AM General Hummer

Years ago if you wanted an army vehicle you had to get something that had been declared surplus. The introduction of the Hummer changed that notion. While it comes with nicer upholstery and a few more creature comforts than the military Humvee (officially the HMMWV, for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), it is otherwise the same transport made famous throughout the world by TV news coverage of the Gulf War. That means the Hummer is capable of crossing streams up to two-and-a-half-feet deep and scaling ledges up to 18 inches high. One of the vehicle's original design requirements was a 12-year life span under combat conditions, which should put to rest any concern about the Hummer's durability in civilian use. AM General's recent marketing agreement with General Motors will likely produce new products sporting the Hummer name within the next few years.