey thanks.
Hey honey, I just bought a really really big model :)
A yes, the lovely GM 6.5 diesel. Why not a GM 6.6 that is actually somewhat decent and was what was installed in the last Hummer H1s?
That’s exactly what I was going to comment. Somebody already did the engineering to upgrade to the 6.6L Duramax, so why put the awful 6.5L diesel in new ones?
GEP supplies the engine. GEP supplies the transmission.
GEP makes the 6.5L, they don’t make the Duramax 6.6L.
GEP is General Engine Products owned by AM General. GEP even supplies 6.5L diesel to GM as service replacement engines.
This is the why.
Maybe they have been made more stout considering how long they have been in production?
+ whatever…the 6.5 is only measurably better than the 6.2.
Since they are buying the optional LS3 from GM, why not go talk to Cummins about a 5.9 2nd gen like i had in my 03′ Ram. Substantially better power plant and i am certain you can get it and an Allison trans tucked under the hood.
Nah, hand over that 6.5 with 190 hp.
There are some things that come close to triggering my PTSD, the sound of that 6.6 liter clattering at idle is one of the worst.