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Rest in Peace: Hummer Brand Officially Dead
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Re: Rest in Peace: Hummer Brand Officially Dead
GM acquired the name "Hummer" and world-wide civilian marketing rights from AM General (which incidentally was a spin-off from American Motors that became necessary decades ago when AMC's level of foreign ownership disqualifed it from certain government contracts).
Back when Hummer used to offer a civilian version of the legendary High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, or Humvee), known in Hummer-speak as the H-1, AM General started building them and, after GM acquired the Hummer brand, continued to built them for GM under contract. The other (lesser) Hummers were simply rebodied GM trucks. However, AM General actually constructed some H-2s in a factory in Mishawaka, Ind.
The fact that both AM General and Jeep were once part of the same company was at the root of a much later "trade dress" dispute over whether Hummers could use a Jeep-esque seven-bar grille. Hummer won that contest.
Another bit of trivia: HMMWV's 6.5 diesel was originally sourced from GM. But when GM quit building it, AM General created a subsidary, General Engine Products LLC, to continue manufacturing the 6.5.
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Re: Rest in Peace: Hummer Brand Officially Dead
While real military Hummers are badass vehicles, the consumer version of the brand always disgusted me as a vile exercise in marketing cycnicism. Nothing more than ostantatious rebadged Suburbans for guys with small dicks and fake-tanned trophy wives. It was the ultimate expression of form over function.
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